5x15 idea.

My opinion is that you should a town in the center. Might make some good street running scenes. Could go to a grocery in the town. For the bridge, do you want a static bridge? I know lionel made a short lift bridge. Could have a harbor instead of a pond. Don't forget things like an access hatch in the middle. And if your like me then you could create a fictional railroad to operate your pike.

Well I do not need access and even though I own a k-line swing bridge it's just a girder. I do not have need access panel being 6'5. There will be a harbor right by a power plant well a dock with a crew boat(revel swift boat) docked at it. The layout is lirr late 1950s early 1960's. Thanks for the suggestions.

mike.

That's a nice plan. I think you need some type of access hatch/reach-through near the crossovers on the back just in case you get a derailment back there.

It won't be up against the wall so I can walk around. 

Mike:

I am not sure where the 031 turnouts will be - just be aware that will limit you on the locomotives and cars you can use.

I have a friend who runs only the smaller Lionel and Williams conventional stuff all O-31 min. He started out with O31 curves and turnouts but eventually upgraded to O42. All the trains look much better running through O42 curves then they did on the O31.

Joe

Joe,

Thanks for the response. The 0-31s will only be used on industrial sidings like the power plant and the factories. They yard will be o-42 and o-72. The crossovers will be 0-54. Even with visiting Bangor and Aroostook engines it is going to be Long Island. So the largest steamers are 4-6-0's and 2-8-0's. Diesels are S-2,RS-1,RS3's, C-420, and two FM. So radius would not be a problem. 

Mike.

This is Atlas track, inner loop is O45, outer loop is O54.  There are a couple of O36 switches and One O45 switch. The rest is done with O54 switches.   There is a 1/4 loop done with O63 and one O27 curve section still exists.  

First addition/modification.

One more piece added later across a door.

Camera walk around.   Click on the link.

Mike,

I took a shot at putting your layout into SCARM. If you do not have that software you can download it for free or I can save the file as PDF. For this version I used O72 switches to connect the inner and outer loops and O31 switches for your spurs. I don't like the O31's. I can play around with it some more but first wanted to check with you to see what, if any switches you are committed to using.

Joe

Mike,

Updated the above using O72 switches at the top of the layout. I think it looks much better. There are others on here who are better as giving advice and using SCARM. But this is a start.

Hauspiper,

I worked on a version. I don't see any reason to use small switches. All O72. I put in some 5" insulated in case you want to run DCS with blocks. Dropped a few Operating tracks in.

The siding on the lower right didn't make sense to me. It's a counter clockwise running layout. That would have made it a push-in or engine first. You could figure it out if you really want it that way.

That looks amazing thank you all!

mike 

Hey Mike,

Is this the Port Jefferson plan you wanted to do? I like the plan! 

Andy

No this is the in between layout. It will include northport power plant. Thanks so do I. My G-5s, FM's and Alcos will be able to stretch their legs a little. 

Mike

"MOONMAN

Hauspiper, The siding on the lower right didn't make sense to me. It's a counter clockwise running layout. That would have made it a push-in or engine first. You could figure it out if you really want it that way."

If Mike is looking for some operational variation, leaving the siding in (if there is room) will make it more interesting. If he has an engine with couplers on both ends, the two main lines and the two crossovers would give him a run around capability and allow him to work the siding.

Looking forward to this Mike! It'll be nice to see some local points of interest. Good luck.

Andy

Yea I love local. I even have a crew boat (swift boat same thing) to be docked at the power plant since I have docked there many times at work. I'm really looking forward to see yours.

mike