Looking for help designing a layout.

[Marlin39]

I mean something like this. The track could go further inward too.
Just an idea.
Have you thought of where you are going to put the engine house/shed if you have one?
View attachment 224822

Ok, I've been watching this thread and I figured I would chime in with my >02.


This is a pretty good layout, but I have a few points of feedback. I really don't think you need engine facilities.

• I would just terminate point A industry or add a switch to make a sorting track.
• Reverse the switch, on the island in front of the chemical plant and use it as a sorting track.
• Shorten the runaround, eliminate the staging track, and use Point B for staging.
• Put the siding back in at the non rail served warehouse and add a cement plant or some similar multi car industry.

 

[Bushel86]

I think the idea of some smaller marsh ditches could definitely work and give you the look you’re going for!

Possibly. I have been working on the design. But also spent yesterday building benchwork. But didn't get much done. So tomorrow I should Be able to post a bit more on the plan.

Ok, I've been watching this thread and I figured I would chime in with my >02.


This is a pretty good layout, but I have a few points of feedback. I really don't think you need engine facilities.

• I would just terminate point A industry or add a switch to make a sorting track.
• Reverse the switch, on the island in front of the chemical plant and use it as a sorting track.
• Shorten the runaround, eliminate the staging track, and use Point B for staging.
• Put the siding back in at the non rail served warehouse and add a cement plant or some similar multi car industry.

Thanks glad you think the layout is good. Means alot. and always greatful for insight and discussions. It's true I dont need a engine house. I'm not trying to model tones of mileage in one small space. to comment on your Bullet points.

• Not sure I know what your talking about with your first Bullentin. Point A industry? Are you talking first railrserve industry or first on the layout? None of the industries are large enough for their own sorting track. I'm tring to keep the track plan as protypical and realisitic as the real railroads. (All industries are based on Real prototypes and so trying to keep to their track plan within reason.)
• The Peninsula has actually Been moved. But Again The main would still be used as the sorting, and having that reverse trailing point switch if the Peninsual was still there.. would make that switch need to be worked on the return trip making it take longer to work the layout. and keeping it prototypical. If I still had a industry there.
• I have thought about shortening the runaround track. But I want it large enough to handle the largest train possible just for the sake of; If I have a 12 car train to be switched and still on the return that number get larger because I am picking up more then I am dropping off. then I want a runaround large enough to accomadate the largest train possible. since it will be the only run around. But yes I think taking that 1 staging track out is probably not going to change anything. (I think i did it to keep it somewhat separated from the layout in a more mental state of mind of off layout staging.)
• I don't want to over do how much switching I have on 1 wall. I want some negative space along the layout. Plus I still have the other side of the room that I am working on. having some nonrail served industries, and negative space will help make the train feel like its traveling farther or going some place. (however I won't rule out another rail serve there)

As soon as i finish my next section of the lower wall and center peninsula plan I will post it up here. I am thinking 6 total Industries. at least that Is what I have so far.

 

[TheXModelRailroader]

I think you are getting mixed up with my edit Marlin.
I was just giving an example to Josh.

 

[Bushel86]

Ok Everyone, Here is the latest rendition It is not finished being detailed because I am not sure I am fully happy with the swamp and river area. I may work on it and maybe make it more industrial. Please give me feed back.

 

[migalyto]

Ok Everyone, Here is the latest rendition It is not finished being detailed because I am not sure I am fully happy with the swamp and river area. I may work on it and maybe make it more industrial. Please give me feed back.

View attachment 225044

I think this plan is really shaping up nice.

I'm kind of with you on the swamp/marsh area. I think leaving the river where its at is ok. It gives you an opportunity for a couple of bridges (what model railroader doesn't like bridges). Not sure about another industrial area. It might need something like a small rural town, farm, residential, something like that to break up all the other industrial spaces you have and give the illusion of distance in-between the planned industrial areas. You have plenty of switching opportunities already and another industrial area might clutter it up too much.

