DoubleDAZ posted:Here's a version with the yard on the main decking.
Well it's a new day, and time for a little reflection. I think this basic plan is the most practical. It gives room to move around while building, operating, and maintaining. The grade on the pink line is long enough for me to incorporate the scenic effects I want with vertical separation. One thing I have noticed on a layout where one or two trains are running, I tend to focus on the train and the immediate scenery to the train. On layouts with numerous trains running, then I focus on the overall large scene, a large portion of the layout. That will serve well for me ignoring the yard when running a train on the pink line up and down the canyon.
The loops at the top work well for Thomas, the town built on a hill. I can have streets and buildings over the tracks, and when I need to get in the rear for a derailment or maintenance, I will just roll that section out into the open area.
The town of Parsons will be in the lower right, and is very similar to what I have already built on the roll out in the little room. I thought I had an old photograph of the real town, but can't find it now. I'll get it later.
