Help with new 200ft loop

Well, it looks like you just like to watch trains run, but you can surely do that with a lot less cost by making your loops much smaller.  In addition, it seems like you are OK with lifting the current running trains off the track and placing the other trains you wish to watch "run" on the track since you have no provision for storage on the boards.

Before you actually build this, I highly recommend 2 activities.  First, and probably best, visit some already constructed layouts and think about what you like and what you don't like about each.  In addition, ask the modeler what he or she did differently on earlier layouts and what would they do differently if they were to start again.  Second, read some books and/or articles and/or forum posts about railroad operation (both real and model), about track planning, and about scenery construction.  There are many good ideas freely given, but some info has to be purchased, even if 2nd hand.

You have a lot of available space; plan well before you build something poorly designed and become so frustrated or bored that you leave the hobby.

Chuck

I agree with readily accessible storage, one of the early shortcomings of my layout that I had to work to correct!

There is a seller on eBay, sparks00033.  He has foam roadbed very similar to FlexxBed and a lot cheaper.  I used it on my layout and I'm quite happy with it.  It comes in 6 foot sections so it's easy to lay, and it comes in gray or black.

On my old layout I had “ok”on table storage for cars and engines, in my new design, I am planning on improving this ten fold.  

john, thanks for info on the foam bed.  Filed away for future reference.  

@Commodorefirst posted:

On my old layout I had “ok”on table storage for cars and engines, in my new design, I am planning on improving this ten fold.

That's pretty much where I was.  My latest addition was a 10-track yard, that really upped my parking!  Prior to that I just had three sidings at the rear of the layout and a couple of separate loops that I could park trains on if I didn't want them on the mainline.  I've come to the realization that you can't have too much yard space, I'm sure I could use more!

New ten-track rail yard

This was my only true siding area previously.

It looks like you have constrained yourself to equipment that can operate on O54 curves  by the 8 1/2' by 5' table.  It appears that O90 would work in the rest of the layout.

Jan

@Jan posted:

It looks like you are contained yourself to equipment that is constrained to O54 curves  by the 8 1/2' by 5' table.  It appears that O90 would work in the rest of the layout.

That's one thing that was #1 on my list, all O72 and larger on my pike.  Been down the road of having stuff I couldn't run.