Decisions Decisions

Greg,

I would prefer option number two.

The design would allow for you to build a variety of modules that could depict some different scenes. If you are not happy with one you could always remove that section. It also would allow you the ability to complete one whole scene before moving onto the next. It also allows for continuous running that is less of a roundy round and more of a scene to scene operation. 

Either plan I think would look better with smaller units and trains. You could select any era just would need find appropriate power for the look and feel of what you are trying to model.

Keep us posted on which way you head.

Door number 2

I like door number two as well.

I like #2, but it really

I like #2, but it really boils down to a personal choice.  It seems to me that #2 lends itself to Joe F's TOMA approach. With all of the lift outs engaged you could still have a continuous run, if desired.

As to industries - Think about having at least one track be a Team Track or in a more modern era, a transload area. You can have it represent an unlimited number of off-layout industries and be a destination for several different types of rolling stock.  The scenery could be as little as a gravel or concrete pad. But the neat thing would be rolling in different types of auxiliary equipment to load and unload the variety of rolling stock.

gs

Just a thought Greg........

If you rotate the center island in #2 90* you can eliminate one of the lift out sections.  You only need minimum "squeeze through" clearance around that center wall to get to the electrical panel.  It's not like you'll be in there every day and might make a good storage room for your over stock items.  Or how about a "duck under " into that room?

Number 2...

... would be my choice. 4'x8' uses a lot of space for the size of the layout.

One suggestion. Have you thought about running a track around the walls of the computer area? This would eliminate at least one liftouts. The track would obviously have to be higher than the file cabinets and computer and you would have a tight radius at the end but if you limit yourself to a industrial/shortline with just switchers or smaller road locos and 40' cars I don't think it would be an issue.

As for your question on big or small industries. Personally I would go for a couple of large industries. Most "model" industries are too small to warrant a freight car being parked at the loading dock! Also look at "off the layout edge" industries where the siding is right on the edge of the layout and the buildings are implied. I plan to have a small oil dealership on my layout which will be just a siding with some piping going "under ground" heading to the tank farm.

Number #2

Greg

I would make a couple changes to #2.  Unless you plan on using 20" or less curves, I would move the lift out sections more to center of room, add six inches to a foot at the end of two foot wide section.  Second I would turn the section between the office and electrical panel, 90 degrees and split it in half and move it 18 to 24 inches closer to the door.

Doug W

Visual

This experiment proves what a visual person I am. Until I started playing with the plan I couldn't get my mind past that 4x8 island. I have been advised to do something else but couldn't visualize it. I am getting the expected responses and am 99% sure that's the rough idea that I will be using. 

I want to keep the access spots to 24". I am rather rotund and so is our electrician. I know access will be rare (it's never happened in the 6 years I have been here) but I want to keep folks happy. I have a treasurer that will be accessing the computer/file area on a more regular basis and I think it best I keep trains out of there. 

Doug W, I am missing your point. I do get that I am limited to 20" radius and am fine with that. But I don't quite grasp your intended changes. Please refer to my inability to envision things in my mind. One of the other goals is to maintain 2x4 foot "dominoes" for ease of transportation. 

Operating TOMA style

I tend to agree with the module approach but don't feel that 24" is a requirement. Where track is against a wall then a lot can be done in a much narrower area. To get up and running a simple shelf from 8"-12" wide would allow 2-3 tracks and some relief models, bridge scenes, or just right of way. It can be up and scenics simply to get going. 

The continuous run isn't my preference as switching is what I enjoy. A train originating off-line or at an interchange provides plenty of flexibility for car types and takes little space. Some storage drawers below the interchange or staging track would allow for easy fiddling. 

That center island looks to take a lot of space as well and, if removed, would provide a lot more room. The connecting module across the room might be in casters so rolled away when not in use. Just a couple thoughts. 

Operating alone doesn't need a lot of track or room for long trains. If you keep everything simple then it can be a great test bed for ideas. 

NeilEr

One more perhaps?

   Could you make that 4 by 8 into a 5 by 10 by widening it a bit and extending it toward the door a couple of feet more? This might give enough layout area to eliminate the lift outs while creating two nice sides to develop as towns along  a mainline run. Rolling stock could be stored in the display shelves and fiddled onto the layout between operating sessions or perhaps a removable bridge track could lead to staging on the shelves?.....DaveB

Less intrusive, fewer liftouts...

