01-08-2010, 07:23 PM
I built a modified version of that plan for my first layout. I got the track down and the trains running, and then we sold the house and moved, so I never got to the scenery stage. I don't remember exactly how I modified it, but I remember that I put some #4 turn outs into an "S" curve configuration entering the yard that consistently derailed my Athearn Sdp40. I also had grades that failed to transition into flats at the top and bottom to teach me about Kaddee couplers coming uncoupled if the transitions are missing on vertical curves. I don't remember what other mistakes I made on that layout, but I did learn a lot the hard way on it! The other thing I learned was that once the track was down, I would go into the train room to work on scenery, decide "let's run one train first," and three hours later, I had to shut it off and go to bed. I never did get any scenery or ballast on that layout!