More to the cure?

I run into these analysis paralysis victims all the time.  Joe is right about a lack of operating experience being a major hurdle, as it's tough to design a layout without knowing how one works when in operation, or how your own preferences will affect the design if you haven't developed them.  Too often, the guy who doesn't know what he likes, and just wants to freelance and "do whatever" doesn't realize what huge barriers such ambiguity places on design.

Another related factor not mentioned in the editorial however is fear of making a mistake.  This can either be a newcomer with no real knowledge who is afraid of beginner mistakes all of us have to make as we gain experience, and also the veteran who has lurched so far into prototype modeling that he won't build anything for fear of finding some missing piece of data after a layout is designed or model is already built.  A corollary to this last type is the modeler who thinks the end product won't be satisfying unless every aspect is perfect, can't make progress because of impossibly tough self-imposed standards, but still complains that he doesn't get anything done.  When viewing other people's finished modeling he admires, he often doesn't realize the same exacting process hasn't been followed, not making the connection that all his worrying isn't helping him to build better models.  Nothing wrong with setting high standards mind you, but when they become a source of paralyzing stress there's a problem.

I Agree Whole-heartedly

As one of those who is looking at ideas for track plans, I absolutely agree with this article. I currently have in mind a few industries that I really want to model. I learned a long time ago that if you figure out the track arrangement of the industries first, you simply need to connect them by mainline, to get a track plan. This is the LDE (Layout Design Element) school of thought.

When I get my layout room built, I expect to have the room for more than a few industries, as well as near urban, and mountain running (I'll be modeling the Colorado Front Range). One of the things I saw here recently, was how Rick put two industries next to each other, and used the same siding to serve both. I realized quickly that this could be used for two, three, four, or more smaller industries, and that is how the prototype would do it. I can see examples of that right here on the east side of Denver.

Google is my friend, and using it to get a satellite view of tracks for industries I want to model, will help me design tracks for my LDE's. I'm going to use the Coor's Brewery as the basis for my Meadery. Even if I don't know what each track does, I can see how those tracks come together, where run-arounds are located, and other details of the track. I won't be able to get all the track onto my layout, so I'll have to decide what can go, and what should stay. Even so, Coor's has their own switch engines, and moving cars around that LDE can be a full time operator position, or simply a place to spot cars.

Using the prototype as much as possible, and learning something about the industries you model, will definitely help when it comes time to design a track plan. The LDSig is a great place to get help, when it comes to creating a workable track plan, and learning what all those tracks are used for.

Additional thoughts

There are additional trackplanning elements that arise with initial builds. As Joe mentions, understanding why a railroad installed tracks is an important component. But when we draw trackplans by hand or by using software we often find that the track we tack down doesn't quite fit in comparison to the drawing. Part of this relates to turnout engineering and how we draw turnouts on our plans. Almost every commercial turnout follows a slightly different construct in addition to being slightly different from the NMRA turnout specs.

Secondly, we are trained to shrink down our dreams from prototype size to a scale size and proportion. Most of this sizing is already done by manufacturers when they produce models of track, locos, buildings and rolling stock. But when we work with a trackplan we are actually scaling up from the size it was drawn. So a small error on a drawing done at 3/4-inch to a foot can be magnified when someone tries to build strictly from the plan.

Most of my recent plans emerge as freehand sketches and line drawings, then a scale drawing is done to ensure the fit of major components. At the building stage, especially at towns or areas of busy trackage, I prefer to draw the centerlines on the subroadbed material and then place track, turnouts, freight cars and building mock-ups to experience the full visual relationship of these elements in the proposed space. At this point I can correct magnified errors that crept into the plan, or I can adjust placement of elements to better fit the full size area. This is especially useful when a different turnout is on hand to use that was not considered in the original plan. Easements between curves and tangents can be better accommodated at this point. 

This is extra work and doesn't get the trains running quickly, but this step can eliminate potential problem spots or enhance operational situations even before the track is attached to the roadbed. I've reconfigured industrial tracks in a complete town at this stage to maximize the operations and look of the final build. These details are rarely mentioned in trackplanning books but are learned over time and with experience on a number of layouts.

This is a great hobby where you can learn from previous mistakes but you can't learn much without moving a project forward.

Eric

model planning

I know several folks in the hobby who just can't get from planning to building. I don't know if its the fear of failure or they just prefer the paper side of the hobby. I suppose I could respect it. They have more knowledge then me. I just don't get it. They've helped me at various clinics and meets, but some of them have never built a layout. I find it a bit strange. The folks that your speaking of, those that don't know where to start, should join the LDSIG, should attend operating sessions. The NMRA convention annual convention is a fantastic jumping off point for anyone interested in building a layout

My own copy of Track Planning for Realistic Operations is worn to the extreme. Its a fantastic source of track planning information that I use time and time again. My own skills tend toward the artistic and not the mechanical, but I have done exactly what you said to do. Read that book, then read it again, then read it again. 

Because I am modeling in the past (1930's) Sanbornes have helped quite a bit as well. Its a matter of figuring what is important to you - er to me and what is not. 

Yeah, but...

Johnny, I think you may be misunderstanding advice given.

It is not that participating in an operating session will cure any problem, just that actually operating on a layout whether it is to run trains around in circles on a large modular layout or operating on a club layout will give a person an opportunity to find out what sort of train running appeals to each one. 

To answer your question about an LDE, do you have a favorite railfanning spot?  A few years ago, shortly after Microtrains came out with the first Z-scale F-units, MR did a demonstration layout based on the Western Pacific featuring four scenes with dividers including the Kedee Wye.  I'm not suggesting Z-scale for you, but how about building a model of a favorite railfanning location, or perhaps two or three or as many locations as reasonably fit in you basement, and connect them with view blocks between?  Leave access to the back of the layout for maintenance, and perhaps a long staging yard where you could stage complete trains.  The staging and continuation of the layout would be hidden from view by back drops or view blocks so that your trains would come on the scene, run through a scene one time and disappear just like when you go to your favorite spot for railfanning.  If you don't care about switching, you could leave out switches in the scenery portion completely, or you could put in a train length passing siding, to allow two trains to meet in the scenicked portion of the layout.