First Layout 12 x16

Great plan.  You should get a lot of play value, and operating time out of this set up.

@Jack L posted:

Attached is a PDF file of the layout I am planning to build. It is a three level layout. On the PDF, the black lines are the lowest level, (at 0" +/- above framing), magenta lines are the mid-level at about 7" above the framing, and the blue lines are the upper level at about 14" max above the framing.

The upper level has O-96 and O-88 curves. Track and turnouts will all be Ross.

Mid-level are all O-72 curves. Track will be Ross. Turnouts will be mostly Gargraves.

The lower level are O-54 with a few O-45. Track and turnouts are Atlas 21st century.

Comments and suggestions are welcome.

@Jack L

Jack:

That is a GREAT track plan!!!!! Bravo!!!! My only question is why, on the one level, you are using Ross track and Gar Graves switches? Though I was once a Gar Graves dealer and really like both Mike and Tom at Gar Graves, I would do the reverse using Gar Graves track and Ross switches. Gar Graves track is probably a bit more affordable than Ross track. Also, Ross switches, though being a more costly than Gar Garves, make a more precision switch. Though we do have many Gar Graves switches in our layout for economy purposes, the few additional switches we have recently add for new sidings are made by Ross.

Still, you have created a fine track plan with many operational possibilities.

If I'm following your layout correctly, it looks like trains will have to run from the lowest level (black) to the upper level (blue) before using the middle level (magenta) at all.  Is there some operational reason for this?  Also, I trust your plan is too primarily watch trains run as you have very few operational possibilities.  Finally, I can't tell where your walls are from the plan, so I hope you have plenty of perimeter access for fixing potential issues as they arise.  Those curves will require quite a reach  to the middle if something derails.

Chuck

Interesting - one person says "very few operational possibilities" and another says "many operational possibilities".

Someone asked "why, on the one level, you are using Ross track and Gar Graves switches"? It was purely for cost saving purposes. I was planning on using Ross #6 turnouts on the upper level to maintain 4" center to center spacing of the two tracks. On the mid-level, that is not a consideration.

PRR1950 - there is a connection between the lower level and mid-level track. It is one the far left about half-way up. As far as access goes, the far right side is open. On the far right there are two 45's giving access into the curves at the corners.

Just to clarify, when I mentioned "operational" possibilities, I meant things like passenger trains stopping at multiple stations, cars being transferred between railroads at interchanges, and cars being sorted in a yard (or yards) to be delivered to, or after being picked up from, industries.  Along these same lines, your layout plan doesn't leave much room for scenery, especially at the upper portion of your PDF file, where all 3 levels converge.

But, if this design floats your boat, I really up you will enjoy it when built.

Chuck