Seeking some suggestions, as I am starting to plan my layout to fill a room that the exterior is 20ft x 20ft.  My plan is a double deck layout.  What is typically the best way to use the space to it's fullest use.  My isle will be min width of 24 inches.  I know if I use a helix, that will take room, and a no-lix requires run, so overall if you can suggest the best way, it will be helpful. 

Thanks,

Nate

B&O loco fantasy paint scheme paint job.

Looking thru some of my inventory the other day, and ran across this unfinished project/idea. It originated when I saw an 'unusual' paint scheme that actually appeared on some B&O passenger cars. At first I wanted to know if the passenger cars actually appeared in those colors ?

I am in the early stages of planning and I was wondering if anyone out there would have copies of track charts that cover both the ATSF and SP routes from the Richmond CA area to the Pittsburg CA area. My model timeframe is 1969 in HO scale. This is a route that travels approx 35 miles. If I am wrong (and I am frequently), please feel free to alter my way of thinking. Below is the initial sketch (beer coaster if you will) of the routes. Sorry about the ATSF route, but on the screen the red showed up fairly well.

Lance Mindheim writes in his book " How to Design a Small Switching Layout ", he identifies a problem or a " common " pitfall. Lance points out :

" One of the most common design errors is to over reach. That is trying to include more track or elements than the square footage of the scene can support visually. "