Feedback on a 7'x7' track plan please

Nice plan!! Will 2 sides be against walls? If they are, you will have a long reach into that corner. Looks like a lot of fun. I agree about sidings vs the second loop-2 trains will be more fun. Also like the way you did reverse loop!!

Pete

Very clever arrangement.  What else will occupy the room?  How heavy do you think this will be once completed?

Going to be tough to reach the middle unless you plan to have access ports in the middle. Really like the folded dogbone

-bruce

It will work, but I had to alter it some to provide clearance for the switch machines on the outer main switches. They will need to be on the inside for a folding layout.

Thanks everyone!

2 sides will be against walls so I'll have to think about access.  I'd like to make it strong enough that I can walk on it but it may become too heavy.  I need to start designing the benchwork and structure.  I hope to create some sort of cube storage on the bottom side that can be used when the layout is folded against the wall.  The room will be a playroom for the kids.

The folded dogbone idea came from a track plan email.  Here's a screenshot of the email.

Thanks for the update Mike.  I actually plan to use K-Line Supersnap switches so I won't have to worry about switch machines.  Below is an update that gives me a long siding to connect the two loops.  It gives me much more flexibility with just another 4-6".

Mike, nice job on the conversion of the original plan!

Cvette, fairly convoluted when switching from counter clockwise to clockwise direction, I like it!

If you add 2 or 3 access hatches in the middle, you'll thank yourself later. They can be hinged so that they fold down when you need to climb up from beneath.

I like the changes. Pretty neat track plan.

ya'll mention hatches, however, this is only a foot off the floor... a tough feat for spiderman! Instead, incorporate crates that can be used as cubbies when up, but become support "legs" when down. You won't have to build as stout, because there will be center supports.

The track plan is interesting, but have you thought about how inconvenient a fold-up plan is with the set-up time, and then everything has to be put away later? Will you incorporate storage shelves on the wall for all the trains and buildings?  

You might want to consider a smaller plan that doesn't have to fold up. A layout that is ready to go is a lot handier for spur-of-the-moment action.  

Another possibility is for a fold-up plan to have a stationary yard section against the wall where you can park the trains, instead of having to remove them all from the table to fold it up.  

A foot off the floor is OK for kids, but will you be happy with that in the long run?

CVette,

Here's an earlier thread with some photos of the frame work for my 6x9.  I wouldn't worry too much about using the X frame like I did, as I was using what was available at the house the day I built it.  A regular square frame should suffice.

https://ogrforum.com/d...ply/2415514336586252

I like your layout.  As long as the kids are old enough to fix their own derailments they, and you, should really enjoy it.  However, if you have even one engineer who is too young to fix his own derailments, requiring you to fix it, I'd think twice about building that plan because you'll constantly being crawling across it to get to those switches and it will get old in hurry.

Instead of a fold-up layout, you might want to consider a narrower layout that can stay set up all the time. You could stack two narrow layouts in the same space, or mount one narrow layout over an existing desk or table. Lots of door-size plans here:

http://www.thortrains.net/marx/drlaydex.html

This one I drew up myself with Anyrail.