Shelf Layout Building

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Extremely plausible and has operating potential, realize that the minimum radius you end up with there, might be less than you think.
I would straighten out the S curve that happens between the closet shelf and the lefthand section by the window. That would also widen the aisle. I like that your fascia are curved.

An "escape route" - if things get too tight, reduce the around the room double track to a single track.
 
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diesel said:
Extremely plausible and has operating potential, realize that the minimum radius you end up with there, might be less than you think.
I would straighten out the S curve that happens between the closet shelf and the lefthand section by the window. That would also widen the aisle. I like that your fascia are curved.

An "escape route" - if things get too tight, reduce the around the room double track to a single track.
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Yeah I am also worried about the radius. If I have to reduce it to a single track, I will. I would prefer not to, but it would be okay. I am going to keep dialing this plan in and upload a better version then transfer it to SCARM so I can really see what I am working with.
 
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Been drafting a better, cleaner version. I also refined some of the yard action and tried to ground it a bit more into reality. Using a compass, I made each curve have a 24" radius. The only thing I am missing is the yard on the left. I am building the layout in SCARM, and then I am going to figure out how to structure that yard.
 


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Working in SCARM, I gained a better understanding of how the track and sections fit together. I tried to use all Atlas code 100 track. My first attempt used a less available track, but I revised it to use the Atlas track, as that should be easier to source. I have some reservations about the industry section, but I think I am going to work on it a bit. Hopefully, I can run out and get some track and start mocking some actual trackwork up in the room. I still have a lot of reservations about the operations of the layout. To fit my location, I have to run logs, and I also want to have a Hooker Chemical Plastics plant. But the operations on the layout don't make a ton of sense.

I envision that the main yard is an interchange. Other than a switcher taking the cars from the interchange to the industries, there is no reason to run freight on the outside loop, which I have been trying to incentivise. I can't quite figure out how to have a yard switcher at the industrial section. Maybe it is just how I think of operations, but I am having trouble figuring this out.

I have to keep playing with this to figure it out though.

What do you guys think? Any thoughts or opinions?
 
I have some questions, forgive me if they've already been answered.
1. What is the layout height?
2. Magnetic uncoupling, or with a tool?
3. Unclear, Atlas flex track or sectional?

and a comment or two:
1. There are explicit and hidden (in turnout configurations) S curves. Those are a recipe for derailments.
2. Generally, automatic coupling and uncoupling can't be done on any kind of curve. See #2 above. Uncoupling can be done on a curve with a tool, but not coupling. I don't see a lot of places where you can do that.
 
blackz28 said:
suggestion , take ritalin & concentrate on 1 hobby for more space 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 just busting ;your chops lol
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I like where your head is at! I have been trying to condense all of my hobbies down to one for ages. The mind works in mysterious ways, though, and I can't seem to shake some of them. Maybe as I get working, some will weed themselves out... hopefully.
 
diesel said:
I have some questions, forgive me if they've already been answered.
1. What is the layout height?
2. Magnetic uncoupling, or with a tool?
3. Unclear, Atlas flex track or sectional?

and a comment or two:
1. There are explicit and hidden (in turnout configurations) S curves. Those are a recipe for derailments.
2. Generally, automatic coupling and uncoupling can't be done on any kind of curve. See #2 above. Uncoupling can be done on a curve with a tool, but not coupling. I don't see a lot of places where you can do that.
Click to expand...
Okay to answer the questions:
1. I haven't decided on a height yet, but your questioning about the height may have solved a major issue with the layout. Preliminary height in my mind was around 3ft; however, if I go 4ft, I get to ignore the racing sim since that is how tall the sim itself is... Interesting predicament I have run into now.

2. I have been considering trying to attempt magnetic uncoupling, but I think the best route for me is just manual.

3. I have a mix. Mostly sectional, with the help of flex track in a few spots where I need help connecting some track segments.

4. The S bends do scare me a bit, so I want to test them in practice before settling on them fully. In the past, I haven't had too many issues when running on my 22" radius EZ track with that spacing, but I am going to keep testing that out to get a derailment.

5. I believe I know the section that you are talking about, and I think with how I am going to operate it, it should work out, hopefully. I'll mock something up and test it. I only plan to use either my SP&S RS3 or my SP&S USRA Light Pacific in that section.

I really appreciate this feedback. It gets me thinking a bit more about what I need to work on to improve the layout. I feel like I am going in blind while working on this plan. Keep it coming!
 
