More Brainstorming

Neal,

I would swap your elevations and bring the turntable complex to the upper level.  The turntable would be a focal point in its room.  The bridge would be an obstacle to doing maintenance.  Or you could build your own version of the Horseshoe Curve in the alcove.

Jan

I like the plan and the rendering is very well done. I do see some reach issues though. The loops behind the TT are 85-90" from the edge, so accessing a derailed car will be a problem. Reaching over the bridge to get to a large steamer engine with tender from the back of the TT could be a problem too. The green track along the left wall in the corner is 72" from the edge and the top turnout for the Wye is over 50" as is some of the lower green track.

While I agree with Jan about access to the TT, I'm not as bothered by the elevation or the bridge from a visual perspective. Perhaps all or part of the bridge will lift out for access?

Dave:  

I plan on having the back corners behind the TT as removable access panels (mountain scenery) for better access.  Also true of the area in the corner behind the yard.  As for the bridge, I may re-do the siding w/#4 turnouts to get the tracks a bit closer together if I have the room - would narrow the bridge a bit.  Unsure if I'll do 2 of the 40" Atlas bridges (or similar) or fashion one out of plywood with the girder panels from Woodland Scenics on the sides. The bridge by the door would likely be one of the Atlas ones and would either lift out or fold up. 

Jan:

Your points are well taken, and are why I do favor my previous version of the design, found here, which resolves most of those issues.  I really want a nice long mainline, reversing loops, and to be able to better showcase the TT.  Unfortunately, I'm compromised by the fact that the wife & I will have to share this space; it also has to be a quiet refuge for her (obviously when trains aren't running ).  She has some existing furniture (measured out & rendered in some images) that will need to fit & be livable.  My concern is that the double-mainline version protrudes too much into the room & cramps things too much. 

Thanks for the input, though.  I'll keep playing with things & see what I can do.  Let me know if any other thoughts.

- Neal

I've been pondering how turn the suggestions into reality while still meeting my needs (& most of my "wants") & decided that it would be easier to modify my "Layout 13" design as opposed to further editing "Layout 14."  I've eliminated the lower mainline swing-out to turn into the alcove and just turned it in over the bridge as part of the reversing loop.  This lets me eliminate a good bit of the benchwork protruding into the lower level, creating space for the wife's big chair & loveseat.  The yard & turntable are better showcased, & I also get to keep the double mainline that I want.  The inner loop is more "local" than before, though that was the intention, with the outer/upper loop more "out of town."  I can also wait to expand the layout into the main part of the basement as I have done in the past, connecting the outer & inner loops while transitioning through another scene.  Reach is improved, especially in the alcove.  I have been considering incorporating a drop-down turntable as was recently described in the Hi-Rail section and would still likely incorporate an access hatch in the back corner as well. I've included an industrial spur off the inner loop into the alcove which I'll try to play with some.  Will likely make the edge of this into a small industry & commercial area.  I'm thinking of putting a flat or something similar against the wall on the siding by the double crossover. 

Hopefully y'all approve of the changes.  Any other thoughts or ideas are, as always, welcome.  Thanks again. 

Note:  It's hard to see as it's blocked in clear, but there is an interior wall along the "bottom" of Image 1.  I plan to eventually tunnel through this if not remove part of the wall.  It's clear to differentiate it from the cinderblock foundation in gray.

I realized that in my latest version I only had a reversing loop from one direction.  Reluctantly, I had to return to my "swing out & under the bridge" design from earlier, though I've managed to make a "triangle" there for a turn-around. Hoping that I can get away with placing part of the switch onto the end of the bridge; maybe I can fudge things in real time to allow a lift-out around the end of the turnout, but too challenging for me to do in SCARM and preserve O-72 curves.  I do save a bit of space by keeping it a single track - I had the "yard lead" split off from the main line near the back wall in earlier versions instead of by the yard tracks as it is now.  

Based on the cut-outs of my wife's furniture, I should also have preserved enough space in the room to make it livable.  As always, feel free to let me know what you think.  Thanks again!