11x11 Room track plan?

I eventually got bored with loops, revising  now to add a switch yard and a turntable. Size is similar to yours and you can guess there is not much in buildings or scenery. Mainly spurs for logs, coal, etc. Compromise on size versus stuff!

@hokie71 posted:

I eventually got bored with loops, revising  now to add a switch yard and a turntable. Size is similar to yours and you can guess there is not much in buildings or scenery. Mainly spurs for logs, coal, etc. Compromise on size versus stuff!

Do you have any photos?!

DCtransit, try a search; there are several forum members that post track plans and help other members with their track plans.  Something may appeal to you.

DCtransit, my layout is not two much less three concentric loops, but is in an 11x11 room.  I built a twice around over and under layout for a longer run.  I put in two lift up bridges to enter the center of the layout.  I have two passing sidings and some sidings for car storage and switching.  I’ll send some specifics when I can spend some time on the computer.  A link to the design and build is in my signature line.  I’m just sharing that to give you some ideas.

Before I started getting interested in trains I ran them with my brother (Marx) and father-in-law (Lionel).  They were loop runners.  It was alright sitting there, watching the trains, talking, having a beer.  But it got old after a while, especially after we ran out of beer.

The layout I am slowly putting together will have the ability for loop running, but also have a workable yard and several switching opportunities to keep it interesting.

Here is a messy version of RR-track. the outside loops and the yard are built and I am testing the yard for problems.  there is a lot of yard information on the forum related to arrival / departure tracks, caboose tracks, yard leads, etc. so I am still working on whether I have a feasible approach.  The turn table appears to fit where you see it but more testing needed, especially to get the back shop integrated (which I love).  The industry accessory area is a major work in progress.  The bottom is against a wall, otherwise access all around.  the middle is an open / operating area for the yard primarily

Generic answers will give you some insight, but detailed answers require more info from you.  For example, how experienced are you in model railroading?  What's the largest locomotive and equipment you plan to run (even if just for now)?  What control systems are you planning to use (conventional, Lionel command of some sort, MTH DCS, etc.)?  Do you already have track, and if so, what type?  Are you comfortable working with free track planning software like SCARM?  Do you expect to get scenery and buildings into the area you have along with 3 main lines and multiple passing sidings?  How good is the lighting and electrical work in this room?

These questions will tell us what size curves and switches you either must use (due to equipment limitations) or want to use because you have it.  In an 11' x 11' room, that is probably the most important question to answer.  Also, if you don't have to run loops (or choose not to), you could build a nice "U" shaped switching layout in that room with a small yard on one side, an interchange (and even smaller yard) at the base of the "U", and a small industrial area on the other side that even leaves a little room for scenery and structures.

Chuck

My layout is just about 11' X 11'. It is U shaped with two mains, two passing/reversing sidings and a six track yard. Also features a small  town with station. Here are some old photos of the layout.

@rickoshay posted:

My layout is just about 11' X 11'. It is U shaped with two mains, two passing/reversing sidings and a six track yard. Also features a small  town with station. Here are some old photos of the layout.

Love the Super O!

@rickoshay posted:

My layout is just about 11' X 11'. It is U shaped with two mains, two passing/reversing sidings and a six track yard. Also features a small  town with station. Here are some old photos of the layout.

Ive done too much google and OGR searching, and i have seen yours come up in the results! If i do a U shape, this is how i pictured it (plus some elevated lines)

I like the mix of yard and city sections!

Do you have an track plans (even rough drawings?)

My only concern is not being able to reach the "outsides" of the U in case of derailment since it will be against walls.  I cant tell, is yours an island U?

@PRR1950 posted:

Generic answers will give you some insight, but detailed answers require more info from you.  For example, how experienced are you in model railroading?  What's the largest locomotive and equipment you plan to run (even if just for now)?  What control systems are you planning to use (conventional, Lionel command of some sort, MTH DCS, etc.)?  Do you already have track, and if so, what type?  Are you comfortable working with free track planning software like SCARM?  Do you expect to get scenery and buildings into the area you have along with 3 main lines and multiple passing sidings?  How good is the lighting and electrical work in this room?

These questions will tell us what size curves and switches you either must use (due to equipment limitations) or want to use because you have it.  In an 11' x 11' room, that is probably the most important question to answer.  Also, if you don't have to run loops (or choose not to), you could build a nice "U" shaped switching layout in that room with a small yard on one side, an interchange (and even smaller yard) at the base of the "U", and a small industrial area on the other side that even leaves a little room for scenery and structures.

Chuck

I grew up working on my dads 8x20 Super O layout (conventional lionel). Im a civil engineer in the transit construction industry so i have a fair amount of knowledge on the whole process from benchwork to operating

Ill be starting my own and already have several MTH PS2 consists. (i have a DCS explorer, but waiting on the new WTIU).

