new 5x8 layout..design problems

I agree that the center cross-over section probably needs to go to incorporate a village in the middle. I used to have a similar sized layout that may give you some ideas.  

Yeah I'm not sure it is doing anything for you. What I don't understand is where the inside track that goes into the tunnel ends up. Is there a switch under there? 

Personally I think I would take another pass at the whole track plan, Why not have two loops with a cross over and maybe a reversing loop? The one section of straight in the corner of the outside loop, also looks awkward and that trains might collide here.

Yes - I also don't like that the outside loop is "pinched" in the near corner where the two switch controllers are resting. That should be a full width curve and it looks like the switch controllers could be mounted on a separate panel attached to the outside of the layout.

One thought, if the crossover is important to you, you could try and incorporate the track into the village, if you raised the level of the village floor with foam, you could have the track at street level (I realize this being fastrack would take some creativity to make it work). To the right of the crossover you would have the street, then a row of structures, for example (row houses, town structures), behind the structures you could slope the foam down like a sloped landscape to the level of the current board, so it will look like the city is elevated on a hillock or something. 

Will posted:

Yeah I'm not sure it is doing anything for you. What I don't understand is where the inside track that goes into the tunnel ends up. Is there a switch under there? 

Personally I think I would take another pass at the whole track plan, Why not have two loops with a cross over and maybe a reversing loop? The one section of straight in the corner of the outside loop, also looks awkward and that trains might collide here.

Thanks Will....well the layout I had last year did have just 2 loops and The IDEA??  lol, was to try something new.  Oh there is a switch just inside the tunnel.   I do think I will take out that inside loop so to make a town look better.  Truth is I played with this for a week trying to come up with something new.  I did try a reverse loop but was just not long enough.  Doug

Richie C. posted:

I agree that the center cross-over section probably needs to go to incorporate a village in the middle. I used to have a similar sized layout that may give you some ideas.  

 

This is very nice...and yes I do think I will have to loose that inside loop. 

Richie C. posted:

Yes - I also don't like that the outside loop is "pinched" in the near corner where the two switch controllers are resting. That should be a full width curve and it looks like the switch controllers could be mounted on a separate panel attached to the outside of the layout.

Agree...but I have to have that area for the transformers and alike.   But also I have a few large trains that run better on o48 turns so I wanted that sweeping turn...

Dougie fresh posted:

Well I post a few weeks ago that I needed to expand my 4x8 to a larger table.  The pic's you see are of what I did.  I widen my table to 5' 5" but kept it at 8 feet so to fit in my space in the garage.   The pictures are of the work so far......but I want to have a nice town in the middle of it, and I am thinking that this will not work with the cross over I have in the middle.   I am thinking of removing it.   Any thoughts here????  I think in the past that too much takes away from it all.  Oh on the top of the Mountain??  I was going to put a Indian village and a old home stead.    In the cave to the right I thought I would put a RV camper and the like.

OK... Back to the garage

Will posted:

Yeah I'm not sure it is doing anything for you. What I don't understand is where the inside track that goes into the tunnel ends up. Is there a switch under there? 

Personally I think I would take another pass at the whole track plan, Why not have two loops with a cross over and maybe a reversing loop? The one section of straight in the corner of the outside loop, also looks awkward and that trains might collide here.

Ok...went back to the garage....I have posted new pic's

Richie C. posted:

I agree that the center cross-over section probably needs to go to incorporate a village in the middle. I used to have a similar sized layout that may give you some ideas.  

 

Yeah.. I took it out

I think it looks better, and I realize now you do have two loops- missed that. The only thing that still looks a bit odd is that pinched section. Is there a straight in that sweeping curve? Could you move the straight to the short end of the table and have a continuous curve? That might open that up a bit.

Have you checked clearances where the inside loop is up against the outer? The middle looks better this way.

RSJB18 posted:

Have you checked clearances where the inside loop is up against the outer? The middle looks better this way.

yes I ran a train all over it to make sure of that and of any power drops.   I have found that I will have to place a few jumper around it. 

Dougie fresh posted:

Richie C. posted:

I agree that the center cross-over section probably needs to go to incorporate a village in the middle. I used to have a similar sized layout that may give you some ideas.  

 

This is very nice...and yes I do think I will have to loose that inside loop. 

what size is your table in the picture??

When layout platform space is tight, consider relocating transformers and control gear UNDER the platform on a pull-out "drawer."  When the the layout is in operation, the drawer can be extended for convenient access; then pushed back when not in use.  I have two pull-out units on my layout. One for switches, track power for three trolley lines, sound control buttons, and track power to sidings -- photo attached.  The other pull-out is for transformers and TMCC gear (no photo available).

I used the "liberated" platform space for a Dinosaur Park (for my great grandsons) and a siding for the Lionel Dinosaur Train Set -- photo attached.

Mike Mottler    LCCA 12394

thats a idea...I like yours

With that close corner where the inner and outer track touch, you will have to be careful running engines with a longer overhang.  They could strike cars on the outer track when rounding the corner.  I would like to see a little more separation between the tracks.

I agree with other posts about freeing space in the center.  It looks much better with a bit more open space in the center.  I am concerned with the switch in the tunnel.   I assume the tunnel section will lift off easily in case something odd happens under it?  

dan 77 posted:

I agree with other posts about freeing space in the center.  It looks much better with a bit more open space in the center.  I am concerned with the switch in the tunnel.   I assume the tunnel section will lift off easily in case something odd happens under it?  

Yes it is open in the back and its all made of foam so I can just lift it off....

RON ARNDT 091718 posted:

With that close corner where the inner and outer track touch, you will have to be careful running engines with a longer overhang.  They could strike cars on the outer track when rounding the corner.  I would like to see a little more separation between the tracks.

I added a short piece and made the distance bigger...