Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, all.
I'm in the process of turning my single level layout into a 3 level, mostly to add some interest and open up areas for scenery in the space I have available(pdf attached). I have an L shaped space 16' x 7.5', with the long end of the L being 5' wide (I am constrained by required furniture in the room from expanding this any further, which is also part of the reason for multiple levels). I plan to be able to run 3 trains/loops independently with DCS or Legacy (have both). The upper level (red) will be mostly town/industry activity and a turntable/roundhouse for engine activity. The main layer (black) will be loop arounds with one reversing loop (in a tunnel under the upper level). The lower level (magenta) will be a yard area at the front of the layout, with a second reversing loop. The mid-upper grade is 4% and green, and the mid-lower transition is 3.6% and blue. I plan to make the mid level at 42-44", with the upper 10.25" above that, and the lower 12" below the mid. The smallest curve is O42, and the outer loop is O54 min O72 max. The benchwork will be open in the middle of the lower/mid levels for access to the upper level. The track will be all GG and Ross.
I mostly like to watch the trains run, so this layout has interest in that the trains appear and disappear in tunnels and can move between layers
Wondering what everyone thinks of this: Is it too busy? Will the yard underneath be trouble? Wanted to use it mostly as a staging area. What do you think of the level heights? I can crawl under 28" OK, and the open area will allow working on the mid/upper levels sitting on the floor or a small stool. I also own the topside creeper for upper work, and plan to have a couple liftouts in the upper level for access.
Tom
