Looking for inspiration.

JohnJrOGR Forum Member

Over one year ago we sold our house in order to make room for my mother-in-law. This necessitated tearing down a model railroad 6 years in the making. All well worth it as my mother-in-law is a wonderful person. Recently she has informed us that she would like to move to Mexico and live with friends there (go figure!). This has been a blow to us but it will offer up space for a possible new layout.

I am a bit of a loss as I have dozen of boxes of my old layout packed away in the attic. My best Legacy locomotives have been beautiful self-queens during this whole time. The thought of beginning again is very daunting as I spent countless hours building my previous layout.

But, recently the bug has come back! I want to run trains!!

Now I need a new track plan and I am failing at coming up with something that fits. This is where I could really use the forum's expertise.

The dedicated space that I have for a full layout is 10x20 with a possible dog-bone of 3x8. My needs are a double mainline 91 and 100 curve. O72 never really worked for the articulated locomotives. Also, two sides of the layout against the wall in order to build mountains and tunnels as well as having mountain backdrops. I would like an elevation change possibly utilizing the Scenic risers system. I also need a reverse loop and places to store my trains on the layout. With 10 feet wide layout I will also require being able to access my fat *** around in order to create and service my layout! My great desire would be to have a six to eight stall roundhouse, although I may very well be dreaming about this one!!

Now, I'm sure you realize why I am stuck! Any and all suggestion would be greatly welcome.

Best to all,

JohnJr

2/9/202:29 AM

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geysergazerOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER

To fit those curve sizes in that space an around-the-walls layout is the only answer I see with the operator/visitors in an open center space. I don't see how a reverse loop with those curve sizes fits in that space as it would be passing diagonally pretty much across the open center space. Again with those curve sizes, a staging yard will have to be inside the mainline and if you are thinking O100 track switches you will eat up a lot of real estate with the yard throat. Doable though. Hopefully someone who owns the software will post a SCARM track-plan for a start.

2/9/207:54 AM

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clem kOGR Forum Member

Can you post a diagram of the space you have, with all doors, windows, furnace, or anything else? is this a basement, spare room or, garage ?

2/9/208:33 AM

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JohnJrOGR Forum Member

Thanks for the replys. The area I have available is a large garage. The windows are up high and the door would be four feet away from the layout. There are no obstacles in the way of the layout area. I could actually increase the size to 12x25 if needed.

Jim. Thanks for the suggestion. I will try posting on the track plan forum.

Best,

JohnJr

2/9/2011:58 AM

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AtoZ LewisOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

I like challenges like this. I used Atlas track, so that will be the first question. I am also unsure if I need spacers between the Atlas #5 turnouts. Right now the track is about 4 1/4 center to center in the turns. If you have some very big articulation I am not sure that will be enough. To accommodate a yard and turntable I put the Wye in the middle. I foresee this as a walk in, with a lift-up at the end. Let's start here before we get too crazy. I also used your original sizing of 10 feet by 20 feet.