Just my couple of random thoughts.

 

[Marlin39]

Ok Everyone, Here is the latest rendition It is not finished being detailed because I am not sure I am fully happy with the swamp and river area. I may work on it and maybe make it more industrial. Please give me feed back.

View attachment 225044

Looks very good, but I would get rid of the optional rendering plant. It looks out of place and isn't needed. Just make that a highly sceniced area.

I would definitely do mock-ups of your structures. They will take more room than you think.

 

[Bushel86]

I think this plan is really shaping up nice.

I'm kind of with you on the swamp/marsh area. I think leaving the river where its at is ok. It gives you an opportunity for a couple of bridges (what model railroader doesn't like bridges). Not sure about another industrial area. It might need something like a small rural town, farm, residential, something like that to break up all the other industrial spaces you have and give the illusion of distance in-between the planned industrial areas. You have plenty of switching opportunities already and another industrial area might clutter it up too much.

Just my couple of random thoughts.

Yeah I love bridges, But Industrial Doesn't mean rail-served Buildings. Just means Commercial Buildings/space. I would add More Industrial buildings to fill in the negative space. Giving it more city feel. Maybe even some lots filled with storaged vehicles and comerical vehicles. just to give it that Busy city feel. I know most modelers Perfer to Model multi towns to express distance. However I do not. I am modeling Something that doesn't represent multiple towns. But just a single section of a city/ industrial Park, that way I don't have the front of my train in 1 town and the end of it in another. this way it is all in the same area Less compression and more plausable.

Adding in a small rural setting just doesnt fit in to the Big industry feel that this layout seems to give. since most of the industrys I am basing this layout on came from the citys of NY and NJ. So I am working on a single small town feel layout right now to kinda of compare the two.

 

[Bushel86]

Looks very good, but I would get rid of the optional rendering plant. It looks out of place and isn't needed. Just make that a highly sceniced area.

I would definitely do mock-ups of your structures. They will take more room than you think.

Yeah the rendering Plant is really something to just add some space. Believe it or not. In real life the rendering plant I am basing this off of is litterally In the middle of no where. Miles from any other building. lol. But i put it there just as a switching challange Occasonally. But Your right It does have a out of place feel. But So does the swamp.

Most of the Buildings I plan to build I already Have built, And or will build to conform to the space. But when I get the track in place I plan to do all the mock ups as needed. so I can make sure it all will work. I actually have a ton of Buildings already built just sitting on shelves That I have built for previous layouts, and Then I didn't go that route so they got stored.. So I have more structures then I do Rolling stock.. lol.. I love building structures.. esp Scratch-building Structures.

 

[trailrider]

Fortunately, a rendering plant won't offer any scale odor the way a real one would. That's why the real ones are located in the middle of nowhere! LOL!

 

[TheXModelRailroader]

Ok Everyone, Here is the latest rendition It is not finished being detailed because I am not sure I am fully happy with the swamp and river area. I may work on it and maybe make it more industrial. Please give me feed back.

View attachment 225044

I would just keep on track (Pun intended) with what your doing. It looks amazing so far!
I like the science part you added. Also the part in the middle gives more options as well.

 

[Marlin39]

Yeah the rendering Plant is really something to just add some space. Believe it or not. In real life the rendering plant I am basing this off of is litterally In the middle of no where. Miles from any other building. lol. But i put it there just as a switching challange Occasonally. But Your right It does have a out of place feel. But So does the swamp.

If you're modeling upstate NY, then use that space to model heavily forested rolling hills, with a cut for the mainline. Keep it simple and give you something to get creatively artistic with.

 

[Bushel86]

If you're modeling upstate NY, then use that space to model heavily forested rolling hills, with a cut for the mainline. Keep it simple and give you something to get creatively artistic with.

