New Layout Plan, 21' x 11'

Did you forget to add the attachments?

@DoubleDAZ posted:

Did you forget to add the attachments?

Yes, just went back and added a picture. Thanks for the heads-up.

I really like it. Are you planning this as a tabletop/island or will the center be open? I like how you expand the mainline to a third track for a long passing siding. I am working on plans for an around the walls, and it will be smaller, closer to 15x12, but I am targeting a similar plan for running trains and a few opportunities for sidings and switching. I think you have more opportunity to add additional sidings or a small yard, too, if you are so inclined.

Is it me or at some point will you always have to back into a switch to get to the other main? If you dont mind this thats ok but you might want to add ability to cross mainlines when going the "other" direction. Not sure i am conveying my thought in the best manner.

Joe, I think he’s covered. I traced it in both directions and I was able to go from outer to inner and back with trains going in either direction.

With a train running counterclockwise on the outer loop, which set of crossovers moves him back into the inner loop?

Chuck

@PRR1950 posted:

With a train running counterclockwise on the outer loop, which set of crossovers moves him back into the inner loop?

Chuck

That should do it. I think like Dave said, all flows/combinations between the loops are accounted for.

Chuck, trace this route.

@GregK posted:

I really like it. Are you planning this as a tabletop/island or will the center be open? I like how you expand the mainline to a third track for a long passing siding. I am working on plans for an around the walls, and it will be smaller, closer to 15x12, but I am targeting a similar plan for running trains and a few opportunities for sidings and switching. I think you have more opportunity to add additional sidings or a small yard, too, if you are so inclined.

Thanks for the input. I’m planning on leaving open space in the center, and eventually I’d like to add a small yard. However, I got a bit stumped when drawing up the plans for that. Ideally, I’d want a small engine terminal plus a couple leads for car storage. Maybe room for one or two accessories like a classic AF oil drum loader.

Any edits to the plan incorporating these ideas are welcome and much appreciated.

@ogauge1217 posted:

Thanks for the input. I’m planning on leaving open space in the center, and eventually I’d like to add a small yard. However, I got a bit stumped when drawing up the plans for that. Ideally, I’d want a small engine terminal plus a couple leads for car storage. Maybe room for one or two accessories like a classic AF oil drum loader.

Any edits to the plan incorporating these ideas are welcome and much appreciated.

If you have to build within the overall foot print of this layout, then one option for a yard/engine terminal may be to use the industry siding in the top left as a yard lead, have it follow the curves around the left side of the layout, and then use it to branch off into some yard tracks. You won't get a ton, and it'll take up some of the "inside" space, but it is one option. It may also create access issues, which always have to be thought about.

You can also take a look at a design like this one: https://ogrforum.com/...odular-layout-design

You have more space, and you could probably adapt your plan to create a yard like this. I'm in a similar position, and in addition to having a two track main, a passing siding long enough for a full train, I would like a few "yard" tracks that can be used for car storage, and to park a few diesel engines. I'm not a serious operator, but thought it might be fun if I can build a layout that allows the road freight to drop its train, then let a road switcher take cars to the yard and/or industry sidings. If I get a chance to work on my design this weekend I may start a thread.

You would probably need to adjust your sweeping curvature and crossovers to some extent....but there are some options I think

Some questions:

Is this in a 11x21 room or in a bigger room with walls on 2-3 sides and an open side?
How large are your curves; O72, O84, etc.?
What is the minimum you need for your equipment?
What size switches are the crossovers?

@DoubleDAZ posted:

Some questions:

Is this in a 11x21 room or in a bigger room with walls on 2-3 sides and an open side?
How large are your curves; O72, O84, etc.?
What is the minimum you need for your equipment?
What size switches are the crossovers?

The room is larger, about 24 x 20 ft, rectangular shaped space. The minimum curve for this layout is O-84, largest curve is O-128. The orange crossover switches are Ross #6, and the blue ones are Ross #4. My intention was to build a layout with curves wide enough to accommodate engines like the C&O H-8 Allegheny or N&W Class A without excessive overhang.

@GregK posted:

If you have to build within the overall foot print of this layout, then one option for a yard/engine terminal may be to use the industry siding in the top left as a yard lead, have it follow the curves around the left side of the layout, and then use it to branch off into some yard tracks. You won't get a ton, and it'll take up some of the "inside" space, but it is one option. It may also create access issues, which always have to be thought about.

You can also take a look at a design like this one: https://ogrforum.com/...odular-layout-design

You have more space, and you could probably adapt your plan to create a yard like this. I'm in a similar position, and in addition to having a two track main, a passing siding long enough for a full train, I would like a few "yard" tracks that can be used for car storage, and to park a few diesel engines. I'm not a serious operator, but thought it might be fun if I can build a layout that allows the road freight to drop its train, then let a road switcher take cars to the yard and/or industry sidings. If I get a chance to work on my design this weekend I may start a thread.

You would probably need to adjust your sweeping curvature and crossovers to some extent....but there are some options I think

All very good ideas. I’m actually able to build outside of the footprint, though I’m not sure how to make prototypical connections from the potential yard to the mainline. Would the spur at the “bottom” of the layout be a good candidate for a potential yard lead?

Just saw this, i well designed route for the space.  If i had that space i would opt for an around the wall layout design and deal with the duckunder but this looks great.

I'd account for more yard space.  I originally only added three yard tracks about 15 feet long, I very quickly realized that was WAY too few yard tracks!  I added an extension off the end of the layout for ten more tracks, and I wish I had more!

@ogauge1217 posted:

All very good ideas. I’m actually able to build outside of the footprint, though I’m not sure how to make prototypical connections from the potential yard to the mainline. Would the spur at the “bottom” of the layout be a good candidate for a potential yard lead?

Try Googling ogrforum yard lead and you will find some good threads discussing yard building with some good reference material that show effective layouts of the tracks and switches to make the yard operational. Space is always an issue with yards but you likely have enough to work up something functional.

It's not always possible in the space you have to do truly "prototypical" yard layouts.  A prototype yard takes a lot of real estate!