Critique my Layout

I don't know about anyone else (yet), but I love it! Your attachment, by the way, opens as a indecipherable web site; otherwise, I would have opened it in my version of Scarm. That said, the picture gives me enough to say that you will have a ball with this layout. I will be interested to see how you accomplish what amounts to a helix maneuver in such small space. I am VERY interested, actually, because I regret not doing more with elevation. 

-- Dr Joe

LaramieJoe posted:. I will be interested to see how you accomplish what amounts to a helix maneuver in such small space.

-- Dr Joe

That make two of us! I think the elevation is doable, the grades are steep at 5% but there is transition length and I think the shay can handle it without pause. My Polar Express engine is no slouch at climbing either. I thinking of starting off the helix with woodland scenics starter grades then make wooden platforms for the higher elevations. Both will have 1/2" cookie cutter style underlayment. I do have a concern area where the last loop gets overpassed and there is only about 5.25" of clearance there which can get eaten up real quick with road bed and the like.

That looks like a fun layout! Reaching things shouldn't be too much of an issue IMO. I think it should turn out great!

Nice job.  Your shay was made for just a layout like that.  Good luck with your build and look forward to seeing that shay in action.

Boy I wish I knew why the scarm file is all messed up. Wondering if its because I am using the nonlicensed version. I even paid for the license this morning but the only machine I can install SCARM on is having a firewall issue and won't connect to the net to get the license.

Mixy, thanks for the clarification. The SCARM file needs to be saved and opened in SCARM; you can't just click on the attachment here and expect to see the layout.