Digital diorama

[Mark Dalton]

I found this rabbit hole called model railroading and have been sucked in like a rip tide after a tsunami. My plan, N scale unitrack with diy command station and sensors. Operational focus for variety with automation to fill in. I'm thinking flat track with minimal grades on top of 2" xps to carve dimension.

 

[JeffH]

Welcome!

This hobby can be addicting, lol!

Looks like you have a great start. I like that you have laid down a full size print of your layout plan. It gives a perspective not possible on a computer screen which really helped me make soe tweaks to teh plan before starting to build.

I'm envious! I liked building it all a lot more than I like to run the trains now that it's substantially complete (they never are fully completed, lol).

 

[ScottB74]

Welcome and keep us posted on your progress!

 

[bigfoot13]

Looks like you got pretty good. Would you post your track plan?

 

[Mark Dalton]

Welcome!

This hobby can be addicting, lol!

Looks like you have a great start. I like that you have laid down a full size print of your layout plan. It gives a perspective not possible on a computer screen which really helped me make soe tweaks to teh plan before starting to build.

I'm envious! I liked building it all a lot more than I like to run the trains now that it's substantially complete (they never are fully completed, lol).

I'm taking my time to digest the subsets of disciplines within modeling a railroad. While I'm researching one thing, I'm looking down the road so that I can get an idea of the "full" picture as I go. Keep in mind, I'm completely new to this but feel very confident that I'll achieve my goals of creating a,
Modular layout
Operations
Automation
Diorama that incorporates Northeast Florida.

 

[Mark Dalton]

Looks like you got pretty good. Would you post your track plan?

Yeah, I did this on Anyrail 6.

 

[bigfoot13]

Yeah, I did this on Anyrail 6.

Nice. Looks like you will be routing lots of traffic but not servicing very many industries. I've found that I learn a lot from running a layout for a while to see how the operations/traffic flow feels before I start scenery. I keep changing my plans because I don't like how it works. I see a few potential issues but that only depends on how you want to run it. I'm sure others with more design experience will chime in on some suggestions if you are open to them.

 

[Mark Dalton]

Oh certainly, I'm open to ideas.
"Show me a man that makes no mistakes, and I'll show you a man that does no work." - Theodore Roosevelt

 

[ctclibby]

Mark: Design is a good start although there are 'spots' that could be improved. Looks like from your TT size, you are planning 'Big Steam'. Good as I like Big Steam! Those long wheelbase things could have issues. Please take the following with a grain of salt as the suggestions are what I would attempt to do. I kinda think 'What would the 1:1 do', and go from there. YMMV

1st - the 'S' curves; 2 are below the RH - one is switch work to get into the return loop, 1 is the top of that return loop, with the 3rd coming out of the return loop on the right.

2nd - track clearances; Lower left, 3 and 4 tracks to the right, gray siding just inside your operator area, blue and yellow track near the top yard/return loop although you may already know to fix these at build time.

3rd - Also, there seems to be a lot of 'spaghetti' trackwork. Why 4 entrance/exits from the TT? Removing the ?cyan and purple ones would give more room in the middle under the TT for industry, city, engine/car service. The 2 tracks going from the left side to the right return loop could be setup as a passing siding with house tracks for switching industry ( if you are so inclined ). You might even move that double crossover on the top around the corner and extend it to the bottom yellow track on your right return loop. The purple track can still come off of it. Doing that would allow yard switching without fouling the main.

4th - if those are 1 foot squares, the radii of the left return loop is pretty tight as are the ones close to them.

5th - The big one. Looks like your top yard is provisioned for an A/D setup. Move the switch to the right enough to handle your biggest engine or consist. That A/D track also sizes your max train length; which means sidings need to be at least that. Also, you might extend your top yard track to the dark yellow track instead of having a switch there; that will give you more room for cars. In order to TT/RH an engine, you have to travel almost 1/3 the distance of the railroad just to get to it. Ya might figure a way to have the TT connected to the A/D tracks.

Too many thoughts? Maybe -or- maybe not. Hope they help in any event!

Later

 

[Mark Dalton]

Mark: Design is a good start although there are 'spots' that could be improved. Looks like from your TT size, you are planning 'Big Steam'. Good as I like Big Steam! Those long wheelbase things could have issues. Please take the following with a grain of salt as the suggestions are what I would attempt to do. I kinda think 'What would the 1:1 do', and go from there. YMMV

1st - the 'S' curves; 2 are below the RH - one is switch work to get into the return loop, 1 is the top of that return loop, with the 3rd coming out of the return loop on the right.

2nd - track clearances; Lower left, 3 and 4 tracks to the right, gray siding just inside your operator area, blue and yellow track near the top yard/return loop although you may already know to fix these at build time.

3rd - Also, there seems to be a lot of 'spaghetti' trackwork. Why 4 entrance/exits from the TT? Removing the ?cyan and purple ones would give more room in the middle under the TT for industry, city, engine/car service. The 2 tracks going from the left side to the right return loop could be setup as a passing siding with house tracks for switching industry ( if you are so inclined ). You might even move that double crossover on the top around the corner and extend it to the bottom yellow track on your right return loop. The purple track can still come off of it. Doing that would allow yard switching without fouling the main.

4th - if those are 1 foot squares, the radii of the left return loop is pretty tight as are the ones close to them.

5th - The big one. Looks like your top yard is provisioned for an A/D setup. Move the switch to the right enough to handle your biggest engine or consist. That A/D track also sizes your max train length; which means sidings need to be at least that. Also, you might extend your top yard track to the dark yellow track instead of having a switch there; that will give you more room for cars. In order to TT/RH an engine, you have to travel almost 1/3 the distance of the railroad just to get to it. Ya might figure a way to have the TT connected to the A/D tracks.

Too many thoughts? Maybe -or- maybe not. Hope they help in any event!

Later

Thanks for the comment.
I have no plans for steam and focused on shorter locos and stock. The idea I have is more for routing and less for authenticity. I fully expect some changes ahead but I am learning and prepared for some failure.
My very first lesson learned was the use of a Kato #4 turnout and the special cut piece of track that must be used at the devergent or the straight side. That has been corrected.
Today, I began running the Buss wiring.