Ready to design???

I am convinced that I would not have enough information to begin a layout design with what you have provided so far.  Do you have any prototype in mind to work from?  What type of operation are you interested in, running trains end to end, local switching, any passenger operations, etc.  Would the operation be an out and back from a main terminal, or a continuose loop?  The professional layout designers and builders ask for a list of wants, needs, limitations in order to begin the design process.  Do you want DC or DCC control?  Do you want manually thrown turnouts or have them electrically thrown?  What kind of trackwork, hand laid or commercially available?  What code size rail?  Have you looked at any of the newstand layout books that have been published for any ideas?  Just some suggestions to think about.

Similar Situation

Almost a year ago I asked the readers a very similar question. No one volunteered to design my layout for me. Now looking back I am glad they didn't. I learned so much as I designed my own. My plan went through many iterations each better than the previous. The MRH readers are excellent at reviewing your progress and making suggestions. From these suggestions you will learn even more. Because I designed my own I am now totally comfortable with the final plan. I know the reason for each and every line on the paper. Designing your own is an excellent learning opportunity.

Ready to design

I thought I stated in my post what I'm looking for. I think I gave enough information to maybe get a little help from someone. Weather I use DCC or DC has no impact on the design of the layout. Nor does passenger operations. Any railroad could have passenger service. As far as end to end or continuous loop such things are up in the air. I could go with either,  I dont see where it makes a difference on Rail size or hand laid track. Thanks for taking the time to read my post anyway.

Similar Situation

Thanks LKandO, I'm not really looking for someone to do a total design of my railroad. Was hoping maybe to find someone to help out as I am a little overwhelmed at the prospect. I have been messing around in Xtrakcad a little but when I look at my room size It looks too small. But I know others have designed layouts in even less space then I have to work with.

I Know the Feeling

A year ago when I began I too was overwhelmed. I stared at a blank canvas without a clue where to begin. For what it is worth I'll tell you what I did. And I will dispense with the usual recommendations of what books to read, what layouts to visit, build a chainsaw first, etc. These are all good pieces of advice but if you are hell bent on designing using purely your own intellect then you need a brass tacks method. Keep in mind this information is worth exactly what you are paying for it. I am a novice. But a happy novice!

1. Refine your Givens and Druthers. Initially, I did not spend enough time asking myself the hard questions about exactly what I wanted. The process went much smoother once I nailed down a specific G&D list. It was my rule set and road map.

2. Maximize the utilization of your room space. I spent over 3 months determining how to arrange bench work in the most space efficient manner I could that at the same time accommodated my minimum curve radius. With a set aisle width I kept rearranging bench work until I filled the room with only 3' aisles remaining. No more, no less. 100% space utilization. Use XTrack circles as guides for the curves.

3. Rough model your LDEs. I modeled the signature components of each LDE without regard for where exactly they would go or how they would fit. I found that modeling the LDEs individually was a design learning experience unto itself.

4. Experiment placing the modeled LDEs on the optimized bench layout. Try many, many combinations. Good natural fits will present themselves.

5. Refine, refine, refine. Don't fall in love with any one plan. Be willing to tear it apart and redesign over and over. Some will mention analysis paralysis. Disregard. Analyze the daylights out of it. Don't stop analyzing until you cannot find any more faults with the plan. Digital changes cost only your time, physical changes cost money and your time.

6. Post you semi-complete plan for forum review.

7. Accept the fact that change will occur when actual construction begins.

This may not be the process others follow but it worked for me. My final plan.

Good luck.

 Hi Rob, I have three

Hi Rob, I have three comments

1) Post a sketch of your room showing the door, any windows, closets, fuse boxes.  i.e. include anything that requires access.  This usually inspires people to start sketching or throwing out ideas.

2) State  if duck-unders, or gates are tolerated.

3) You keep mentioning XtrkCad, which suggest you might want to read this:  http://www.layoutvision.com/id40.html

While you are at it look at the other advice on that site.  I read it and enjoyed it all during my design phase.

Cheers

JR

placing objects

Hi Rob,

An approach that I use when placing anything in a room is to draw the room and openings (doors & windows) to scale.  Then I measure any furniture and draw these to scale onto sticky note paper (or just plain paper) and cut them out.  This could be done with your benchwork and LDE's too.  On each cut out I write the name of the object and its actual measurments.   Then I just keep moving the sticky note drawings around until I get the best fit.   All this cost you is time and a little paper.   I have not built a layout yet, but I have been using this method to do a lot of planning (dreaming).

Xtrakcad

Hi JR,

I want to use Xtrakcad because it will allow me to run trains over the layout to get a feel for operations and maybe I will spot some problems or things I may not like, Thats the main reason. The second reason is that it will help with JMRI when I use Panelpro. I plan on having computer control over the entire layout. Thinking that way I can have the computer running trains at the same time I am. And the third reason is because its FREE!

Placing objects

Hi Jim,

Placing objects wont be a problem for me,other then benchwork. I wont have anything in the room except the train layout.But that does sound like a good idea. I will try the sticky notes.                                                                         

Thank,Rob