I am still looking for some feedback on what is correct and wrong with what I have.

This attempt makes it easier for the yard and engine service area with room for a decent size town/city and then off to the 2nd deck.  The 2nd deck will have logging and mining operations.

I had some time today trying to find a better way and came up with this

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/jwey71/20122.jpg

I don't think there's anything "wrong" with what you've posted.  Your list (called Givens and Druthers by the late and great John Allen) gives a fiarly good starting place.  Your second posted plan seems to meet most of the requirements, but I couldn't Identify the mining or logging operations. Perhaps a plan with some labels would help. I think you need to think grade and helper issues carefully - even on shallow grades (less then 2%) you may need helpers of the train is long, or weighted to NMRA standards.  Charlie Comstock has done a lot of owrk on that issue - check out the MRH Ops Session 3 video for what happens on shallow grades to a too long train with no helper . . . .

Hey Guys,

After some re-evaluating the area, I am just not sure this is the best use of the area...???...

I am going to give up the 2nd deck idea...Its just going to cost to much, and it might be to much for 1-2 people to run.

So....The lower left room could be used as a hidden staging area and/or placement of the yard and roundhouse, or could give the area up to a workshop ...????

This leaves the main area for everything else.

What is the though of a point to point? I wont be able to have continuous running but it might make the area flow better to have a purpose.

I need Ideas and comments on which way to go, YOUR ideas are needed.

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/jwey71/Tryagain.jpg

Your plan is very similar in size to mine. I have 14 x 33 with a closet. I will be doing a double deck  and use a helix, which will be in the closet. Here is a link to my blog http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/blog/16735.

I will have one duck under from staging but that will be on a hinge and only in use during operations. I don't think I will have formal operating sessions. But one never knows. I can say my design has changed 20 times over the last few months, with advice from others and my own research. MRH is a great resource. But I also belong too ( and have for awhile) LDSIG group on Yahoo. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ldsig/?yguid=235847884. Try the link, and look at the group, sometimes you can et some good responses from them, sometimes not. 

Don't be afraid to make some changes.

I have started working on basic bench work, because the area along the walls will not change regardless, and with that I have come up with some other changes/ideas.

Good luck with your project.

"What is the though of a point to point? I wont be able to have continuous running but it might make the area flow better to have a purpose."

The obvious thing is that the prototype generally operates as a point to point.  A product is here and it is needed there (where ever "here" and "there" are).

A point to point layout can be as small as a single Industrial Switching Layout (coined ISL on another web site) or as large as the La Mesa Model Railroad Club's model of Tehachapi at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum.  See the cover story Sept. 2011 of the MRH magazine.

If you are thinking point to point, I would highly recommend Lance Mindheim's new book How To Operate A Modern Era Switching Layout.  It is self published and available from Amazon.  It is an easy read with plenty of illustrations.

There is a discussion of the book here: http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/6798

I ordered it and read it in a couple of hours, but I think it gives an excellent view of what a switching layout is all about and how to make "less" a "lot more."

If you are operating a point to point layout trying to replicate running a train from one division point to another like the La Mesa Club running from Mojave, Ca to Bakersfield, Ca over Tehachapi you need a large space or multiple decks to get a long enough run to have fun operating.  If you are going to use the local switch turn to pick up and set out a few cars at local industries on a small switching layout and you understand and incorporate some of Lance's ideas to add some realism, a small switching layout can take hours to complete operation on.  Without having heard about much of what Lance talks about in his book prior to reading it, I found that switching out a single 2' x 10' switching module built by a member of the modular club using less than 10 cars and a single switch engine took me 2 -3 hours.  We put together some pretty large layouts if the show gives us enough room, but even with the biggest layout, I get tired of running around in circles before too long, but switching on my friends layout is a very interesting way to enjoy a couple of hours or more and the time seems to fly by.

Here is a layout from another forum built by a guy in Houston, Texas.  The thread is at 81 pages and counting, but he started by building a 20' x 40' out building to put the layout in.  The first layout pics are on page 21.  The entire layout is dedicated to modeling modern industrial switching operations in an area of Houston.

http://www.the-gauge.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2275

Rob,

 Your plan is what brought me here to this site.  I dont have as much room but close.

Here is what I have drawn up earlier, I need to figure out the top right cause of the reach issues.

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/jwey71/final-1.jpg

What is under the steps, or is that area useable? if you could use that wall to the far right maybe? Other wise you could have pop up in the middle of that turn back loop, with the sawmill on it. Or maybe a single deck with two separate elevations for the return trip back, so the train is not going through the same scene twice.

I havent worked much on mine I have been actually installing some of the basic bench work, and doing some mock ups. I ordered some LED strip lights and will be testing those for lighting my lower deck. Hopefully pictures to come this weekend. Also waiting for my Fast Tracks jig for #6 turnouts so I can begin making those up as well.

good thing I have ADD when it comes to trains, I never get bores that way... LOL

Keep plugging away at it.... Do you use any software? I use 3rd Planit, it helps a lot especially when I run a few trains through the design then realize it wont really do what I thought it would.

Under the steps is....nothing, but I don't have enough room to run track under a step as the frame for the steps isnt flush with the wall.

There is a door at the top right that goes into a cellar, it doesn't get used much so I might be able to "duck under" to get to the cellar.

Here are a couple different attempts at the space

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/jwey71/Grade.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/jwey71/2012.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/jwey71/2.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/jwey71/Trial.jpg

I like the first one, once you got to the second deck, it could just be 12-18 inches wide with some switching or mine runs.  It would run across the top of the room and down the left side to the helix. At least that way you would continuous running capability.

I bought some more 1 x 4 to work on bench work and was looking at the room and layout.  The first and last links have the same bench work design but have the yard in different locations.  Do you think having the yard in the center penn. is to much? Yes it kinda goes thru the same scene twice but it allows more room.