11-08-2014, 05:17 PM
Having read the forum for a while I've registered and decided to post in the hope I can profit from others experience and ideas. Givens are at the bottom
I live in the UK and have been out of the hobby for a couple of decades. Previously I built micro layouts or dioramas rather than anything that required due diligence to track planning. So I know I'm missing on experience of US modern prototype and track planning. I'm aware of my weaknesses enough to read on the subject but I may fail miserably to put any of it into action. I hope you'll bare with me :oops:
Like many I have modest accommodation with typical small British rooms. I have secured the spare room, 9ft by just under 9ft and I plan on using two walls. On the 9ft wall I need to fix the width to 12in but on the other I can go to 18in with a little bit extra in the elbow of the corner to fit the 90 degree curve in.
The biggest problems I can see is the space a 90 degree curve takes up with a minimum 24-27in radius, dead space around the corner area if facing spurs are to be avoided, and ending up with short spurs that will only take 1 or 2 50ft cars. I recognise I am suffering from the worry of having too simpler a plan and fear the layout won't be operationally interesting. I accept the recommendations about thinking in terms of car spots over industries and ensuring industries are valid sizes for getting rail service. I think I need a little help here
.
What interests me is industrial switching of the smaller end of industrial size with a varied range of freight cars. Grade crossings and the typical slower operations seen in these locations are important. The kind of layout designs and operations popularised by the likes of Lance Mindheim and others. Call it a bell and horn thing....
In my explorations of this, and other, forums I've come across layouts that have inspired me, to provide some kind of reference these are -
Kurt's NW 58th <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="http://bigbluetrains.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=169">viewtopic.php?f=46&t=169</a><!-- l -->
Bushwick terminal <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="http://bigbluetrains.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=6560">viewtopic.php?f=46&t=6560</a><!-- l -->
Mal's Deerfield beach <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="http://bigbluetrains.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=5569">viewtopic.php?f=46&t=5569</a><!-- l --> and <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="http://bigbluetrains.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=4317">viewtopic.php?f=46&t=4317</a><!-- l -->
Callum's SSWUP <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="http://bigbluetrains.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=4271">viewtopic.php?f=46&t=4271</a><!-- l -->
Larry's Miami River <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="http://bigbluetrains.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=5300">viewtopic.php?f=46&t=5300</a><!-- l -->
Chris's CTU Spur <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="http://bigbluetrains.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=5147">viewtopic.php?f=46&t=5147</a><!-- l -->
KU4PC 15th Street <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://youtu.be/fPUs_aE8-5E">http://youtu.be/fPUs_aE8-5E</a><!-- m -->
Maybe a common thread beyond the excellent modelling is the impression of "feel".
Today I spent some time learning AnyRail and came up with a plan that fits, however my gut says it's playing to my comfort zone of adding more track than in reality I need. I ended up with needing a run-around in order to switch two facing spurs. These were an attempt to use space parallel to the "main" as I have no space for an straight lead off either 9ft leg of benchwork. I may have the option of another 90 degree 6ft section continuing round the room but right now I think that would only make things more complicated.
![[Image: 15742604955_fdf39375be_o.png]](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3942/15742604955_fdf39375be_o.png)
For me using one 9ft to have something similar to Lance Mindheim's "skills builder" bottom of <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.shelflayouts.com/blog.htm">http://www.shelflayouts.com/blog.htm</a><!-- m --> would not satisfy me enough other than as a stepping stone. So I'd like to use the other space I have to use for more than just a lead. I like the idea of being able to use the fact there are two legs at 90 degrees as a means to not be able to see the whole layout so I can deal with a lack of prototypical track connecting the two. That said there are enough 90 degree curves leading off a main into industrial parks
I would be really interested in any thoughts or advice. I am not committed in any way to the track plan above but felt I should at least show I was playing with track work rather than just expect someone to come up with a plan for me.
Thanks in advance and warm regards,
Steve.
