05-17-2009, 09:48 PM
Great questions, Squidbait! Thank you for your reply. 
Okay...lemme answer questions now, then I'll go sketch a better room dimension drawing and scan it in tonight.
This is just space available in the garage. It will more than likely be open to the rest of the room. The car will not live there most of the time (read: Spring, Summer & Fall until the snows begin, which usually aren't bad or steady here in Puyallup, near Tacoma.) This enables me to use an 'aisle' alongside the layout space so I can build a peninsula (if curves are tight enough) and work both sides, or work the outside of an 'O' shape, etc. by standing in the open space where the car would be.
I'll use space heaters in the winter, but again, the car may be spending more time inside during that season. Ideally I'd like a layout that can remain in place most of the time (all would be better) so a peninsula or wye tail track, etc. that can be removable when the car needs to be parked is okay.
I do want a realistic looking/operating layout but want to minimize hidden trackage. A few layover tracks in a concealed reverse loop or along a wall wouldn't be bad, but I'd need to make my trackwork bulletproof and provide good access.
I have the modular modeler's curse. I collected rolling stock and equipment for running in long trains that aren't entirely respecting of era, due to the varied layout setting on which they'd be running and the available long right of way provided by modular layouts. Many of these engines and cars have some sentimental value so I don't want to just shelve them or part with them. However, I want to operate 90% steam in the 20's and 30's era and I recognize that I'll get more operation in my space with tighter curves and smaller trains. This is fine as I like branchline railroading. Can you see the dilemma? Trying to shoehorn both long equipment and trains onto a layout with branchline running & operations and mountain scenery is a pretty tall order without resorting to a spaghetti bowl and or helixes. A helix in my space probably wouldn't earn its keep and would take up too much room, I'd think.
HO standard gauge, I'm willing and able to hand lay turnouts as needed to fit but really don't want to do the whole layout that way. I've laid code 70 before with no trouble, but I'd like code 83 for much of the layout as I have some 'pizza cutter' flanged equipment that I'd like to run.
Thanks,
Galen
Okay...lemme answer questions now, then I'll go sketch a better room dimension drawing and scan it in tonight.
This is just space available in the garage. It will more than likely be open to the rest of the room. The car will not live there most of the time (read: Spring, Summer & Fall until the snows begin, which usually aren't bad or steady here in Puyallup, near Tacoma.) This enables me to use an 'aisle' alongside the layout space so I can build a peninsula (if curves are tight enough) and work both sides, or work the outside of an 'O' shape, etc. by standing in the open space where the car would be.
I'll use space heaters in the winter, but again, the car may be spending more time inside during that season. Ideally I'd like a layout that can remain in place most of the time (all would be better) so a peninsula or wye tail track, etc. that can be removable when the car needs to be parked is okay.
I do want a realistic looking/operating layout but want to minimize hidden trackage. A few layover tracks in a concealed reverse loop or along a wall wouldn't be bad, but I'd need to make my trackwork bulletproof and provide good access.
I have the modular modeler's curse. I collected rolling stock and equipment for running in long trains that aren't entirely respecting of era, due to the varied layout setting on which they'd be running and the available long right of way provided by modular layouts. Many of these engines and cars have some sentimental value so I don't want to just shelve them or part with them. However, I want to operate 90% steam in the 20's and 30's era and I recognize that I'll get more operation in my space with tighter curves and smaller trains. This is fine as I like branchline railroading. Can you see the dilemma? Trying to shoehorn both long equipment and trains onto a layout with branchline running & operations and mountain scenery is a pretty tall order without resorting to a spaghetti bowl and or helixes. A helix in my space probably wouldn't earn its keep and would take up too much room, I'd think.
HO standard gauge, I'm willing and able to hand lay turnouts as needed to fit but really don't want to do the whole layout that way. I've laid code 70 before with no trouble, but I'd like code 83 for much of the layout as I have some 'pizza cutter' flanged equipment that I'd like to run.
Thanks,
Galen
I may not be a rivet counter, but I sure do like rivets!