First layout questions

[izelforshezel]

Hi,

I cannot move the layout somewhere else, however I can change the dimensions of the table. Perhaps make it skinnier in the 5x6 nook and have it get wider as the room does.
I am looking for a mix of both point-to-point and running continuously. I'm not sure what Grades are, sorry (still learning things). I wont be running very long trains, the will probably only 6-7 cars long. All freight, no passenger (at least no long passenger cars). I want to incorperate a large hill/ mountain in which the train will go underneath in a tunnel. I was thinking that could go in corner of the nook where the tables meet the wall. That would be where all the track that is "hidden" would be. It wouldnt be much hidden track. I do like yards and plan to have a small one near an industry. I do not plan on having alot of industries.

I was not looking for a track plan that I would 100% adopt, just some to get ideas of what I wanted.

Thanks,
-Isaac

 

[steinjr]

Not a track plan - a general idea - you have a narrow area - 6 feet at the right end.

You need 4 feet for a turnaround loop in H0 scale.

So invert layout space and aisle space - 28" radius curves (fairly wide), 36" wide operator pit.

Cost: a duckunder to get into the center of the area.

Smile,
Stein

 

[izelforshezel]

Hey everyone,

Stein I tweeked your idea a little and came up with this.

View attachment 25636

I think this gives me room for the yard I want to put in while also having room for some nice landscapes and a continuous running train.

-Isaac

 

[Lateral-G]

You will probably have some trouble reaching over the 4x4 area from the pit and having to duck under to get in an out of the pit to get to the far side of that 4x4 might get old.

I know you don't think now that you'll not need to get over there but trust me, you will.

Now, if you put a divider down the middle (out from and perpendicular to the wall) you can put a staging yard on the far side, out of sight. That would give you some operating options.

-G-

 

[steinjr]

Benchwork that will only be accessed from one side usually should be less than 30" (2 1/2 feet) deep. Going in and out of a pit all the time can be the pits

A suggestion - don't fall in love with drawing rectangular tables - they always hold a lot less than you think, especially when you need to curve around a 90 degree bends. And by drawing the tables first, you bind up your mind in "staying between the lines", instead of thinking about what you should be able to do on your railroad.

I would just say that your goal now is to make a layout bound by a rectangle 6 x 10 feet, with a central operator pit at least 3 feet deep, and benchwork between say 10" and 18-24" deep.

Then start to come up with what you want to be able to do on your layout - era, type of railroad, number of people running it, scenes you want to include and so on and so forth.

Also - explain why you are making various decisions. E.g. - why cannot the layout go all the way to the left wall? Why does it have to form a complete loop instead of e.g. being shaped like a G - up the left wall, across top wall, down right wall in nook, back along lower wall in nook? Why does it have to be H0 scale instead of N scale?

Benchwork should be the last thing - and made so it supports your track plan, instead of your track plan having to stay within the rectangles.

Here is e.g. a part of my layout:

I realized that by making the benchwork here irregular, I had room to add a small barge terminal at this spot.

As the saying goes - try to think outside the box

Smile,
Stein