I’ve been hammering out details, not really details, but design options of my attempt at a layout(HO). The only real design I like is a duck-under full size “oval” if you will. I have an area chosen that is 10’ wide on one end and 8’ on the other. Length can be upto 24’. I’ve chosen 20’ as my max length, but will probably go to 12' for starter. I’d rather build all my bench work and have it functional instead of starting a “smaller” layout that I’d have to tear up and redo upon expansion.
Am I trying to start too big? I will design, if possible, one industrial railroad that will basically go round and round(with a few twists, of course) with 3-4 businesses to deliver/pick up from. I “think” I would just like to see the trains run a little without being dedicated to a point to point only setup. Should not be too overwhelming to accomplish this. Probably 25 pieces of flex or so, a few smaller fillers,i.e. 1”, a crossing or two, and 5-6 switches, with attendant roadbed. Will use around 30” radius on mainline and arrive, departure tracks. I’d like a nice little yard in the mix, at some point. Will run GP38s-40s(SP) for spurline freight. I’ve got a couple of SW1500s for some yard work. I will try to expand and add a second railroad after I get this up and running and the funds keep up. Will go with SD45s with the second rail with Coal as the main business going up a Mountain terrain towards a norther coalmine and coming back down to a Power Generator Plant.
I have some of the benchwork built, one 4X4 and 4 2X4 that will bolt together as a “domino” system. Need to build 5 more 2X4 section, but before I get completed and almost locked in, I’ve got some basic building/operating theory to persue.
As stated above, the only thing I like so far is a duck-under or removable section bench. I don’t really care for the dog-bone type layout. It seems to get crowded real quick. I’m not particularly keen on the idea of reversing loops. I’m thinking on “open air” railroad” with some space between at least some of the track.
My questions are;
how agravating is it to duck-under all the time? I can see some irritation factor creeping into this. Are they to be avoided if at all possible?
Can a removable section be dependable? Can a device/system be incorporated so tracks line up without undo derailment problems or will it always be a source of trouble?
What are your thoughts on my basic idea of my setup? Do you think the “big oval” is a mistake? I’ve got the space and I want to keep things kinda “linear” without having to get too crowded. I’m just concerned a bit about the duck-under issue.
Am I trying to start too big? I will design, if possible, one industrial railroad that will basically go round and round(with a few twists, of course) with 3-4 businesses to deliver/pick up from. I “think” I would just like to see the trains run a little without being dedicated to a point to point only setup. Should not be too overwhelming to accomplish this. Probably 25 pieces of flex or so, a few smaller fillers,i.e. 1”, a crossing or two, and 5-6 switches, with attendant roadbed. Will use around 30” radius on mainline and arrive, departure tracks. I’d like a nice little yard in the mix, at some point. Will run GP38s-40s(SP) for spurline freight. I’ve got a couple of SW1500s for some yard work. I will try to expand and add a second railroad after I get this up and running and the funds keep up. Will go with SD45s with the second rail with Coal as the main business going up a Mountain terrain towards a norther coalmine and coming back down to a Power Generator Plant.
I have some of the benchwork built, one 4X4 and 4 2X4 that will bolt together as a “domino” system. Need to build 5 more 2X4 section, but before I get completed and almost locked in, I’ve got some basic building/operating theory to persue.
As stated above, the only thing I like so far is a duck-under or removable section bench. I don’t really care for the dog-bone type layout. It seems to get crowded real quick. I’m not particularly keen on the idea of reversing loops. I’m thinking on “open air” railroad” with some space between at least some of the track.
My questions are;
how agravating is it to duck-under all the time? I can see some irritation factor creeping into this. Are they to be avoided if at all possible?
Can a removable section be dependable? Can a device/system be incorporated so tracks line up without undo derailment problems or will it always be a source of trouble?
What are your thoughts on my basic idea of my setup? Do you think the “big oval” is a mistake? I’ve got the space and I want to keep things kinda “linear” without having to get too crowded. I’m just concerned a bit about the duck-under issue.