Layout design

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Track location vs Scenery vs Buildings - a Layout Design Question

Mon, 2012-02-06 08:45 — Highlandsoft

This question is about a design aspect I haven’t seen discussed much.

Question: to how much detail did you plan the location of scenic features (ie, rivers, canyons, etc) and structure placement before starting to cut roadbed for a mainline?

Trying to locate Joe Fugate's "Operating potential formula"....

Thu, 2012-02-02 08:28 — Onewolf

I have old/broken links to Joe Fugate's www.siskiyou-railfan.net website that had his formulas for calculating a layouts 'operation potential'. Does anyone have an URL/link to where these pages might be found?

Thanks.

Doug

3 comments

Has anybody built one of those published track plans?

Wed, 2012-02-01 19:36 — dkaustin

I have been curious to know if any of the members here built a track plan that was published in any of those numerous track plan books? Model railroader is great at publishing collections of track plans. Atlas has their track plans and I know other companies do too. What is the usual plan? Something published, something modified from a published plan or it just grew to fit your space? Any comments?

Den

14 comments

New to Model Railroading

Sun, 2012-01-29 14:19 — Sav

I am relatively new to Model Railroading and want to start building a small layout to begin with. I am having dIfficulty in deciding what to model as I have just settled in North America (originally from Uk). I would prefer a shelf layout or a 4ft x 8ft table as space is a premium; preferably of an industry which would have interesting operations and keep my 5yr old son and myself interested for long periods of time. Would anyone be kind enough to throw in some suggestions of layouts designs/ plans together with costs to build. My chosen scale is HO and I would like to able to control op

Which design would you use?

Sat, 2012-01-28 22:46 — Alexedwin

Layout design

This is my first post on MRH.

Please be merciful

These are designs I have come up with for my new layout base.

1 & 2 both will have lift up sections at the door.

My biggest problem has been the aisle space.

Which one would you choose?

Boston Road Eastern Railroad

Tue, 2012-01-24 12:55 — JohnnyUBoat

Layout design

The following are excerpts from a 15 page layout proposal I have been developing since the offer my fiance and I placed was accepted on a new home a few weeks back. Although I will not begin construction for at least a year or two, I am looking for some much-needed criticism on my initial thoughts and ideas. Although not noted within the proposal, I will have an area approximately 24' x 12' at my disposal; however, these are not final dimensions. The proposal covers the entire railroad as imagined to date.

TO foam or not to foam....this is my question

Mon, 2012-01-23 12:25 — B and B Railways

After going through the track template posting, I have come up with a question. Now I understand that people have a preference and all, but with me on the verge of starting my layout, and only having one bridge, I am left to wonder, should I spend the extra money and put a 1" foam down on top of the plywood, per perhaps, just lay the track plan on the plywood, and just add my cork? My main line will be a 2 layer level of cork, and I will uses sheet cork where possible...but it is this question I am stuck with.

Gravel pit Tracks

Sun, 2012-01-22 16:14 — B and B Railways

Attached below, its what I have for a small gravel company. It has the main track in where the cars will be loaded(top track), and below where the full cars wait for pickup. The Gravel company has its own switcher that moves cars around. I am wondering, with the little room available in this area, if I could enhance it, or just leave it the way it is. Any ideas are welcomed...

Benchwork start to go up in the next two weeks...

Defining Divisions & Subdivisions?

Fri, 2012-01-20 18:06 — JohnnyUBoat

Hello Everyone,

Double Deck Layouts-- Upper deck Width

Tue, 2012-01-17 11:01 — rwproctor

Since I have limited experience operating on a double deck railroad, and I am in the process of planning one (see http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/blog/16735), what have you noticed about the upper decks width in relation to the lower deck.

I assume (and we all know what that does), the upper deck is generally narrower than the lower especially if there is a detailed area of the lower deck. But have you seen or operated on one where upper and lower are the same width?

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