And I realize it's going to be hard to get any with only vague ideas. I think part of the problem is I am reluctant to build anything because I know it will not be around long and I WILL be tearing it down. At the same time, sittign at the bench buildign models for that day in the future when I can build a decent layout isn't going to cut it either - I like to run trains.
Here's the basics: I live in an apartment. I have 3 space options (and to date I have constructed benchwork for the 2x8 option): 2x8', 2x12' or L shaped approximately 8x12'. The 2' width comes from my liking to build identical sections for possible reuse. And with 2' wide sections there are no reach issues for me. To fit in my space, I can;t really go wider, but narrower would be fine.
I've kicked around a couple of plans so far. One was provided by Byron, a slightly modified version of Jonathon Jones's layout that appeared in MR. The other would fill the 8x12 L shaped space, and includes 'sort of' elements of what I intend to model when I have room for the 'big one' - a specific branch of the Reading. That plan is basically a single track main line with a 3 track yard on the inside of the curve plus 4 tracks serving a cement plant that was in the area. While it's posisble that plan could be reused in the future, I played around a bit running trains on it in simulation mode (I used 3rd Plan-It) and there just didn't seem to be much operating variety. I've also realized that I really don't care if what I build now can be reused or if I'd have to scrape it all clean and just reuse the benchwork. Or perhaps I do but won't admit it - see my first paragraph.
I've been looking at sites with small switching layouts, and nothing really jumps out at me. One that looked interesting is plan 51, Chicago Inner Belt Line in 101 Track Plans, but that's basically just 2 yards on the long leg with a couple of industry spots on the short leg.
I managed to come up with a workable plan to fill my old basement, but I realize most of what I put on that plan was to satisfy the operating desires of others, not me. It got to the point where the final version of that plan included a completely freelanced version of the branch I now want to model running down the middle of the room jsut so I would have some place to run a local with plenty of setouts and pickups. Now I have no one to answer to but myself, and it's actually harder.
I'm actually starting to think a reversed version of a layout I built years ago might be the answer. In that space, facing the corner of the room, the short leg of the L was on my right and the long leg on the left. The space I have now is just the opposite. That layout back then was a combination of the Apple Creek Junction on the short leg and Switchman's Nightmare on the long leg. That was another apartment railroad I build with standard metal shelf brackets. All only a foot wide, now I have twice the width. Perhaps a proper A/D track or two on Switchman's Nightmare and make a real yard out of it?
Oh yes - critical details - HO scale.. Mid 50's, 4 axle road switchers and switchers, 40' cars mostly, lots of 55 ton hoppers. 24" seems a reasonable minimum mainline radius, perhaps down to 22" on sidings.
--Randy
Randy Rinker
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
http://www.readingeastpenn.com
