6x16 with reverse direction

Welcome aboard. I am sure you will get many suggestions. I just searched reverse loop and found this

https://ogrforum.com/...astrack-reverse-loop

you would not lose as much space as you think and have room for a few sidings, or a 45 degree crossing loop keeps the inside loop intact.

my layout will be approx. 4.5 feet by 16 similar to yours. I hope to begin building next week(it has been a long time coming)

Good Luck

It all depends on what you want in your layout.  I can't recommend enough the need to actually write out a list of what you want in your railroad and then see what you can actually accommodate.  I would then think carefully about how you will operate your layout.  For example, using your current layout design - as intimated in your other thread, if you intend to have the upper siding service the middle loop which runs counterclockwise do you have enough space to have two trains on the inner loop and access that siding?  You can use the lower siding to allow another train to be on the main but will the train fit on the siding? Will the siding even be empty or will it have a cut of cars staged for some other purpose?  Are you better served with double-crossovers to change loops so you'll have more space for trains changing loops?

It's perfectly ok if you want nothing more than loops to run multiple trains and or are limited in your budget to the track on hand, but it definitely seems that is not the case.  Without thinking carefully about these types of operational questions you create more risk in not being happy with your layout once it's been built.  That's what we want you to avoid. 

-Greg

Thanks Bill, that was the link I needed! I just redesigned my plan with your help. I showed the roadbed to see if the 2 outer sidings would fit, it may be tight.

Gene

@Greg Houser posted:

It all depends on what you want in your layout.  I can't recommend enough the need to actually write out a list of what you want in your railroad and then see what you can actually accommodate.  I would then think carefully about how you will operate your layout.  For example, using your current layout design - as intimated in your other thread, if you intend to have the upper siding service the middle loop which runs counterclockwise do you have enough space to have two trains on the inner loop and access that siding?  You can use the lower siding to allow another train to be on the main but will the train fit on the siding? Will the siding even be empty or will it have a cut of cars staged for some other purpose?  Are you better served with double-crossovers to change loops so you'll have more space for trains changing loops?

It's perfectly ok if you want nothing more than loops to run multiple trains and or are limited in your budget to the track on hand, but it definitely seems that is not the case.  Without thinking carefully about these types of operational questions you create more risk in not being happy with your layout once it's been built.  That's what we want you to avoid. 

-Greg

Thanks Greg, how does the new design look I just posted?

Gene

@Genemed posted:

Thanks Bill, that was the link I needed! I just redesigned my plan with your help. I showed the roadbed to see if the 2 outer sidings would fit, it may be tight.

Gene

I agree with what @Greg Houser said above, and have some further thoughts.  While it often feels "right" to have all of the routes connect to each other, I'm not sure that it's always necessary or desirable.  In your plan, if you want to reverse a train, you'll need to have a clear path on all 3 loops.  This might be OK, but the ability of a particular train to be reversed will also depend on whether or not it can negotiate the sharpest curves on the inner loop.   The plan doesn't allow for much scenery or any changes in elevation - perhaps having one of the loops on a second level might add interest.   

I did set up the outer loop in RRTrack and it does fit but the outer edge of the Fastrack on the top and bottom sidings will be on the exact edge of the tabletop.   I personally am not an advocate of that but what I like isn't the question.

What is the purpose for each of the sidings?

-Greg

@Mallard4468 posted:

I agree with what @Greg Houser said above, and have some further thoughts.  While it often feels "right" to have all of the routes connect to each other, I'm not sure that it's always necessary or desirable.  In your plan, if you want to reverse a train, you'll need to have a clear path on all 3 loops.  This might be OK, but the ability of a particular train to be reversed will also depend on whether or not it can negotiate the sharpest curves on the inner loop.   The plan doesn't allow for much scenery or any changes in elevation - perhaps having one of the loops on a second level might add interest.   

I see what you mean. Maybe I could remove the middle and outer loop connection. I makes sense that either plan a larger locomotive could only run on the outer loop.

@Greg Houser posted:

I did set up the outer loop in RRTrack and it does fit but the outer edge of the Fastrack on the top and bottom sidings will be on the exact edge of the tabletop.   I personally am not an advocate of that but what I like isn't the question.

What is the purpose for each of the sidings?

-Greg

As previously said, a clear path for reversing a train.

@Genemed posted:

As previously said, a clear path for reversing a train.

You may still not be looking at this operationally.  You have 3 trains each running on their own loop - inner, middle and outer.  You can only reverse a train on the inner loop so the train using that loop has to get out of the way.  The siding on the inner loop only gives you ~70" of space - enough for only a short train.  You can use the section of the main immediately above the siding as well but you have no uncoupler sections in your plan which will reduce space a bit further.  If you use the siding and the section of the main you'll have ~145" of available space which is only enough for an engine (~20"), caboose (~10") and 9 or 10 forty foot boxcars which are 11.5" coupler end to coupler end.   If you're running short trains you're ok though it may be cumbersome.   You will have the same space concerns if you have to get the train on the middle loop out of the way to reverse the train on the outer loop.

I assume you are ok with limited buildings, etc.

-Greg

@Greg Houser posted:

You may still not be looking at this operationally.  You have 3 trains each running on their own loop - inner, middle and outer.  You can only reverse a train on the inner loop so the train using that loop has to get out of the way.  The siding on the inner loop only gives you ~70" of space - enough for only a short train.  You can use the section of the main immediately above the siding as well but you have no uncoupler sections in your plan which will reduce space a bit further.  If you use the siding and the section of the main you'll have ~145" of available space which is only enough for an engine (~20"), caboose (~10") and 9 or 10 forty foot boxcars which are 11.5" coupler end to coupler end.   If you're running short trains you're ok though it may be cumbersome.   You will have the same space concerns if you have to get the train on the middle loop out of the way to reverse the train on the outer loop.

I assume you are ok with limited buildings, etc.

-Greg

Yes, it all makes sense and I understand what you’re saying. Just starting out, I only have a few box cars and 3 locomotives. I do plan on purchasing more in the future for running purposes not collecting on a shelf. I’ve seen here some tremendous collections of locomotives and rolling stock. I don’t plan on anything like that or I’ll be living in the dog house. I’m liking this last design I made, one reverse loop and 3 sidings for my consist, small and medium in length. I have a few laser cut buildings I made this past winter. I’ll use whatever works in the layout. Thank you for your help.

Gene

Just got back on.. Looks like your having a good discussion. I have had the same discussions  in my head.

I agree with separating the outside line with the inner 2.(leaving the 2 sidings on the outside. Maybe a passenger only loop.

You may change the inside line many times before you actually build it. But you get the outside up and running and can run trains.

I highly recommend this book available at  the OGR store, (was actually reading this morning ).

https://ogaugerr.com/trackplans/