Help with designing lower level

Wow, kinda quiet.  Hope that means there is some great designing going on for my space. 

 

Anywho, this is what I've come up with in the mean time.  This has not been easy to say the least.

 

 

The Yellow is the top level, 8" above the lower.  The purple is the grade, red is the lower with the blue also on the lower, but will be street running, either with SuperStreets or O27 track filled in to look like streets.  It's set up so you can run a train down the ramp, turn around on the bottom then go up the ramp and once again be able to turn around to go down.  That'll mostly be for the passenger trains to get between the two stations, but it'll also allow everything I currently have turn around.  The scale Big Boy I have on order, and anything else that can't handle O45 curves will have to be turned by hand, but not really an issue as they will be limited to the top loops and mostly run one at a time so I will be taking them on and off anyway.

 

So, what do you think?  Any ideas?  Any comments and thoughts?

I can appreciate the work you have put into this.However I think you may get tired of your main lines just running in circles easily.

If top level is only 8" above lower level won't the buildings be unseen?
or will tables be at eye level height.
have you considered putting lower level as the upper level?
just some thoughts.

St Paul

Considering how much I love turning a train on and sitting back and watching it go around for a long while, circles will not get old for me.  I sit in my rocking chair watching one go a on a loop on the carpet for 30+ min regularly.  It can run for over an hour is I get my laptop out and start looking at the forum.  But I also do like operations, which this layout can give both.  I'm not too big on automation, I'd rather do all the work myself as far as staging and running.  Crossing and block signaling will be designed in to work.  I did not think about switching the two levels, I'll have to look at that.  The bottom level was going to be about kitchen counter height, high enough to stack like 4 banker boxes under it.  I really don't want to go much higher because I have young kids and want it to be seen easily by them without needed much for step stools and the like.  But I did fail to think about ease for me to see buildings under the upper level.

Hey Sinclair,

how's it going? When I looked at your plan there were a few things that I saw.

First, SCARM related. Without layers(like RR-Track), multi-level can be tedious.

 

A couple of suggestions to make things a little easier.

1. Make the room plan out of objects set at 0 elevation and translucent color. At least the floor. You can make other objects at their true height for the 3D if you like. That will provide the outline.
2. Double-click the yellow , then right-click and select remove track supports. This gives you a clean view in 3D when you are trying to visualize the lower level. I couldn't tell what was going on until I did that.
3. Create your baseboard in the shape of the lower level and set the track heights at say 30-32 inches for counter height.
4. Next add 30-32 inches to all of the track elevations for the upper level.

Now when you click on 3D, you'll be able to get a good view. I attached a snip of just eliminating the track supports for the upper level.

 

Now, for some first impressions on the layout. I would lose the reverse loop. You need two and that one doesn't look good where it is.

 

Focus on that lower level as a single layout. You have the around the room done. Take the baseboard for the lower level in a separate SCARM and design it. Then you can copy and paste.

 

I am guessing that the around the room will be a shelf?

 

I'll spend some time on it, an see if I can up with anything.

 

Yes, the around the room will be a shelf, and I did design the lower level in a separate SCARM file and pasted it over.

 

As for the reverse loop, there is two, one on each level.  I did this since I had a passenger station on each level, so I could turn my passenger trains around so that they never travel in reverse on the grade.  I envisioned the top reverse loop to be a bridge of some kind.  It looked cool in my head anyway.

 

Yes, multi-levels are difficult in SCARM, hence why I did different colors, so that each was easier to select and move to get a better picture.

Ok,

I fooled around with it to get the lower level at 32" and the upper level at 40".

I assumed the black on the sides were windows and the the black to the left of desk a door.

I moved a wall and window on the right to get a 3D peek-in view. (attached).

The SCARM file is attached also with the height adjustments for 3D. I didn't change anything else.

 

Some comments:

The trolley would be cool on an out and back with the station stops in automatic mode running along the fron edge and to the yard end an back again. I can't tell if you would have enough room to do that.

 

So far the design looks good. I am still reading your running druthers and trying to interpret that.

 

Track building comment: Lose the little fitters where you can by cutting 5.5 4.5 or 10.

You can use flex-track in the modeling.

 

Lots of switches! Sheesh!

