Track Plan

Neil,

Sorry you haven't gotten any feedback on your plan from the assembled masses here, but maybe that's because your plan seems just fine to me, and there isn't much I see that could use improvement.  You've taken an old, published plan, and adapted it nicely to your space.  If it were me, I would try to figure out a way to include a continuous run loop (maybe just with a simple removable bridge that would not be in place 90% of the time, but could be installed when Aunt Tilly or the neighbors or the golf buddies who don't give a rat's a$$ about trains) want to go to your train room to see a few trains run while asking you way too many questions for you to pay much attention to the trains that are running -- but that's about it for my critique.  You've got great scenery possibilities, great operating potential for 1-3 operators, and good access to all track for maintenance, etc.  Since this is a plan I could see myself drooling over (if I hadn't settled on my own in a similar space), what's not to like?

Sandy

http://www.sandysacerr.com

Track plan

Giving your track plan a once over you are right, less is more.You have a track plan that allows switching in one area and sending a train out on a longer run. Real long if you hold it in a hidden area. It looks like you could have two or three operators going at a time. Nice layout with room for expansion (more) in different areas. Looks like you can use any time era. I'm assuming HO and DCC. How big a train room do you have? Have fun and you're doing it right! 

TRACK PLAN

Passing Siding

Now I'm of exactly the opposite opinion, but then I love switching puzzles.  I'd like to see the lower left corner developed as a small town, with NO passing siding, only the wye and 2-3 sidings running off its various legs -- at least one crossing through the center and then across another leg.  Over the years, I've seen a couple of plans with this kind of arrangement, (one was a Model Railroader plan called the Sagatukett River, reprinted on page 60 of the collection Track Planning Ideas: 58 Track Plans from Past Issues.) I tried operating one of these wye based puzzles once, and it took me about half my natural life to get a 5 car train sorted out and spotted, the engine turned, and empties picked up for the return trip.  I was so smitten that I went home and immediately started doodling similar track layout ideas, and came very close to building one --  in HO in 42"' x 7' (with the wye puzzle up top, and a single track circling down to a lower level reversing loop.) 

Nice plan

I like it.  Enough space for some of everything.  Switching, buildings, landforms.  Like Sandy said above, I also like to have the option for a continuous loop.  Mostly for visitors, but also to break in new locos, letting a train run to test out new rolling stock, plus, while I'm working on a model, I just like to hear the train running in the background.  If you're interested in it but don't want to impinge on your present design, perhaps a lift-out section that joins across the doorway might do the trick.  Just store it underneath when you don't want to use it.

Longer run?

An interesting concept/plan that should provide lots of operation potential for you.

It looks like you could get a longer visible run by making Bendaire the first stop out of "staging" (reverse loop) and connecting Red Mountain with Muley Gap at a higher elevation.

Oakhill on the BC&SJ regularly uses a wye for run-around purposes. Crews are always eager to run the Oakhill Turn so I'd say keep the wye. Adding another siding or two to the wye might not be a bad idea.

If there's enough vertical separation, add a track or two along the left wall under the wye to act as additional staging.

The way the track plan is drawn, it looks like the track to track separation for the passing sidings is different in all three towns.

You didn't provide any dimensions for your room and plan or your scale -- it seems possible that you may have access problems to the "right" end of the siding at Red Mountain. Omitting some of the spoke tracks from the Red Mountain turntable might help. Sliding Red Mountain to the left would also help with the reach to the end of the siding. If you plan to switch trains on your layout, you'll need better access to couple/uncouple when switching spurs and Red Mountain

Just some thoughts.

Cheers,

Charlie

For some reason I can't see

For some reason I can't see your track plan on any of your posts or blog.

It sounds like an interesting plan and would love to see it. Can you point me to a source to view it?

Thanks,

Barry

now you can...

http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/sites/model-railroad-hobbyist.com/files/image_30.jpg

Bremmer

If you set the width of that image to 750px then it will be fully visible.

Uploads from the iPad

Bill....

it's not my image, I just stole the link and posted it for the OP

Longer run?

Drooling

We think alike

I've been thinking of using that plan (modified of course) for a while.  Don't quite know why but I've always liked it.

Kent

Red Mountain Ry.

Nice to see that I'm not the only one that's been inspired by this MR plan

One suggestion

Hi Neil:

Nice plan. Always liked Bill Baumann's designs.  At any rate, how about replacing the hidden reverse loop with a staging yard, a turntable at the far end allowing engines to turn around.  I assume the loop is on a lower level?  At any rate, doing this would save aisle space where the loop would be.

Good luck!

Fascia and stuff

Now that I have some of my sections together and in the studio - er, train room - below are some things I've been working on - and off. 

The curved backdrop against the sloping ceiling poses some challenges. It is painted the same sky blue but doesn't look right. I may follow Bill's idea with a simple LED valance to give extra light and frame the layout. Jury is still out. My wife suggested a stormy, cloudy sky so may try that as "it's only paint" as she put it. 

The sloping ceiling gets pretty close to the roadbed. Maybe a tunnel? Unlikely but not improbable. 

While I was working to connect the sections it became clear that O scale, even narrow gage, need a lot of space for plausible buildings that would require rail service. I extended three spurs like this to accommodate more than a couple cars.   The Soda Works here will have to be long and narrow. 

That's for tonight. 

Neil

My wife helped me haul up the

My wife helped me haul up the future tall steel trestle frame so I could keep moving toward a mainline that is connected from staging to Halaewa. The wye at the end of the line will have to wait a while. 

Thanks for looking. 

Neil

One step forward

and two steps back? (Or maybe I should say "I don't need no stinking clearance gauge!")

Clearly building scenery THEN checking clearance is NOT a good idea. 

My goal has been to get some basic ground cover over the majority of the railroad by New Years (2016 but maybe 2017 is a more realistic goal). As my over zealous actions illustrate, a little planning should be in order. To the left of this scene a trestle seemed appropriate so I've stopped here and been experimenting with planting sugar cane. Perhaps I'll post my trials tomorrow. I did find this shot online of a harvest and am inspired to find a spot to have the cane cars being loaded. 

Too many projects in the works! 

Neil