Latest Design

For a classic toy train layout this is excellent! Tremendous operating possibilities.

Thanks Tommy.  I must have imagined the train traversing the layout a hundred times in my mind already.  And once in awhile I find something to tweak.  

A bit more thinking.  It hurts when I do that.  I've made some changes to my track plan.  I moved the coal ramp to what I think is a better operational location.  The previous design had a curved track at the bottom of the ramp.  That could be a derailment issue.  I've also moved some other operating accessories around to allow a better view of them, which is from the front of the layout, bottom of drawing.  

hey Dan,

I hope you are feeling better. Since RR-Track has all of the accessories, I built your layout. Using modern O31 switches, I only find one joint, where you may have to cut and two joints that will be wiggle fits.

Here's the 3D - some accessories were close and I slide them along one way or the other. The AF log loader didn't fit where you had it. Doesn't the culvert need both loader and unloader? A light tower, some billboards and yard lights and you are in business! 

Carl, that's great !   Thank you for taking the time to produce it.  

There were two AF log loaders. This version has the 787. I also couldn't find the UCS tracks needed for some of these accessories in the track library, but you know that they are needed and where.

I am not sure if the milk platform and cattle corral can share the same UCS track. I believe that's how you had those aligned. So, I moved them, which forced a move of the icing station. I also moved the 364 Lumber loader. It's tall and looked like it was blocking the view of the milk and cattle. Moved them up front.

The only comment of concern is the location of the coal accessories. The coal inevitably goes where it may and requires access to clean it up. I just noticed that the switch motors near the center 90 cross are awkward won't fit. I fixed that in the docs attached.

I hope this gives you a good feel for what your vision of the result will be. Glad to assist.

It looks good!

Good point on the 364 lumber loader.  The cattle corral I am using is the modern version, so it actually shares the same track with the 362 barrel loader.   The milk car platform can stay where you have it placed.   I have a 345 culvert unloader coming.  I'm not sure if i want to combine it with the culvert loader or place it on the track at the back of the layout, separate from the loader.  The AF log loader is the newer Railking version.  Not sure if that matters.  Through some preliminary experiments, I have determined that unloading logs on the back side of the log loader seems to work better than unloading them on the same side as the man lifting the logs into the awaiting car.  

I watched a video on the AF log loader - it looks like it needs two tracks close together. it's 8.25 inches wide total, 5.25 for the platform. Dump one side, load the other. I moved it between the two tracks in front of the lumber loader. Looks like it fits there, but you may have to move the lumber loader for aesthetics.

Play with the culvert - see how finicky it is before you put it out of reach. RR-Track is good for this stuff with the accessory libraries.

Change them on your drawing and post it - I can move them around, now that I have it built in RRT. I can put up the 3D to help you decide.