 

SCARM Moonman 3D mods attached.

Ok, here's a thought. If you "tunnel" the yard on the lower level, it allows some support for the upper r-loop. Hides the actors until it's time for them to appear. You could make the front removable for access.

 

I saw a post on a layout where someone had detectors that lit lights when they hit the bumper when backing staged complete trains into a hidden yard to indicate the bumper was contacted. Just have to remember who's on first?

 

The upper station would look good as a double or triple length platform with stairs from the city area.

 

Put some uncouplers on the freight stubs so you can leave cars at the location and pick them up later. Modern non-caboose cars.

By the way, are you really attached to that area? I saw your larger oval in your pile on the side.

 

It seems to work nicely, except for that lower level business area stubzzzzz.

 

It looks like you decided on loop operation with the blue track for the trolley. I see it can escape and even service the upper level.

 

I don't think there is much more to do, after 38 versions. Touch something and it screws up everything attached to it.

 

 

Here's some mods to the lower level.

1. Changed the "Ice House" connector to allow more space
2. Changed the yard to 22.5° to provide a better viewing angle of structures when staggered. This change the r-loop cross some.
3. Changed some switches for smoother transitions and angles.
4. I measured in those two areas and there wasn't sufficient space for any structures. That's why I modded the areas.

I played with some 3D more. There's snips of various 3D views, a SCARM with changes and 3D stuff and one clean SCARM.

 

I think you can get away with the 8" over the lower if you trestle the upper r-loop. It blocks a lot if it is shelf supported.

 

Finally, you'll have fun with the lift-out for the door. You'll have to take some on it. See Tom Tee's lift-out method.

 

I hope this helps you in some way. You've done a lot of work on this. Good luck!

I can tell you that very very few of those 38 versions are related, if at all.  I've been playing with this space for over a year now in SCARM.  As for the black areas, not a one is a window, this room has none.  Guess whoever added this room to the house didn't like light as the only one is from the centered ceiling fan.  The right side is the opening into the main house, and the left side is a wall mounted AC unit.  The door on the top is the only way into the back yard, and to the washer and dryer.  You are more than welcome to throw out everything and start new with the space.  I've done it at least 30 times.

 

As for the trolly car, it's an old MTH PS-1 PCC, so hence the loop instead of a point to point line.  And yes, I'm a weirdo in that I like all the track to be connected.  I even put a warehouse on the street car route.  I'd like to make it D21 Super/EZ Streets (I used O27 as a place holder) and I'm pretty sure my Lionel 0-6-0 Dockside should be able to handle it.  If not, guess I have to find me a 0-4-0 switcher, how horrible I have to buy a new locomotive.

 

I didn't think about stairs between the levels, I'll have to think about that.  And yes, I have this thing for switches.  Just love how they look, and watching rolling stock travel through them.  I also do plan on using longer track cut to fit instead of all those short pieces.  I plan on using as many 40" as possible cut to fit so that I have as few joints as possible.

 

I've attached my druthers list and the SCARM file for the other layouts I have designed in a zip file.  Some of them are ones I did for others, and I seem to do nice ones for someone else, just not myself.  Others I did for the room, as my wife and I were working out what I could and could not do.  So some of them are no longer contenders, but they had things I liked.  Fell free to ask about them or email if you want.

 

Thanks.

I have grown fond of v38. It has many features to provide operational enjoyment to prevent boredom.

1. Large radius double mainline
2. Can change tracks
3. Can reverse direction
4. Multiple trains can operate simultaneously
5. A staging yard
6. Industry service stubs
7. Can easily reach everything

 

I had another thought about that station on the upper level. If you widen the shelf slightly, you will be viewing the station from the street side. So, enough space for the illusion of walkways and a little of a parking lot. Then a backdrop on the wall of a city or town scene. Then a track crossover coming out of the wall or the scene.

 

The height of eight inches would be like climbing a huge set of stair, 32 ft.

 

I would let this one simmer a bit and refine the track connections and such. Review 3D angles. I think v38 is the winner.

I do like some of the changes you made.  As for sitting, there is no real hurry, like I said, I've been on it for over a year.  That and I still need to paint the room and lay tile on the floor.

 

Thanks.