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Just messing around in the room, but that styrofoam is 4ft exactly...

I could bury the sim rig under the layout. Add some LEDs to light it up or something. 4ft does feel tall, but it would be a great height. I could hide a workbench under a section and even store a bunch of stuff under the layout. That way I don't have to work at my home office desk anymore.
 


diesel said:
3 feet is a sit down layout. A lot of walk around layouts are 56 inches high. Free-mo track elevation is 50 inches off the floor - pretty close to your 48.
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The 50" Free-mo might be a good option for me. At times, I do think a sit-down layout could be the way to go since I do like to sit back and watch trains run. However, I can always get some barstools to sit on.
 
jward said:
Have you considered a double deck layout?
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I have, but that is quite the investment for me at the moment. This is also going to be my first larger layout(see my previous layout builds in my signature for reference), so not taking on something too crazy complicated is also at the forefront of my mind. Additionally, I don't plan to stay in this house for too long, so something not too intense for that reason, too. Maybe after this layout, I would attempt that.
 
I have returned! After a bit of a hiatus, I finally got back to working on the layout. I just posted a YouTube video regarding my absence (Linked Here). Anyway, I have gotten back to layout work and have drawn some stuff and tried to figure out what works.

Here is my drawing translated to SCARM 2(A solid upgrade from 1.0 tbh). The plan is 45in height, DC power, and the bridge is a swing gate for easy access. The big purple clump is my sim racing rig, a necessity to keep. The industries have an 18in radius where as the mainline has a 22in minimum radius.

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In my mind, this is a pretty solid railroad. Some switching, a roundhouse and a yard with long runs to stretch some legs. I can see the multiple switches in a row being a bit of a hassle but I think I want that look there. I hope there are a lot of nit pickers that absolutely tear apart this layout design that makes me rethink a ton of things in order to make it better! Let me know what you think.
 
timlange3 said:
What is your longest reach from where you can stand? Looks like the corner in the lower left will not be accessible. Do a Google search on "Heart Of Georgia" model railroad.
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The lower left is accessible. The entire lower bit allows for an aisle from door to door in the room. Since I renovated the baseboard in SCARM, it took away the room outline which gave a better picture of the layout inside of the room. The red square is the door into the room from the attached bathroom. I have ~3.5 feet of space on the bottom of the layout to maneuver. I get where the confusion came from though, great question!
 
Well I took another long time off from trains again, I have come back with a vengeance. I have noticed myself getting stuck with analysis paralysis when it comes to building the layout. Now I truely understand what The Pixel Depot was ranting about in his dream layout video from a few years ago...

I was working on a dcc install and it made me really want to run trains so I got to thinking if I stop at Home Depot on my way home from work I could get some inspiration of what to build. Once I saw there were 6ft long, 1x12s, I jumped into action. They were perfect for what I was building and I could fit them inside of my tiny car(Fiesta ST).

I had been collecting shelf brackets from Fred's and got some screws and anchors from there as well.
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I threw up the brackets and put the board up to check how it looked. Fast forward after another visit to the Depot and Fred's here we are:
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At the moment the plan is just an around the walls shelf layout that is point to point. I would like to have a loop but that will have to come in phase 2. I hope to get all of the brackets up in the coming days, with the weekend being mainly for building the shelf itself.

So far I am proud of the work I have done. Once the benchwork is done, then I am going to have to figure out what the track plan is going to be. This is a risky way of building, but I think the design constraints could lead to a great solution long term.

What do you guys think? Let me know! I am very open to criticism and questions.
 


I recently finished up the self layout build. I posted a bunch of updates on Model Train Media the new social media platform for model railroaders. Here are the pictures of the finished product:
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I have a temporary setup made with Bachmann EZ Track (not pictured) set up to get a feel for how I want the layout to run. I enjoy what I have so far, but I do want to settle down on a design of what the layout is going to look like.

The following is a potential track plan for the layout:
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I wanted to get an interchange in there, an engine storage and 2 passenger stations. I have 1.5 industries to serve, the half being the freight house on the other side of the layout. I was thinking some sort of small lumber supplier, since I have a bunch of freight cars that haul logs, and the nature of a shortline based in the PNW.

I need some help nailing down this layout. Any chance any of you have anything that I should be thinking about? I feel like there is a way to make this better, but I think I want the community's help on this one. Let me know in the replies below!
 
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