What do you think about this concept Greg?

About that door...

GregW

I keep looking at your drawing and am somewhat confused by your door representation

As usual

You have brought something interesting to the table, Bill. In the upper right, do you envision that to be at the same level, the main over the yard or the yard over the main?

Door

Yes, that was a quick way to show how the door opens into the room. It pivots in the centre and I haven't drawn the angled wall that it's on. It's a 36" door. 

Over? or Under?

I was thinking the main would be elevated here, but that's probably not the best idea. It's a bit of a short run.

Also the curves as shown are 24" radius.

More than anything, I was just trying to get the creative juices flowing.

Some thoughts.

If the purpose of one of your liftouts is just to provide continuous running, which the middle one on Bill's diagram appears to do, don't put a turnout on it. If anything it eliminates another track that you'll have to make sure stays in alignment across the gap.

That way you'll have a point to point layout, with the liftout removed and stored. Quite honestly, if you don't need continuous running, again with Bill's plan (let's call it #3), ditch the liftout in the middle entirely, move the turnout onto the pennisula somewhere to feed an industry, and set up the section on the right side as a staging/classification yard. You can have a "mainline interchange" along the right side wall to feed cars in and get them out. Or, if you want to try something that exists on the prototype in Albany, OR, have the Class 1 mainline down the front of the right side modules, where to get out of your yard (or back to your yard) and to the rest of your layout/branch line, you have to request clearance from the Class 1 to cross the main. The Portland & Western RR has to do this with the UP in Albany to get to the rest of their railroad - their main yard, engine facility and a team track is the only thing on the east side of the UP Valley Main. You could set up a selection of answers from the mainline dispatch and roll a die to choose what you get - in both directions.

You could even complicate things further (I'm having fun with this) by putting a road crossing on the liftout in front of the door and specifying that your trains returning to the yard have to stop short of the road crossing until they get permission to cross the main. Can't block a crossing, after all.

Opening things up

I think the peninsula is a waste of space as I have it. I did this to try and open up the middle, and eliminate a lift out. I think I could engineer one that is longer, yet solid. This eliminates 2 potential alignment issues. I am now seeing room for 4 in the center, two crews working either side of the layout. I know I seem stuck with rectangles but I am not a very artistic person so flowing curves etc... are not in my wheelhouse. Bill is great at that stuff. The other pic I am posting is something I found online that I like the looks of. 

A little messy

Greg:

Bill's idea got me thinking about tracks crossing the visible staging as an interchange. I pushed the drop leaves back to the doors but retained much of his original ideas. More food for thought.

NeilEr

Swap all tains for different periods

The design is improving.  an 8x10 ft space is small. It looks like 3-6 cars is a reasonable train. I am modeling 1900-1939 in a 13x13 ft space with electrical panel in the same location,

I prefer several small sources and destinations.  That fits well with pre-1950 operations.  Modern source-destinations would tend to have less variety and more bulk,  They lend themselves to one source and one destination.

I wrap passing tracks around the curves, not the straights.  It provides more length and more visual interest.

If you like different time periods and want some reason for old and new cars, you could exchange one set of locos and cars for another, or pretend there is a tourist railroad with trackage rights in the modern era.

I plan to use cassettes instead of the classification yard you have.

Hmm - now you have a 2 level layout.  I would start the elevation in the lower-left corner.  If one track was level and one track rising it  would allow for round-and-round and point to point.  Lower is continuous, upper is an end point.  That end could accept cassettes.

how tall is the book case

how tall is the book case Greg?

Book Case

The book case is floor to ceiling. 

Right under my nose

Through some google searching I tripped onto the Heart of Georgia layout. A little more lead me to the Richlawn RR. I've watched Rick's videos and admired his work without looking at the big picture. He has a similar space to mine. I've got a few ideas and will put pencil to paper to post what I come up with.

A big thanks to Bill Brillinger who has loaned me Lance Mindheim's How To Operate a Modern Era Switching Layout. I won't be so modern (early 70s?) but it has a wealth of ideas. I think I'm getting somewhere. Still need another couple of hours of cleanup in the office but hoping to get to that later this week. Anyone interested in some old theology books?