All engines are O31 (subways and trolleys are O27), i may havea need for slightly larger radi down the road

As far as track goes, i have a mix of fast track, O27, and super O.  Im leaning towards going Menards for the Mainline routes, and using the fastrack for a trolley line, and O27 or Super O for Elevated

I have been using SCARM, but need to brush up on how to create the benchwork in there

Id like to minimize the number of switches i use, in order to simplify my power configurations. (for whatever reason, i dislike switches between loops!!!)

This thread has some perfect timing as I will be posting later a similar type topic for a newly "acquired" room.  I'll be looking to see what comments and ideas show up here.

About 12' X 12'  Turntable is an expansion.  Blue line is room dimension.  A Camera Walk-around.

First addition.

Coal tipple

It’s threads like this that really get the synapses fired up. As Amfleet mentioned it helps those of us in the design phase.

Here’s my U shaped 9x12 Fastrack layout with 2 mainlines, reversing capability, and 5x sidings for some locomotive or rolling stock storage. The inner loop is 048 minimum, outer is 060, and crossovers are 072. The layout is located in our garage, so I can access from inside, front, and both sides (with the garage door open). Some great designs already posted on this thread, maybe mine can be another source of inspiration

EDIT: Adding images

Here's what I ended up with in a room just a few inches over 11x11.  I used 054 curves for the mainline.  The passing sidings and stub sidings have 042 curves.   The shelves are 30" deep and the SCARM drawing isn't totally correct on the placement of track and layout edge.

Here are a few photographs.

@Mark Boyce posted:

Here's what I ended up with in a room just a few inches over 11x11.  I used 054 curves for the mainline.  The passing sidings and stub sidings have 042 curves.  The SCARM drawing isn't totally correct since the levels in the upper right appear to be flipped top for bottom even though the 0" and 6" heights are correct.  The shelves are 30" deep and the SCARM drawing isn't totally correct on the placement of track and layout edge.

Here are a few photographs.

thanks for providing plans and photos! i love the vertical use of space! I may try something similar but converting it to 2 independent loops rather than 1 continous double loop

@Mike0289 posted:

Here’s my U shaped 9x12 Fastrack layout with 2 mainlines, reversing capability, and 5x sidings for some locomotive or rolling stock storage. The inner loop is 048 minimum, outer is 060, and crossovers are 072. The layout is located in our garage, so I can access from inside, front, and both sides (with the garage door open). Some great designs already posted on this thread, maybe mine can be another source of inspiration

EDIT: Adding images

i love the combination U and full outer loop! Best of both worlds!

I dont think that would work in my situation due not being able to access the outerloop in case of a derailment (as you mentioned, yours is essentially an island in a garage)

@Mark Boyce posted:

The SCARM drawing isn't totally correct since the levels in the upper right appear to be flipped top for bottom even though the 0" and 6" heights are correct.

Just FYI, SCARM doesn’t consider heights when displaying tracks in 2D. They’re displayed in the order they were laid, last being on top. In your case, you need to select the green and red tracks, cut them and then paste them back in. That way they will be on top of the blue tracks.

@DCtransit posted:

Ive done too much google and OGR searching, and i have seen yours come up in the results! If i do a U shape, this is how i pictured it (plus some elevated lines)

I like the mix of yard and city sections!

Do you have an track plans (even rough drawings?)

My only concern is not being able to reach the "outsides" of the U in case of derailment since it will be against walls.  I cant tell, is yours an island U?

The layout is more of a peninsula, butting against one wall. Derailments could definitely present a problem, especially if you have scenery or structures on the layout. However, if you keep the number of switches to a minimum and can place them within easy reach, then derailments might not be much of an issue.

Sorry, I never drew up a layout plan. Just played with different options until I got the configuration that I liked. The outer loop is minimum 48" curves with only two switches.

@DoubleDAZ posted:

Just FYI, SCARM doesn’t consider heights when displaying tracks in 2D. They’re displayed in the order they were laid, last being on top. In your case, you need to select the green and red tracks, cut them and then paste them back in. That way they will be on top of the blue tracks.

Thank you Dave.  That was a quick and easy edit.

I edited my first post with the corrected SCARM plan

This is just my opinion and not a commentary of what others have done.  The only person your layout has to make happy is you. 

Unless you have large layout you may very well find yourself bored with trains running in a circle and having an island or 'U' shaped layout is essentially the same thing.   To me, reverse loops are not a solution either as they restrict the length of your trains and take up too much space which can be better utilized.

A better solution may be an around the wall layout and include a branch line with switching opportunities to hold interest.   This is just one example of what can be done and although the dimensions are almost twice as large as your 11x11 room the concept is the same:

The top is 4' wide, the left side is 3' wide, the bottom is 4' wide for 9' and then is only 12" wide for the remaining length and the right side is also 12" wide until connecting to the top.  This is due to a stairway in the middle and needed lift-out section to get to the other side and access a crawlspace and utilities.

In short, my point is that a branch line for switching industries allows for better spacing of scenic elements and holds more interest than reversing loops all while allowing for longer consists and a larger minimum curve so you can run larger locomotives.

-Greg