Doug,

I Think that this is a great start!  I don't know if you read the latest issue of MRH, but there is an article specifically geared toward small track plans.  Here is the link.  I'd suggest starting with a modular approach and using one of these designs as the base.  You can always add some staging area off of either or both sides of one of these modules.  These designs will allow you to learn the techniques that you want and let you get started with the building phase right away.

Good luck!

Ryan

The biggest issue I see is the crossover in the middle of the run around.  As drawn, it will take a back and forth move to get out of the lower yard.  By flipping the crossover you can avoid that.

I mean this as constructively as possible, but you plan looks rather boring.  It might be useful for learning tracklaying skills (though a smaller module would do just as well there), but it might not offer much in the way of operational enjoyment.  There doesn't seem to be a lot of play value in a yard to yard with a runaround and a spur.

 What are your tracks supposed to represent? 

 Industry park in Miami today? Switching a meat packing plant in Iowa in the 1940s? Urban waterfront switching in Brooklyn in the 1950s? Interurban terminal in Ohio in the 1920s? Locomotive depot for a narrow gauge line in Colorado? A modern terminal for unloading fracking sand somewhere in North Dakota? Something entirely different? 

 Doesn't have to be a specific historical place at a specific date, but you should be able to describe at least in rough terms what kind of place this is supposed to be and how you plan to run trains here.

Smile,
Stein

This will make your signaling and detection work, like shooting fish in rain barrel. You need to make the rr DCC friendly so why not go all the way.
I used all Atlas switch, mainly because they work well and have small insulated frog that 99 % of all engines will cross with out making them hot. They are also the best price switches on the market today.

You need to look a Walthers curved turnouts. This would make. It possible to access storage track in back without doing switch back.

I did flip the cross over and it took so much room that it exceeded the min radius for the turn along the wall. Still trying to hash that out. I agree, I don't like the extra move there.

I'm not sure what the story is here. I'm having trouble visualizing what I can fit is this space. My desk is under where the three stub end tracks are, then it crosses in front of a window. I've got more room for depth on the other side of the room and can even use the closet. For my eventual basement empire, I 've got the whole (well most) of the story written. I want to do a day on Reading's Bethlehem Branch from Lansdale to Saucon Yard. I've got schedules, consists, and industries all researched and laid out. But this small space is difficult to see any of the towns fitting here.

Everybody, thanks for the feed back, I'll have to take this back to the drawing board.

Doug M

Use a single track bridge where your walkway is, and you'll get far more exercise out of your fleet.  The train doesn't have to know it's already been through the scene three times to get up to speed, but the difference is monumental in what space you need to get that kind of motion.

All you have to do is make the lower inner track curve up instead of down, make the left innermost track curve ininstead of going straight, and then place your liftout singletrack bridge in the gap.  If you really wanted to make it "scenicable," you could put an embankment at either end and make it look like a bridge over a wide river.

 Okay, so we are talking Reading Railroad in Northern Pennsylvania. What era do you want to model? 

 What type of railroading would you like to model - passenger traffic with RDCs (Rail Diesel Cars)? Long trains of coal or coke? Local switching?

 If you had to pick one scene (doesn't have to be a whole town, doesn't have to be one specific real place - could be a "typical" scene) to model, plus a little staging (either just on one side or on both sides of the modeled segment), what elements would you include?

 Smile,
 Stein

I'm thinking the early 1960's. I love the look of a trio of GP-7's pulling a long string of filled hoppers, attacking the grade on this line. It really gets interesting at Lansdale. Thers's a wye where the Doylestown branch breaks off. Electricification continues to Doylestown. MP's & Silverliners to Doylestown, RDC's and Push-Pulls to Bethlehem. Over 20 commuter trains a day stop at Lansdale. Freight either had to run at night or be quick not to foul of the commuter. It was double tracked (except for Perkasie Tunnel), but busy enough that the local couldn't dawdle on the main. The Reading also had some sidings in between the main tracks. Saucon Yard was the connection to the Philadelphia, Bethlehem & New England, and Bethlehem Steel. Perkasie is the choke point. The tunnel was originally double tracked, but equipment was smaller. As locos and cars got bigger, it was made a gauntlet track, and finially single tracked. The line was ABS controlled, however the tunnel at Perkasie required some special rules, and an electric lock on the switch at the tunnel entrances. Cutomers on the line required a wide varity of cars & equipment. Small furniture manufacturers, to gravel pits. On paper, this line has a lot of challenges to offer.

Doug M