Need Advice/Opinions on Layout

Here's a photo of the layout.

Looks good for a long trains, but will also require a quite long wall. Where do you plan to hold it?

Hi JSP,

I don't know your space limitations, but I've put together a few comments

1. I adjusted your baseboard to minimize the cuts and standardize the size to the lumber. 4 sheets of 4' x 8' should do it with 2 crosscuts and two rip cuts. The home stores will do this when you pick up the lumber. Usually 1 cut per piece is free. This also gives you a little more space for buildings, accessories as I increased the center to 36". You can shrink it back if you want it that way.
2. You will need to adjust the layout for some missing pieces for the 072 switches. There are two that are necessary on the turn-out end which SCARM does not automatically include. There is a 1 3/8" half-roadbed for the through end and a 1 3/8" no-roadbed for the diverging end.
3. I used absolute coordinates in the Toolbox to create the baseboard. They were entered this way:

0,0

0,72

48,72

90,36 (24 if you want a 2' center)

200,36 (24 if you want a 2' center)

240,60

288,60

288,0

0,0

In view from the top menu, select "show size and area" to display dimensions

I have added these comments on the SCARM edited file which is attached.

The blue area on the switch is actually road bed-see the Lionel photo

Not bad...but maybe a few sidings, if somehow they could be worked in?

Thanks, Moonman.  I didn't realize my mistake regarding the switches.  You saved me alot of frustration down the road.

John C., thanks.  I have one really long wall to work with, but not much depth for now.  i was thinking of adding a siding off the curve on the left perpendicular to the long rear wall.  I could run it about nine feet.

Not a mistake. Just learning the track. All mfg's track have their nuances. The 1 3/8" no roadbed for the divergence have a jumper wire for the center rail. This allows you to isolate the loops at the crossovers for separate power divisions. Also, those two 072 switches divergence to divergence with one NoRB sets the center rail to center rail spacing at 6", which works well with FasTrack and provides clearance for any engine Lionel makes.

You could add a pass through yard in the center as a future expansion if you make the width 30"-36". It takes 6 072 Wyes (OUCH!) as well as adding a stub yard down the on the left.

Is that nine feet additional or nine feet total for the left side yard?

Also, save this article written by our webmaster "Switching Lead" for future reference.

JSP,

Where in NY are you?

I'm in Carmel.

i'll be happy to pitch in somehow.

Eliot

I want to thank everyone for their advice and comments.  I'm on Staten Island.

I reworked the track plan to incorporate the turnouts properly and attached a photo and the files.

I have nine feet (track length from the turnout) for the siding on the left side of the layout.

I really can't go deeper than 25 inches between the reverse loops as my wife needs the room and that's all I'm allowed.  LOL

Thanks again!

Thanks Moonman for all your work and help.  I wasn't even thinking about the lumber requirements yet.  You were way ahead of me.  I agree about the filler pieces and will try my hand at custom cut pieces.

If you guys don't mind, I'd like your opinions on whether you think this layout will get boring.

I would have said something earlier if I thought that it would be boring.

There are multiple route options for a train, you can run at least two trains simultaneously, there is a place to park a train(passing siding) and you have an option for a yard. Oh, I forgot, you can change direction, too!

If you make one end a mountain and run the train through a tunnel it will add to the visual appeal. Elements that always make a layout look nice are a tunnel and a bridge. The bridge doesn't need to actually be elevated and going over something.

I mentioned earlier that there isn't much room for accessories or buildings due to the width. That's one weakness of the design, but you can't do much about that. You can squeeze some in a few spots.

The forward most straight used as a place to park a train for passing or storage is almost 90". That would hold a loco and five passenger cars or a nice freight in traditional scale, a nice train. You'll have to run the shorter scale engines and freight cars. You have a nice view in the rear where it can stretch out.

Hmmmmn, That doesn't sound boring to me.

Check this out-download it and open in SCARM and view the 3D.

Does it look boring?

Rico station, switching tower, small house, plate girder bridges.....

As Moonman says above, this layout gives a lot of possibilities and playing scenarios - continuous running and meeting of one or two trains, passenger and freight services, switching and more. And don't forget the building process and possible upgrades, which may be also a lot of fun

Mixy

I added another dimension to it also. Multi level. now mind you thisisn't a perfect rendition of it but gives you another idea of what can be done.  

I want to thank everyone for their input, it helped me out alot.  I also want to thank everyone who took the time to work on my track plan, especially Moonman.  You really went above and beyond.