Mega build I'm Planning (Whole barn)

Can't open it. Can you convert it to pdf?

This sounds like a very interesting project. However, if you want to share your layout diagrams with the members of this forum, you should consider uploading something other than an Anyrail file. By doing that, you are limiting your audience to only those people who have and use Anyrail.

You should export your diagram out of Anyrail as a jpg image or some other universally used image format.

Since this is a long term project, perhaps you should consider walk-around type plans and more operations based than loop-based.   

Here are some pdf files of each level. Sorry about posting the anyrail file earlier I didn't think about the fact that you need any rail to open it.

@prrjim posted:

Since this is a long term project, perhaps you should consider walk-around type plans and more operations based than loop-based.

The bridge sections that connect each slab are the Lionel lift out bridges (682110) and there will be about 2 feet on all sides to walk around the exterior. I know that's not shown in the track plan but I did plan for it. All these plans are subject to change as I learn more. I am just getting back into the hobby after some time out of it. And I do want it to be operations based so there will be some changes made to accommodate operating accessories.

@Texas Eagle 77 posted:

Can't open it. Can you convert it to pdf?

Just did that. Sorry.

APW Trains,

WOW!

Document and journal - I'd bet this has the makings of a real interesting book when you are done

This looks like a fun project! Here is a minor consideration...

My layout is in an old  35'x70' two and a half story  post and beam shed connecting house and barn. The shed is insulated, interior sheathed in pine boards, and it is heated. I started building twenty years ago.

The critters that occupy any rural barn have never quite acknowledged my control of the space. Mice, spiders, and an occasional chipmunk keep me busy cleaning the layout. And emptying traps. Just sayin'.  LOL

Jan

Quite the plan!!!  Are the circles helixes to connect levels?

There is one thing I would do differently - install wiring for a lot of lighting. Those beautiful barn spaces gobble up a lot of light.

@Mark Boyce posted:

Quite the plan!!!  Are the circles helixes to connect levels?

Yes they are; 2% up (outer) and just over 2% for the down track (inner).

@HiramO posted:

There is one thing I would do differently - install wiring for a lot of lighting. Those beautiful barn spaces gobble up a lot of light.

I plan to on both the layout and in the actual barn.

Thanks for sharing.  One question about the layout and one about you .

Any relation to the Walthers hobby firm?

Isn't three feet between levels rather close spacing for visibility across a wide layout?

I also wonder about issues of access to parts of the layout unless you have access panels that are fairly frequent, close together,  and pass through all the levels of the layout in the same place.

This layout build has all the makings of a 12 episode 24 hour mini series on HBO.   The second season will feature levels 4 and 5.

Good luck with your project.  I hope you're in this for the long haul.  It looks like your track plan includes about 306 switches.  With an investment like that (to say nothing of the track, control panels, etc.), I hope you take plenty of time to be sure that you really like the concept!  My layout has a puny 151 switches.

Personally I'm concerned that your plans are overly ambitious and in the end you will have a lot of independent loop running.  There's nothing wrong with that if it is what you REALLY want, but take your time and be sure.  I've known guys that planned a monster layout, got 5 years into the building process and lost interest because their wants changed.

@Landsteiner posted:

Thanks for sharing.  One question about the layout and one about you .

Any relation to the Walthers hobby firm?

Isn't three feet between levels rather close spacing for visibility across a wide layout?

I also wonder about issues of access to parts of the layout unless you have access panels that are fairly frequent, close together,  and pass through all the levels of the layout in the same place.

No relation as far as I  am aware. I was planning access panel at pretty frequent intervals but I believe my yard designs will need tweaking for that to work. As for visibility you may be right and I may have to tweak it a bit. I do always have the 3rd floor of the barn and could theoretically spread it out across all 3 floors.

the first step you will want to consider is to seal up the barn so it is air tight, then power wash the walls, floor and ceiling, check the foundation, barns are notorious for poor foundations,  good luck and have fun,  Plenty of room for a two rail layout too,

@Bob posted:

Good luck with your project.  I hope you're in this for the long haul.  It looks like your track plan includes about 306 switches.  With an investment like that (to say nothing of the track, control panels, etc.), I hope you take plenty of time to be sure that you really like the concept!  My layout has a puny 151 switches.

Personally I'm concerned that your plans are overly ambitious and in the end you will have a lot of independent loop running.  There's nothing wrong with that if it is what you REALLY want, but take your time and be sure.  I've known guys that planned a monster layout, got 5 years into the building process and lost interest because their wants changed.

