Layout for a 12 x 12 room

Wow! Is there a lot of track crammed on that. Perhaps that is what you like, but that looks awful busy to me. Also, can you access all around the layout because if you can't, those switches in the back are going to be a bear to maintain and/or re-rail trains on if/when they derail.

any chance of fitting a U shape layout?

Overall it’s a good design. I would concur with Ben about pending trouble at the rear switches. Allowing about 12-18” around the wall would help. I might offer that there are a lot of whisker tracks. Eliminating some would give you some space for an ash pit, sanding track, etc.

You'll need access hatches to reach the back side of the layout for track cleaning and dealing with errant equipment. In a room that size, you could do an around-the-walls layout with larger curves (O-72) which would allow for future larger equipment.

Action packed design!

I agree with moving the crossover switches away from the back. Murphy's Law will be in full effect if you leave them there! Or plan in advance how to get to them. One idea is to split the crossover into 2 pairs and relocate each pair to curves on opposite sides of the layout. Let each pair flow naturally into the curves. Fewer ESS curves means fewer derailments.

Same thought applies to the culvert twins. These are notorious for needing hands on attention. Put them closer to the front where you can get at them.

Chris

LVHR

Perhaps you already have a lot of track and want to use it.  I think the plan is asking for trouble.  The best use of space would be an around the walls plan with a peninsula.   Google track plans with your size space, you should get some hits.  There is one in particular from a competitors magazine that is perfect for your space.

@AGHRMatt posted:

You'll need access hatches to reach the back side of the layout for track cleaning and dealing with errant equipment. In a room that size, you could do an around-the-walls layout with larger curves (O-72) which would allow for future larger equipment.

Matt gave me the same advice when planning my layout in an 11x11 room.  I didn't want mostly curves, so I opted for twice around the room with 054 curves.  I have a door in the lower right and a sliding glass door on the right which makes for a similar constraint you have.  Here is what it looks like now.  Just for a different idea.

I think your inner line would flow (and look) smoother if you used 048 curves instead of 036. It also looks like you're using 036 switches for the crossovers between lines, which will result in some pretty gnarly S-curves. I'd recommend using 060 or 072 switches for those instead.

Here's my 9' x 12' Fastrack layout with 048 minimum and 060 on the outer line. Not nearly as many sidings as yours (I don't have all those operating accessories), but it allows for as many as 4 long-ish trains running (2x on each loop) and has reversing options as well. The disconnected tracks are for storage of additional cars and locomotives.

Maybe another source of inspiration like you mentioned

It ticks off a lot of boxes including space for a turntable, and a double track w/reverse loop.  While I love a turntable, it does eat up a lot of room.  I think you may have to choose between the turntable or action accessories.

My experience is that there is never a derailment (typically at the switches) at the front of the layout, it always happens at the back of the layout!

Even if you add an access hatch at the back, it does get tiring crawling under the bench work to access stuff.  Action accessories also need to be easily reachable as you will need to pick up stuff and fix jams.  Having spent my time crawling under and around bench work, I would heed the advice of a u-shaped  or around the room layout.

As some folks note, it is busy.  Personally, however, I love busy!  This is how my old layout was and I prefer fun over prettiness.

Jim

@jd-train posted:

...

My experience is that there is never a derailment (typically at the switches) at the front of the layout, it always happens at the back of the layout!

Even if you add an access hatch at the back, it does get tiring crawling under the bench work to access stuff.  Action accessories also need to be easily reachable as you will need to pick up stuff and fix jams.  Having spent my time crawling under and around bench work, I would heed the advice of a u-shaped  or around the room layout.

...

Jim

During the AGHR build over 25 years ago, we opted for a 40" railhead height to allow kids to see it at eye level. The consequence of that is crawling under the peninsula to make adjustments if the turntable gets misaligned or to fix an errant turnout motor. It gets old 'cause it's no fun crawling around when you're 65 years old (now) vs. when you're 40 years old (start of construction). Now that I'm retired I'm planning not to have to crawl under the home layout.

Again, I have to agree with Matt since I am on the countdown to 65, very tired of all the good souls who want to help me figure out my Medicare and supplemental insurance.  😄

My layout is a few inches higher than 40 inches, but with no duck unders, I kept the bulk of the wiring out front.  I can sit on my roll around stool and reach almost everything.

Thanks everyone for the thoughts today, I didn't get to see them till just now with the server upgrades today.  I do already own all the track for this layout plus some more including all the switches.   

The closet door is on the left bottom corner going up 5 feet, and the double door entry from the bottom left going right 5 ft.  so the U shape would be very abrupt to avoid the doors.

So I thought maybe a double 0-60 loop and maybe the diagonal outerloop If I can make it work.  It appears I can make a Turntable, the Operating yards, and a small yard area.  Look like some funky connection may be needed to close those o-60 loops though. 

This would also give me space to move the table off the wall when needed (Table will be put on wheels).

Thoughts ?!?!?!

Greetings -

As far as improvements, the crossovers have already been mentioned.  I would look very closely at the turntable.  I see a lot of long tracks off the turntable for long engines that would need to negotiate 36" curves to even get to the mainline.  This could be improved easily.  Also, your reversing loop to my thinking does not point in the correct direction.  I would like to see a locomotive pull of the turntable, run around for a while, hit the reversing loop going forward, run around for a while longer, then finally pull forward onto the turntable to be turned around for the next run.

Below is a picture of the ruins of a small turntable by my house that only served to turn steam engines around at the end of the line.

Action packed ok but the advantage of the around the walls in that size room would be better for maintaining it easily.

I'm not currently convinced that an around the room layout within a 12' x 12' space would be very useful.  In my current layout I can run O-60 but if I try to run O-60 around the room it looks like this.  Which does not  yet allow for interior tracks of O-48/O-36, and still does not solve the reach issues, and with all the curves makes laying out the operating tracks more difficult.  I would be stuck with only smaller diameter track to make this practical.  Plus with the two sets of doors to closet and room entry and it is more crowded there as well.

So am I missing something in this setup or am I right that its not really practical for the space?

Thanks
Dan

Dan, I agree with you that you need some straight tracks for the accessory sidings.  I contemplated them with my around the room plan and don't have any operating tracks.  If you are still quite able to get under the layout easily or climb up on it (something I never did on a layout) then your original plan may be right for you.

So the wye like area outlined in purple....I still need to nail down.  My thought was to maybe use a 0-72 wye there and finagle some fit.  I can take either of the top curves going down and connect them to the vertical track going down the center there with good fit now. Or maybe I should abandon the top line and let the reverse loop from the left happen and be done with it?

As mentioned I can also put this version of the layout on wheels and use the 12-18" of clearance on the x and y axis to get around for maintenance as needed.

the real question is how to make that purple area work for me and I think it would give me everything I want (Turntable, Operating areas and industrial areas, plus reversing loop with

Any suggestions on that would be much appreciated.

The wheels thing is genius for a layout this size that you can push a foot or so in any direction.  I have never heard that before.  It doesn't even prevent you from attaching certain elements such as a backdrop to the walls, if desired.