View attachment 225050

I wil lsay Beautiful work. Love the scene. However I do not plan on modeling Upstate NY. Im freelancing. Using different locations for proto references. But Still not going to model NY. But this version I am planing Is More innercity near the rivers kinda feel to it.
Here is another rendering I done...

 

[Guilford Railman]

Ok Everyone, Here is the latest rendition It is not finished being detailed because I am not sure I am fully happy with the swamp and river area. I may work on it and maybe make it more industrial. Please give me feed back.

View attachment 225044

I really like this plan you’ve come up with! The peninsula area is really interesting. I particularly like how those industries are separated from the rest of the layout. I had tried to work something like this into my current build but decided against it.

You mentioned you don’t like the river/marsh area and might want to make it more of an industrial area. I think this idea could definitely work but maybe keep the industries in that area as non rail-served. This way you maintain the industrial setting you want for the layout and it doesn’t feel like trains are in three different towns at once, something you expressed concerns with. Also, it gives an area on the layout that trains can simply pass by with no industries that need to be switched out.

Just some thoughts

 

[Bushel86]

I really like this plan you’ve come up with! The peninsula area is really interesting. I particularly like how those industries are separated from the rest of the layout. I had tried to work something like this into my current build but decided against it.

You mentioned you don’t like the river/marsh area and might want to make it more of an industrial area. I think this idea could definitely work but maybe keep the industries in that area as non rail-served. This way you maintain the industrial setting you want for the layout and it doesn’t feel like trains are in three different towns at once, something you expressed concerns with. Also, it gives an area on the layout that trains can simply pass by with no industries that need to be switched out.

Just some thoughts

Thanks I'm kinda liking this one 2. I will say that the center peninsulas will be on wheels and moved out of the way when needed..
The new buildings that take up the marsh area are non railserved. But they use to be. hince the hidden track to represent abandon track. so thats So while it might look like i added more industries. I did not.. But I wanted to have that NY city feel of old buildings with old tracks over grown and such.
The last industry I am still debating on.. Still thinking of the other design that is more of a metal Recycling. Since I already have that building built. But Not fully sure yet.

 

[Bushel86]

So I revised it with the recycling center.. Which do you Think is Better.

 

[Guilford Railman]

Thanks I'm kinda liking this one 2. I will say that the center peninsulas will be on wheels and moved out of the way when needed..
The new buildings that take up the marsh area are non railserved. But they use to be. hince the hidden track to represent abandon track. so thats So while it might look like i added more industries. I did not.. But I wanted to have that NY city feel of old buildings with old tracks over grown and such.
The last industry I am still debating on.. Still thinking of the other design that is more of a metal Recycling. Since I already have that building built. But Not fully sure yet.

I missed the abandoned track completely (guess I need my eyes checked) but that’s a great idea!

Metal recycling would certainly add a lot of visual appeal to the layout!

 

[Guilford Railman]

So I revised it with the recycling center.. Which do you Think is Better.

View attachment 225104

Looks great with the recycling center, best option so far in my opinion.

 

[Bushel86]

Looks great with the recycling center, best option so far in my opinion.

thanks. I still have a few Ideas, I am not fully having a this is it moment for the layout. But I am goign to try a few more ideas. before I fully decide.

I missed the abandoned track completely (guess I need my eyes checked) but that’s a great idea!

Metal recycling would certainly add a lot of visual appeal to the layout!

Its ok. our eyes always give us a sense of haveing more track syndrom sometimes lol.. But I wish instead of having just the hidden track setting that Anyrail would also have a abandon track setting.

 

[DeaconKC]

This is shaping up very nicely. I just wonder if you couldn't add a Wye to the extension peninsula near the closet? It would really give you some more flexibility.

 

[Bushel86]

OK so here is the next rendintion I have done.. I moved the one Peninsula and changed it into more perminent layout. Also as you can see changed the Recycling center and the steel Industry location. Also added as part of the abondon track made part of it as a over flow track for the Recycling center.