Latest new layout plan and new update

What are your minimum curves and preferred track?  Is all the area available?

GarGraves track with GarGraves and Ross switches, O72 minimum curves, there will be removable access points, but all space will be used, top left at siding will be Station and town, yard and maintenance area on right, with industry scattered around, bottom far right will be elevated over end of yard with girder plate elevated section.

There are 3 crossovers between the loops. If you eliminate the one that is back to back coming out of the wye or move it to the left so that is back to back with the one on the far left, you will have greater distance to achieve separation where the outside loop crosses over the inside loop. As it is you have about 8 feet to achieve that separation which is going result in a 6% grade or better. If you move it you will be able to access it coming out of the reverse loop in either direction. The grade is still going to be pretty steep but that can be mitigated somewhat by having the wye tracks slope downward slightly. 1/2 inch should produce a grade of 1% or less for the wye.

I like the layout & the broad radius curves. I prefer the larger capacity yard area. How many locomotives do you plan on? Locomotive capacity can be increased with a turntable which also enhances operation in my opinion. Either way I believe you will enjoy it. 

The left half of the layout will be elevated at maybe 2 to 3 inches compared to the right side, allowing a water feature to separate a mountain in center of middle reverse loop and yard area which will decrease the grade percentage a decent amount, as upper left turn will be through a mountain tunnel and grade will continue all the way to top left crossover.

Hi Jay's Pap, I see you are expanding the layout from this thread 9.5 X 15 Layout which is itself an expansion of the 1957 catalog layout, as we discussed by email.

I agree with other comments above:

Not sure why you need the extra cross-over.   Its placement restricts the run for the grade over the yard.   (You might show the grades that you have calculated, so that we can see how this comes together.)

What about access & reach?   Is that a passageway along the top of the layout to provide access?   How big is that really, hard to tell from the diagram, I am not sure of the size of your grid.  If the space is 15' on the right hand side, I count 22 squares, so around 9" grid?   Making the top access too small?   Unclear.

-Ken

jay's pap posted:

Any words of wisdom, or encouragement on this 30 x 15 plan, any ideas and thoughts needed. Yard area changed somewhat from one to the other.

Have you run the simulator for a run session?

That will find any small issue remaining or confirm that it is what you want.

I like the two long spurs on the left for parking a complete train or perhaps a passenger consist, where you can back in and leave one and pick-up another.

A yard is always complicated. (on the right) How it is set up is determined by what type of operations you want the railroad to perform.

Suppose that you wanted to build a train of cars in one spur with cars in another and the grab a caboose from the two separated spurs. The yard lead isn't long enough and you would foul the inside line.

The scenario would be two trains running the mains mostly unattended while you are fiddling in the yard. It could also be multiple operators.

This is from the position that quite a bit is invested to create the yard and you especially want that to be exactly what you want.

Would an engine service area be more fun?

You could create a lot of fun by putting an Inglenook there for fun when visitors come by.

In SCARM, the simulator is in the menu bar>Extensions>Model Train Simulator. This works in 2D and 3D. It's fun, but the value is in determining that the layout works like you want it to work. There is an elapsed time counter to determine how long of a run session could be had.

Made some changes to bottom right curves, relocated the crossover, and the parallel double next to yard will be for service shed, all suggestions are easier to see and understand from others sometimes.

Rough redo showing Yard and industry fl[pped to opposite sides, thoughts !

A few small changes attempting to improve yard operation and approach.

Does this version work better than previous attempts, any concerns or changes would be appreciated, I think I helped the yard lead issues. All help appreciated.

Need opinions on new and maybe last changes, extended yard lead and station siding with switches.