Givens :
Scale: HO
Era: Modern 2005 to now
Region: Open as long as CSX though I do like the warm southern states
Governing rolling stock: 4 axel GP38-2 & MP15 with mostly 50ft cars with the odd 60ft
|______________________V_______________________|
Track/Operation .................................................. ..Scenic realism
|____________________________________________V_|
Mainline Running .................................................. ........ Switching
Space: 9ft (12in width) x 8ft 9in (18in width)
Minimum radius: 24in
Track: ME code 70 with #6 turnouts
I live in the UK and have been out of the hobby for a couple of decades. Previously I built micro layouts or dioramas rather than anything that required due diligence to track planning. So I know I'm missing on experience of US modern prototype and track planning. I'm aware of my weaknesses enough to read on the subject but I may fail miserably to put any of it into action. I hope you'll bare with me :oops:
Like many I have modest accommodation with typical small British rooms. I have secured the spare room, 9ft by just under 9ft and I plan on using two walls. On the 9ft wall I need to fix the width to 12in but on the other I can go to 18in with a little bit extra in the elbow of the corner to fit the 90 degree curve in.
The biggest problems I can see is the space a 90 degree curve takes up with a minimum 24-27in radius, dead space around the corner area if facing spurs are to be avoided, and ending up with short spurs that will only take 1 or 2 50ft cars. I recognise I am suffering from the worry of having too simpler a plan and fear the layout won't be operationally interesting. I accept the recommendations about thinking in terms of car spots over industries and ensuring industries are valid sizes for getting rail service. I think I need a little help here
.What interests me is industrial switching of the smaller end of industrial size with a varied range of freight cars. Grade crossings and the typical slower operations seen in these locations are important. The kind of layout designs and operations popularised by the likes of Lance Mindheim and others. Call it a bell and horn thing....
In my explorations of this, and other, forums I've come across layouts that have inspired me, to provide some kind of reference these are -
Kurt's NW 58th <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="http://bigbluetrains.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=169">viewtopic.php?f=46&t=169</a><!-- l -->
Bushwick terminal <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="http://bigbluetrains.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=6560">viewtopic.php?f=46&t=6560</a><!-- l -->
Mal's Deerfield beach <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="http://bigbluetrains.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=5569">viewtopic.php?f=46&t=5569</a><!-- l --> and <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="http://bigbluetrains.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=4317">viewtopic.php?f=46&t=4317</a><!-- l -->
Callum's SSWUP <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="http://bigbluetrains.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=4271">viewtopic.php?f=46&t=4271</a><!-- l -->
Larry's Miami River <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="http://bigbluetrains.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=5300">viewtopic.php?f=46&t=5300</a><!-- l -->
Chris's CTU Spur <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="http://bigbluetrains.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=5147">viewtopic.php?f=46&t=5147</a><!-- l -->
KU4PC 15th Street <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://youtu.be/fPUs_aE8-5E">http://youtu.be/fPUs_aE8-5E</a><!-- m -->
Maybe a common thread beyond the excellent modelling is the impression of "feel".
Today I spent some time learning AnyRail and came up with a plan that fits, however my gut says it's playing to my comfort zone of adding more track than in reality I need. I ended up with needing a run-around in order to switch two facing spurs. These were an attempt to use space parallel to the "main" as I have no space for an straight lead off either 9ft leg of benchwork. I may have the option of another 90 degree 6ft section continuing round the room but right now I think that would only make things more complicated.
For me using one 9ft to have something similar to Lance Mindheim's "skills builder" bottom of <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.shelflayouts.com/blog.htm">http://www.shelflayouts.com/blog.htm</a><!-- m --> would not satisfy me enough other than as a stepping stone. So I'd like to use the other space I have to use for more than just a lead. I like the idea of being able to use the fact there are two legs at 90 degrees as a means to not be able to see the whole layout so I can deal with a lack of prototypical track connecting the two. That said there are enough 90 degree curves leading off a main into industrial parks
I would be really interested in any thoughts or advice. I am not committed in any way to the track plan above but felt I should at least show I was playing with track work rather than just expect someone to come up with a plan for me.
Thanks in advance and warm regards,
Steve.
Givens :
Scale: HO
Era: Modern 2005 to now
Region: Open as long as CSX though I do like the warm southern states
Governing rolling stock: 4 axel GP38-2 & MP15 with mostly 50ft cars with the odd 60ft
|______________________V_______________________|
Track/Operation .................................................. ..Scenic realism
|____________________________________________V_|
Mainline Running .................................................. ........ Switching
Space: 9ft (12in width) x 8ft 9in (18in width)
Minimum radius: 24in
Track: ME code 70 with #6 turnouts
UK Engineering fan, from the tiny artistically engineered to the huge and powerful