Following

I like the simple concept and like the added simple drop leaf off one end to stage trains. Below are your images embedded:

Thanks, what did you do to

Thanks, what did you do to embed them??

Photos

I’ve done a little tutorial about embedding photos. Maybe try the search bar but the first step is to select the button in the toolbar, choose a photo, send it to the server, resize and insert. Here is the button:

Suggestion for amendment to track plan

Hi Nate

That's a very good design for the limited space.  I like that you have incorporated a loop enabling run-rounds - a lot of smaller layouts lack this.

May I suggest that you move the turnout for Aurora Lumber along the loop a bit as this would give you more flexibility in the alignment of the siding?

Best wishes.

Thanks for your comment! I

Thanks for your comment!

I could move the Aurora Lumber turnout to the right some, but I'm not sure what it would gain me other than having a longer spur. What do you mean by more flexibility in the alignment?

Aurora Lumber siding

Hi again

By moving the turnout along the loop the siding could be longer but more importantly more of the siding could be straight making it easier to fit alongside buildings or other features.  It would allow the buildings in your design to move out of the corner and fill some of the empty space to the right of their current position.

Regards.

OK, as another reader/viewer,

OK, as another reader/viewer, I, too, am having trouble visualizing how Bill's suggestion would be an esthetic improvement.  Many layout pros recommend not having rails run parallel to edges, and I also noted that the builder wants to build 2 four foot long modules.  As designed, his track breaks now look like they run through only 3 pieces of straight track; rather easy to cut and align.  Obviously, to be moved, all buildings should probably be removable at this point, so track alignment and scenery would be the only movement risks.

Finally, I don't see how moving the factory switch further to the right will increase the length of the factory siding.

Chuck

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I would not worry about the lumber siding being straight.  South Tucson had an industrial district where there were no less than half a dozen curved industry tracks into the industries.  There was just enough room for a curve, they didn't make them very much straight at all.  You might be able to make some of them out even now, look at Tucson on Google/Bing maps and look for the industrial district to the southwest from the yard.

You have a nice little plan.

I would make one serious suggestion:  take your team track spur and align it at a normal spacing from the main and take it to within two inches of the edge of the layout.  In the future, you may be able to add this section to a larger layout and by planning the track this way you will have a natural means for making your team track spur into a station siding where the ramp for the team track becomes a freight dock for the station master to load LCL freight and baggage.  Yes, the tracks might parallel to the edge of the layout in that area, but never mind that!!!

Spur changes

I can move the Lumber lead to the right some and not have it be on the joint yet I believe. I will play with that and the team track lead some once I get the cabinets and base built and see how different things look.

I had been thinking about extending the team track and paralleling the main like you suggested, although I don think I want it to go to the edge of the module. It will just have imaginary aisle docks and and such.

I do plan on eventually adding more modules when I have space, hence why both ends of the main line up fairly straight with the edges.

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I had been thinking about extending the team track and paralleling the main like you suggested, although I don think I want it to go to the edge of the module. It will just have imaginary aisle docks and and such.

For right now, I would agree - just make sure the alignment between the two are consistent so that when it comes time to expand, adding the track tot he edge of the module is easy without taking out too much scenery.  The team track ramp would remain in place even with the realignment as a siding versus a spur.