6x10 Layout

Congratulations! You've taken the most important step - stopping to plan ahead!

Books have been written on this subject and go into at times excruciating detail however, there are a few important steps:

1) Determine your operator style.  That is, do you enjoy prototypical operations such as switching or running trains which have a purpose or are you satisfied with watching trains run over your layout as your mood strikes or perhaps you enjoy a bit of both.

2) What are your "Givens" and "Druthers"? 

Givens are your mandatory factors - items which cannot change or which you have no desire to change.   One of these you have already answered - available space and size of your layout.  Other Givens include which livery to run, time period to model, type of motive power, minimum diameter curves, number of loops, conventional vs command control, etc.   (Note: you mentioned you are presently running in conventional mode - you will have no problem adding command control in the future if you decide).

"Druthers" are essentially your wish list.  You already listed some in your post.  Others are such things as what type of track to use, the number of towns, types of industries, designing for switching moved, being able to reach everything from the layout side, ability to turn trains (reverse loop, wye or turntable).  

An easy thing to do is to check out this website:  http://www.thortrains.net/

The layouts are for spaces smaller than 6 x 10 but give a good visual starting point to design a layout in a 6 x 10 space.  All could be made larger to fit your space if you really like a specific design.

My advice is to discuss with your wife what you ideally would like to see - your Druthers.  Once you have those written down, your Givens will determine which may be feasible.  At this point in time you can begin to sketch your layout to determine what your railroad may look like.   Post back with this information and the fine folks on this forum can critique your design and provide guidance.

Best of luck!

- Greg

Some basic ideas for starters ...

If you want the widest possible curves for larger locomotives, you're going to have ovals for the general form. Of course it's possible to add spurs, crossovers, cutoffs etc in various ways.

If O36 curves are acceptable, this folded dogbone breaks the symmetry of ovals. Two shorter trains can cruise around the dogbone circuit, or one can park on the "cutoff" track. The spurs are arranged as "trailing point" for right-hand operation, which reduces accident potential and simplifies switching. Of course the spurs can be rearranged in various different ways, or omitted.

I gather that your previous layouts have been smaller and temporary. Flat-table plans with FasTrack are easy to build and you can easily change things around later if you want to try something different. These are a good way to start before tackling ideas for multi-level plans with grades.

Eric,

A 6 x 10 island is great. I found this article (attached) very informative. It includes some of the key planning points of a few of the well known layout designers.

I can tell from your post your going to want to at least balance the scenery to track ratio. (keeps the partner happy)

ACE's 2nd plan is a good starting point. It accomplishes a lot for running trains and still leaves plenty of space for scenery.

Ace posted:

Some basic ideas for starters ...

If you want the widest possible curves for larger locomotives, you're going to have ovals for the general form. Of course it's possible to add spurs, crossovers, cutoffs etc in various ways.

If O36 curves are acceptable, this folded dogbone breaks the symmetry of ovals. Two shorter trains can cruise around the dogbone circuit, or one can park on the "cutoff" track. The spurs are arranged as "trailing point" for right-hand operation, which reduces accident potential and simplifies switching. Of course the spurs can be rearranged in various different ways, or omitted.

I gather that your previous layouts have been smaller and temporary. Flat-table plans with FasTrack are easy to build and you can easily change things around later if you want to try something different. These are a good way to start before tackling ideas for multi-level plans with grades.

How you went from 2 isolate ovals to the second layout blows my mind.  It would have taken me a week to do that, if I could.

Tony

A variation of the previous plan with a couple long sidings to park extra trains and a long station platform area. Strategic placement of  buildings and scenery will enhance the plan. Easy flat-table construction.  [original poster says he has access all around]

Ace posted:

A variation of the previous plan with a couple long sidings to park extra trains and a long station platform area. Strategic placement of  buildings and scenery will enhance the plan. Easy flat-table construction.

So, you would need cut out panels to access the interior for needed work, correct?

This is the trackplan for my FasTrack 6x9 layout. The piece in the upper right is 30"x30" to allow more switching.  The right side of the layout is against a wall so I can walk around 3 sides. I've also included an overall shot to give an idea of what can fit into the area. It may give you some ideas. Hope it helps.

Michael Hokkanen posted:

Ace posted:

A variation of the previous plan with a couple long sidings to park extra trains and a long station platform area. Strategic placement of  buildings and scenery will enhance the plan. Easy flat-table construction.

 

So, you would need cut out panels to access the interior for needed work, correct?

No, it's a walk-around island. Check the 1st post.

Here's some pics and trackplan of our previous 6x10 layout. It used Gargraves 31 and 42" curves for the main loops.

graz posted:

Here's some pics and trackplan of our previous 6x10 layout. It used Gargraves 31 and 42" curves for the main loops.

 

Very nice layout in a small space. I'd like to see more pictures of it.

@Ace I like your work in SCARM.  But where did you get the GP9s for the Model Train Simulator extension!

@AC E -- Are there reverse loops that I don't see?

Looks like a nice project.

Ted S posted:

@Ace I like your work in SCARM.  But where did you get the GP9s for the Model Train Simulator extension!

Ace hasn't posted in a few years.

ACE understood how to program objects in the SCARM software. He created most of those (GP9's) as well as other objects. Forum member Chiloquin Russ can do the same.

There are now some models in the SCARM software for simulation. They look like this:

I have reached out to ACE with an old email. I will see if he responds.

Moonman posted:

ACE understood how to program objects in the SCARM software. He created most of those (GP9's) as well as other objects. Forum member Chiloquin Russ can do the same.

There are now some models in the SCARM software for simulation. They look like this:

I have reached out to ACE with an old email. I will see if he responds.

 

I hope Ace is well. He had a very creative, collaborative, and resourceful way about him.