My end goal is to have both operations and loop running. Several different industries will be spread out across all levels as well as passenger routes between the different levels. This is a currently evolving layout which I won't be starting until summer (at the earliest). But hopefully by the time I start I'll be able to take everything I've learned on here and just through research and do a final draft before starting. I mean if I do it how I planned each half of a level is swappable as well as completely changeable (At least until the scenery is in place). Being completely honest I'm probably in over my head but I'm also stubborn enough to not give up lol. As far as the switch controlling goes, the yards were all going to be wired controllers and I was hoping that I could use legacy control for the rest because a lot of them are switches connected to switches and they'd never be switched alone. I might have to lose some of the redundant switches I put it. I probably will anyway as a cost saving measure but everything will still be interconnected.

@wb47 posted:

the first step you will want to consider is to seal up the barn so it is air tight, then power wash the walls, floor and ceiling, check the foundation, barns are notorious for poor foundations,  good luck and have fun,  Plenty of room for a two rail layout too,

The barn is over run by racoons and in need of a complete remodel (if it wasn't I probably wouldn't be able to fill it with trains lol) so it's getting new walls floors and roof. I'll be sure to check the foundation. I know the actual frame is hemlock wood so it should be pretty sturdy still. I'm getting my builders license before I start and I already how to do most of it. Hopefully the builders license course tells me what I don't know. If it doesn't the building code probably does.

I'm pretty sure @ $400 a month, you'll be finishing this up in your retirement years.

Just say'n.

@mustang posted:

I'm pretty sure @ $400 a month, you'll be finishing this up in your retirement years.

Just say'n.

Yes that's true but I'm currently sinking a lot of money into starting a production company so once I get the equipment and the company started I'll have more lol. I'm also going to have a roofing company that I'll be part owner of and my partner is going to run that mostly. I'm helping him get it going but eventually I'll be hands off on that.

Ps i didn't know we could use emojis lol.

I would not use fast track. Expensive and noisy. I would use gargraves/ross track. less expensive and my personal opinion, better looking. Make sure any track type is supported well into the future for your layout.

I use Lionel/USA track because I run tinplate.

Check out the many treads on track on the forum.

@gftiv posted:

I would not use fast track. Expensive and noisy. I would use gargraves/ross track. less expensive and my personal opinion, better looking. Make sure any track type is supported well into the future for your layout.

I use Lionel/USA track because I run tinplate.

Check out the many treads on track on the forum.

I was hoping someone would address the track. Thank you for the info I'll look into both of them and see which I prefer.

Have you considered access hatches and points? Even with 3' separating each stacked level, have you considered what to do if you have a derailment or issue (for example, in your yard on level 1)?

@Slugger posted:

Have you considered access hatches and points? Even with 3' separating each stacked level, have you considered what to do if you have a derailment or issue (for example, in your yard on level 1)?

When I actually build it I will probably redesign the slabs to be about a foot narrower at the moment they are 7 feet across but in the end they will probably be 6 or 5 so I can reach from either side to the center of the slab. There will be access hatches if the slabs stay at their current width. My original intention was to have scenery near the middle of the slabs so all the track would stay close to the edge but with the roundhouse on the first level that went out the window a bit. The yards (all of them) will be redesigned for use with the ross #171 4 way 8 track yard set. As well as using ross track instead of fast track. I'm hoping with a bit of tweaking I can get the layout to be accessible without hatches. It's kind of hard when it's just on a screen to identify possible problem areas. My guess is that most of this layout will be redesigned before I actually build it. I have a general Idea of what I want and other than having it take up the entire barn and having at least 6 levels the actual track plan is not concrete yet. I may even switch to less of a loop layout but we'll see.

@APW Trains posted:

... All these plans are subject to change as I learn more. I am just getting back into the hobby after some time out of it.

May I kindly suggest to hold off for quite a while on any purchases and definitive plans or commitments.   Your thoughts, area of interest and business projections may change.  This is a very large project which could die on the vine.

This ambitious endeavor reminds me of some glorious far reaching plans I had at your age.

It took the weathering process of spending additional years on this planet to realize the gigantic fumble that some of my earlier thinking both would have and did cause.  I still regret some of my decisions made at your age and level of experience.

The best thing I could have done with $400 of disposable income a month would have been to increase my retirement funding.

Please accept these words as humble concern.

APW Trains,

It has been almost 1 1/2 years since your last update.   Hope you have had time to work on your layout along with all your other projects.

I think you're gonna be busy with this for about 30 years.  I admire your ambition and work ethic!  I'm having a hard time with keeping 10 turnouts operating reliably.  Probably Ross turnouts are the way to go.

UPDATE!!! I'm still planning this build it. However, it has scaled back a bit. Also thinking about opening a club when I do eventually build it to help with the maintenance. Thanks everyone for the words of support I know it's been a while since I've been on here but my business and life got busy.

That's a whole lot of levels! But it will be interesting if/when you complete it. I second the Ross/Gargraves combo. Especially for how many feet of track you'll need!

When you are ready, you might give the area where you live to see if there are other forum members close by.  Since this is your property and train items, I am not sure about starting a formal club.  But if you can find some good folks that are interested and want to help, the extra person power and comradery will help things go faster.