First layout plan - Comments appreciated

[Jaoquin]

Hi
After spending countless hours looking through books and online for layout plans that would work in my spare bedroom (11' x 11'), I have finally come up with a layout plan I like. One that has a continuous mainline that I can reverse direction on.

Having never built a layout before and without much of an understanding of the wiring yet, I feel a bit uneasy with this plan. I have never seen one like it so I worry that I may be making a colossal blunder.

The solid black lines at the track. The thin red lines are the layout boundary.

Your comments please with regards to wiring. But overall comments certainly appreciated! I could go either DC or DCC, which ever would work best.

[NWP95501]

HO Scale I assume?
You might have some access issues under the 'hill' and by the road and silos. that seems like a long reach.

[Burlington Bob]

Access will definitely be an issue as drawn. Twenty four inches is a good rule of thumb to stick with, thirty inches is just about the maximum for most people. Even then, at thirty inches, you run the risk of damaging scenery and equipment if you are not extremely careful. You can make access holes but they can be a very big pain in the neck, both figuratively and literally, when you have to crawl around under the layout to work on something. The older you are, the more so that is true.

[Railrunner130]

I'd be worried that I'd get bored with this layout. Question being "Is there enough variation in the tracks here?"

I'd look at the possibility of making a double track out of it, so you can run multiple trains. I'd also look at adding a yard on the right side. Maybe look at expanding the hill and adding some sort of logging operation in that area using that spur just south of the hill.

Just some food for thought. I hope it helps.

[Jaoquin]

Originally Posted by Railrunner130

I'd be worried that I'd get bored with this layout. Question being "Is there enough variation in the tracks here?"

I'd look at the possibility of making a double track out of it, so you can run multiple trains. I'd also look at adding a yard on the right side. Maybe look at expanding the hill and adding some sort of logging operation in that area using that spur just south of the hill.

Just some food for thought. I hope it helps.

It all helps. Thanks for looking at it, everyone.

[otiscnj]

As a first start, its a nice idea, as its not simply a retangular 4x8. From a pragmatic standpoint, I agree with the others, you'll have dificulty reaching into the corners, as shown, + the 'yard' track will not be as long as shown, because the switches are not that sharp.

How about something in the shape of the letter 'E,' turned on its side?

[gregc]

Originally Posted by Railrunner130

I'd be worried that I'd get bored with this layout. Question being "Is there enough variation in the tracks here?"

i agree.

John Armstrong wrote an article describing 3 types of operators: an engineer who prefers intricate trackwork, dispatcher with lots of destinations, or spectator who enjoys watching trains on long continuous runs. Without knowing what your preference it's hard to know if my suggestions are appropriate.

with limited space, I think you should think smaller in order get more. By this I mean that you recognize that you won't be able to run larger locomotives, smaller trains which allows smaller radius curves.

I suggest you think about a folded dogbone to increase the length of the mainline -- two curves on top of one another or inside one another perhaps at different heights.

another suggestion is to add an additional siding. with small trains, it doesn't need to be long. This would increase the switching opportunities and allow more that one train, either to operate or to sit while another operates.

also consider team tracks and interchanges as destinations for cars requiring little space (no structure).

hopefully these thoughts will give you things to think about.
greg

[choops]

Don't get hung up on the revers loops. They are really not necessary and will cause wiring issues. You are better off adding a nice yard and runaround track so you can switch the engine to the other end of the train.
On the top of the a layout near the farm you can make that shelf narrower also narrow up the benchwork near the hill. Will give a slightly longer main line.
Steve

[choops]

24" minimum radii atlas #6 turnouts
St
eve

[NSHO]

I like the redesign better, nice job. I'd put the yard in the left lobe (seen this done many times) and use the lower space for staging or interchange.