09-20-2009, 01:38 PM
Luke,
I sympathize with your frustration. When I look at this new concept and your concepts of the past and all of the problems you've had, I think for you, simpler would be better. It seems your biting off too much and getting frusturated too quickly. I really think you should shy away from a helix as this brings a whole new world of frusturations as well. It does open up possiblities and we've seen a few use them with satisfaction but....
My last layout was an out n back. I had a lot of fun with it as I pretty much liked to watch the trains run and it gave me a lot of mainline to do just that. It appeared as though it were a double mainline but because of the out n back, it was just 1 really long one.
What if, we did that with your space? Simplify a little...
![[Image: image.php?album_id=98&image_id=1448]](http://www.the-gauge.net/forum/gallery/image.php?album_id=98&image_id=1448)
This is a very simple concept plan using Kato's 12-3/8" diameter. I tried to pull off several things in your space. First, I tried to minimize your reach to 2'4 as reaching way across the layout gets old after a while. I also tried to get you a lot of mainline with some industrial areas while keeping things simple.
Let's start at B...
lower level yard area... keep your yard small but you still have room for a turntable and a roundhouse as well as some engine maintenance stuff and 4 or 5 tracks for freight.
C. This is where both lines start to climb at a 2% grade up into the hills towards D. Also in this area, you can add some industries or something to add interest.
D. Both lines go around a big sweeping curve and continue up into the hills along the backdrop.
E. The track does not have to hug the back wall in this area. By now, you may have enough rise to accomplish the 2" needed to cross over the tracks at C if you would like.
F.. Not much happenning here.
G. The upper tracks could cross over the lower in this area creating some intersting terrain.
A. UP high, you could make a mountain town or something in the middle of the loop or hide the back of the track inside of a tunnel.
I kept it simple but you can wiggle it up here and there for more interest... just don't do it too much or your trains will look like they are on a roller coaster so to speak. Thoughts?
This simple design has a mainline stretch of about 92'. Play with it. See if it gives you any ideas.
I sympathize with your frustration. When I look at this new concept and your concepts of the past and all of the problems you've had, I think for you, simpler would be better. It seems your biting off too much and getting frusturated too quickly. I really think you should shy away from a helix as this brings a whole new world of frusturations as well. It does open up possiblities and we've seen a few use them with satisfaction but....
My last layout was an out n back. I had a lot of fun with it as I pretty much liked to watch the trains run and it gave me a lot of mainline to do just that. It appeared as though it were a double mainline but because of the out n back, it was just 1 really long one.
What if, we did that with your space? Simplify a little...
This is a very simple concept plan using Kato's 12-3/8" diameter. I tried to pull off several things in your space. First, I tried to minimize your reach to 2'4 as reaching way across the layout gets old after a while. I also tried to get you a lot of mainline with some industrial areas while keeping things simple.
Let's start at B...
lower level yard area... keep your yard small but you still have room for a turntable and a roundhouse as well as some engine maintenance stuff and 4 or 5 tracks for freight.
C. This is where both lines start to climb at a 2% grade up into the hills towards D. Also in this area, you can add some industries or something to add interest.
D. Both lines go around a big sweeping curve and continue up into the hills along the backdrop.
E. The track does not have to hug the back wall in this area. By now, you may have enough rise to accomplish the 2" needed to cross over the tracks at C if you would like.
F.. Not much happenning here.
G. The upper tracks could cross over the lower in this area creating some intersting terrain.
A. UP high, you could make a mountain town or something in the middle of the loop or hide the back of the track inside of a tunnel.
I kept it simple but you can wiggle it up here and there for more interest... just don't do it too much or your trains will look like they are on a roller coaster so to speak. Thoughts?
This simple design has a mainline stretch of about 92'. Play with it. See if it gives you any ideas.