I had a table and benchwork designed. What are your thoughts?

Hard to tell how everything connects over by the helix / turntable entrance area, but if your "white" line is elevated, you are going to have one steep drop to the main level unless you intend to block what looks like town roadway just to the left of the turntable.  It also looks like you plan to run mostly passenger trains, but you don't make access to your car storage yard easy when trains need to be broken up and reassembled at the station.  Similar issue with engine changes to roundhouse / enginehouse.  Planned bench-work looks real nice, though.

Just some thoughts.

Chuck

The bench concept is very nice.  Really adds to the look and feel of the layout as you approach.  As PRR1950 has stated, the helix will be a tough one especially if you are running scale length passenger/freight cars.  If you are planning on running auto racks, then will add a little hassle to the helix due to clearance issues.  Those cars set higher. Do you really have a need or purpose for the upper level?  The broad sweeping curves in the front will give your equipment a great viewing point.   The track arrangement through the passenger station is also unique.  Having a run through track while 2 trains are at the station is something you do not see very often on layouts.  The rest of the layout plan looks like a nice runners plan with just a touch of switching.  No matter what any of us say, what is most important is you create something that fills your needs, wants and desires to the best means possible.  Hope and wish you the best on this project.

@SPIKE posted:

The bench concept is very nice.  Really adds to the look and feel of the layout as you approach.  As PRR1950 has stated, the helix will be a tough one especially if you are running scale length passenger/freight cars.  If you are planning on running auto racks, then will add a little hassle to the helix due to clearance issues.  Those cars set higher. Do you really have a need or purpose for the upper level?  The broad sweeping curves in the front will give your equipment a great viewing point.   The track arrangement through the passenger station is also unique.  Having a run through track while 2 trains are at the station is something you do not see very often on layouts.  The rest of the layout plan looks like a nice runners plan with just a touch of switching.  No matter what any of us say, what is most important is you create something that fills your needs, wants and desires to the best means possible.  Hope and wish you the best on this project.

@PRR1950 posted:

Hard to tell how everything connects over by the helix / turntable entrance area, but if your "white" line is elevated, you are going to have one steep drop to the main level unless you intend to block what looks like town roadway just to the left of the turntable.  It also looks like you plan to run mostly passenger trains, but you don't make access to your car storage yard easy when trains need to be broken up and reassembled at the station.  Similar issue with engine changes to roundhouse / enginehouse.  Planned bench-work looks real nice, though.

Just some thoughts.

Chuck

Thanks for the feedback! Exactly what I'm looking for. I made some changes below to the layout. Comments/thoughts? Removed the 2nd level as what you both mentioned, I want to avoid!

What other changes would you incorporate?

Only one track-work suggestion; eliminate harsh curves entering your turntable.  Maybe scrap the slip-switch, place a crossover (or another double crossover to complement the other side) closer (west of where it is) to your turntable, and just use a single switch off the mainline to access the turntable on a straight line.  With the space you have, you should be able to have a least 2 tracks head for the turntable (with only one mainline switch), separated enough for one to be an "arrival track" for dumping ash, and the other to be a "departure track" with coal, water & sand facilities. 

You might even try to squeeze in a third and fourth track to remove the ash (empty the ash pit) and resupply the coal and sand towers.  I suggest this because your "engine facilities" appear to be one of your focal points.

Finally, just for ease of operating passenger trains, use an outside curve as large as you can fit so that everything will look as good as it runs.

Chuck

PS: OOpsie, just noticed that your benchwork seems to be against a wall.  That reach across your roundhouse to the track and switches in back is just too far.  Any chance you can build away from the walls enough to leave sufficient aisle space for emergency work?  If not, you have to rethink this plan!

@PRR1950 posted:

Only one track-work suggestion; eliminate harsh curves entering your turntable.  Maybe scrap the slip-switch, place a crossover (or another double crossover to complement the other side) closer (west of where it is) to your turntable, and just use a single switch off the mainline to access the turntable on a straight line.  With the space you have, you should be able to have a least 2 tracks head for the turntable (with only one mainline switch), separated enough for one to be an "arrival track" for dumping ash, and the other to be a "departure track" with coal, water & sand facilities. 

You might even try to squeeze in a third and fourth track to remove the ash (empty the ash pit) and resupply the coal and sand towers.  I suggest this because your "engine facilities" appear to be one of your focal points.

Finally, just for ease of operating passenger trains, use an outside curve as large as you can fit so that everything will look as good as it runs.

Chuck

PS: OOpsie, just noticed that your benchwork seems to be against a wall.  That reach across your roundhouse to the track and switches in back is just too far.  Any chance you can build away from the walls enough to leave sufficient aisle space for emergency work?  If not, you have to rethink this plan!

Thanks for this advice! Should I scrap the transfer table idea? 

Moving from the wall would lose me a lot of potential space. It's a tight fit. Would an access hatch in the back corner work do you think?

If I move away from the wall, I feel like I lose the ability to fit O72 due to the water heater (circle). Anyone see something I am missing?

I think the adjusted plan looks very nice.  Before you go to crazy making more track changes, consider the equipment you are wanting to run.  Having a broader curve coming into the station would be nice however, depending on the effect you are wanting, that may be the only way to make it work.  Obviously, you are a young man.  Accessibility to the layout becomes critical as you age.  I am sure this is just one layout of several as you age and family the dynamics change.

I like the new plan, though you may have the skill to pull off the original plan.  I couldn't do it.  I have to keep things simple, or I get overwhelmed.  The benchwork plan really looks nice.  You may want to get a topside creeper (like they use for working under the hood of trucks) to reach the back of the layout if you can't put in pop up access.

I'm liking this plan . Helix would be too much. Liken just the way you got it. 

@E-UNIT-79 posted:

I'm liking this plan . Helix would be too much. Liken just the way you got it. 

Thanks!