My track plan.

[Gabe]

Hi, I would like some critic on my track plan.

I plan to run a freight train and a passenger train.

 

[ianacole]

Can you let us know the dimensions and scale you plan to run?

 

[Gabe]

O ya sorry, Its HO scale and its 9 feet at the top and 14 feet on the right side.

 

[ianacole]

That's a good amount of space, and while I cannot speak to the virtues of a switching layout, it looks like that one will provide a great deal of entertainment.

 

[Gabe]

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Rico]

Looks like a lot of fun switching freights, can't see much for modern passenger ops tho.
Mind you RDC's would work for that, or if your modeling an earlier era a short passenger train.
Are you modeling a free lance short line? This would be a great layout for that!

 

[Gabe]

I was thinking of modeling a fictional modern Canadian Pacific branch and for passenger service I want to just have a 2 car train.

 

[cajon]

Gabe
Having passenger service would depend on what era you are modeling. After the '50s most branch lines didn't have any. Also your plan doesn't have any way to turn a train which would be needed to turn a passenger train. You would need a wye &/or turntable to do that (either whole train or just loco). Do you have the room to add those? But if you really want passenger service think about a double ended doodlebug so it doesn't have to be turned. And steam era trains would need the same thing if your two switching areas are any distance apart. But if you really want passenger service think about a double ended doodlebug so it doesn't have to be turned.

 

[Gabe]

I don't have any room for a turntable or a wye but I guess RDCs would work and VIA rail still runs them on some lines.

 

[cajon]

You just have to be sure your RDC as a cab on both ends otherwise it'll need to be turned.

 

[Gabe]

Here is a more detailed plan.

 

[Photogdad]

Looks like a lot of fun switching freights, can't see much for modern passenger ops tho.
Mind you RDC's would work for that, or if your modeling an earlier era a short passenger train.
Are you modeling a free lance short line? This would be a great layout for that!

Agree. It would be time well spent as a switching layout and yes it would be a great layout to have your own freelance line. Good luck to ya on it.

 

[Rico]

Gabe is the turntable still in Nanaimo?
I remember riding on it when the turned the locos and RDC's there!

 

[Gabe]

I don't think there is a turntable in Nanaimo, there is one in Victoria but I don't think it turns anymore.