12x16 design - UPDATE 4/12/12 - DCS Installed!!

I would move the switches and crossover track for the reverse loop
to the right, making it shorter. This would give you room to add
another turnout or two for sidings, or just more room for
scenery. Like this:



This also eliminates the "S" curve that you have in the existing
reverse loop.

Thanks for the redraw with the flex track gary... looking good. About to take some photos of my progress so far. Will post them later tonight.

Number 1. I like your idea of moving that reverse loop at the top. That will help to conserve my space. I had been thinking about putting some "downtown" building in that area. Think it will make more sense now with the added room.

I just love this layout! Almost spot on to what I want. My room may be about 5-6 longer! I can't wait to see how this turns out!

Main part of the layout. Looking from the door.


Where the yard is going to be


Another yard shot



I know... I have mismatched generations of rolling stock/engine... just wanted to see it pull some stuff.

I have a long way to go... and even more to learn. But it's a start.

Uploading a youtube video, will post it when it complete.

Any ideas, suggestions or criticism is welcome and appreciated.

It may be late in the game to bring this up, but is it not customary to put some type of "roadbed" under the "realistic" track when laying the track? It appears that you are laying your track straight onto the table surface.

I'm referring to cork roadbed, homabed, etc., that is normally used UNDER the non-roadbed track to give it a roadbed.

quote:

Originally posted by NumberOne:
I would move the switches and crossover track for the reverse loop
to the right, making it shorter. This would give you room to add
another turnout or two for sidings, or just more room for
scenery. Like this:



This also eliminates the "S" curve that you have in the existing
reverse loop.

I like this as well and here is the RRTrack redrawn.

Looking good!

A few thoughts.

Just work on the track, switches and wiring until everything is flawless before doing scenery.

When it is time to do Scenery, have some wide rolls of Painters Tape ready for your tracks, cover them up to do the scenery.

You would want to put a stationary store type stickers on each of your wiring so you know what goes where. Start a notebook just for the railroad and write down what you have done and why.

That way when you say to yourself "Wait a minute" you can refer.

The switching lead is over a switch to what I think is the engine house or large building. Is it possible to relocate switch to the next track over so that the Switching crew does not have to worry about that extra switch causing derailments etc.

Is it possible for you to "Arrive" a train, cut the engine off and service it while the switcher moves in to sort?

Just my two cents.

I was going to suggest that, Mark. I think I'd put the engine house on the shortest yard spur, rather than the longest, so you will get maximum length out of your spurs.

Below is a short video I took. Number 1, I like your idea of moving the switches around. Will probably do that when the time come. I think it makes more sense that way, and it does free up some real estate on that left side.

Will, I see your point about the engine house. I will move it there as well. Heck I might not even have one. That area is getting a little tight, and I want to make sure I have enough room for some scenery in that area... although I guess and engine house is scenery. I may just move that longest spur over closer to the others and have that area open... will see when the time comes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gZDtAQEQPY

Thanks again for the input!

Well, I have made some progress in the last couple month.  Not too much, but I think this is the part where the visible progress slows down a bit.

 

First.  I decided to go with the plan that NumberOne suggested.  It does look to give me a little more room.

 

Second, I decided to sacrifice some the the shelves that were over the right side of the layout.  They were just in the way and evertime I was up there working I would hit my head..  Also, I decided to reuse the behind the door for some full length shelves.  

 

Third.. It's about time to start backdrop prep.  I think I am going to go painted blue with painted clouds.  Might be able to make some flats on narrow parts of the layout.  I really liked the way that Ingenero1's stuff looked, and have sort of used it, along with others as a guide.  So, I have painted the walls blue around the layout from the table up, and will start to fill in later with clouds.

 

Fourth .  Bought some switches that would get me everything except for the yard area.  I am still not quite happy with the plan on that.  Might lay it out a little different.  I still have some time though to revise that area before I have to make a definitive decision on it.  I have started to install the switches.. It's a little tough figuring them out, but just taking my time on them and they seem to be coming together..  Took me a couple hours to figure out where to cut them in and get the first one set... learning a lot here.  

 

I will try and post some updated photos later.. Not much to look at, but I really like when others post photos, so I will try and do the same.  

Plan looks good, but there is a reverse-curve in the reverse loop on the upper left. Moving the upper turnout to the right allows the placement of straight track in the reverse loop for smoother operation at speed. Still tinkering around the the reverse curve in the lower area by the engine house.

 

I have actually already laid the switches according to the revised plan by NumberOne.  Got the kink out of that top curve as you suggested... bottom one is still a little kinked I think.  I did the entire layout with flex track though.. so I suppose I could tweak it a little if i needed.  

 

I'm still not completely happy with the yard section.  Do you think i need the through track or, could I just make it come off the top mainline switch, like in the modified red/green sketch.  It could then go into 4 yard tracks that are more parallel to the mainline on the right side??  Any suggestions here.  I will try and get some pics tomorrow to show my progress.  

 

 

Something sort of what is above is what I had in mind.. keep in mind I'm new at this and the prototypical aspect of it.  Not really sure that I wanted an engine shed, so I can do without that.  Any thoughts?

Sorry 'bout that. Saw only the second page when I made the post. Senior moment. The reverse-curve, while operable in 3-rail with truck-mounted couplers, can jerk a train into a derailment at speed. That was my basis for the revision.

Well,

 

Was out of town first of the week and while I was going my DCS system came in from Jason's Train Shop.  Super fast shipping, great price, and very helpful... all the things I look for when making a big purchase.  

 

Was able to get it hooked up tonight.  Previous to this I have only seen DCS on two other forum members layouts... I was fully impressed with both, and after reading the review I decided it was time to make the plunge.  

 

Little disappointed when I first hooked it up.. jerky movements, vol didn't seem to work right.. just real unresponsive.  Typical for what was also going on at work this week.  Decided to come in and read a little on Barry's DCS guide... humm... might it be the battery.  Went back out, sat it on the track for just a few minutes.. BAM!!  Things started to work much more smoothly.  

 

Guess up until now, I hadn't run it that much and the batter really hasn't had a chance to get a good charge.  It is on the track charging now, with some tape on the center rails to either end of it just in case there is a runaway.  I think that will fix the wierd issues, jerky starts and stops, vol issues etc.  Seems to really be a sensitive remote.   I'm really impressed with the ability to set the MPH down at 2-4MPH, and it holds there.  Smooth as glass.  Can't wait to get some more engines and look at all the other features that it has, also to get an AIU and hook it up to the switches... all in time I guess. 

 

Need one of these(50-1017) to plug the brick directly into Fixed channel 1.  The MTH product locator will show you who has it.  

Learn something new every day!

 

I have been quietly following this thread and really enjoy to hear how things are turning out for you!

 

Here are some links to help you find them.

 

http://mthtrains.com/search/apachesolr_search/50-1017

 

That should do it for you. I ordered a few for my new TIU as well.

 

Got my DCS mounted on a swinging door under my layout.  When I need to work on it I can swing it to parallel to the side, when stored it will swing to perpendicular to the side.  Makes things stay out of the way..

 

Got some temp switches wired up too.. will work for not, at least until I get an AIU.