Novice here: 12x17 train room - need track plan

Would you like something like what I did for Andrew?  It'll be a tight fit but I think I can make it work.  Grades will probably be closer to 3+%.  

I have nearly the same room (about the same size with nearly the same door configuration. What I built was an 8 x 12 table with a 4 x 4 square taken out of the cent of one side making a U. I don't think this will give you the space you need to get everything on your wish list done on one level, even if you use tight curves. The biggest on my layout is o42.  

I am thinking a 4 x 10 table going along the bottom wall leaving a 30" wide walkway between the wall and the table. Then adding a 2' shelf along the left wall (under the window of course). Two feet should allow you to get close enough to open the window as needed. Then add a 30 inch shelf along the top wall, and make a 4 x 4 or so bubble at the end to make the reverse loop. You may have to angle the right right side of the 4 x 10 table to allow a walkway toward the window when that bubble is added. 

I am am picturing an inner loop on the 4 x 10 table, with an outer loop that goes around to the shelves and turns around at the bubble. The yard would be on the 30" shelf on the top wall, possibly with a stub coming off of it toward the window where your engine house and tower could go. 

Sorry I can't post a drawing. I am typing this on an iPad in a hotel room, and won't have access to anything better till Monday. Hopefully someone will chime in with a better idea, or at least work with this one a bit.

J White

Since Andrew has a different space than what I have available, it might be a tremendous challenge to modify the layout you created for him to work in the train room area I have available. Remember: I need to be able to access the window, bathroom and enter the walk-in closets (both closet doors can be removed) as seen in the train room dimensional drawing in the first post of this thread.

I am interested in seeing if you will be able to tweak your "Andrew Plan" to fit my train room. Although a turntable option had never occurred to me, it sounds interesting. I am open to multilevel possibilities. The only issue is that turntables are pricy and I see in your plan that it will only accommodate three engines. I am not sure if that limitation is worth the investment (unless the design could be adjusted so more engines can be added to make a turntable cost-effective).

I am only using MTH Proto 2 engines at this time (MTH TIU+AIU to operate), but I have in my closet a few Lionel TMCC/Legacy items. The biggest engines I have are the Lionmaster Big Boy and Lionmaster PRR T-1. On preorder is the new scale Polar Express (and a Legacy 990 system). 

Ken: Thank you so much for your assistance. By the way, I am thin so I do not need an especially wide aisle - LOL!

Hello J,

It is difficult for me to "visualize" your suggested table formations. Perhaps when you are able to, a sketch would help me to understand what you have in mind. I appreciate your input, especially since you mentioned that your train room is very similar in size (and with similar "obstructions") as in my future train room. Thank you.

OGR forum member Moonman and I had an email discussion. Here is a better drawing to show the actual space in my train room in which I can build a double mainline layout.

Below is an updated drawing.

See the BLUE AREA on the drawing. It's an odd shape as I cannot use the entire room's length and width (I have to have paths to get to the window, closets and bathroom from the entryway).

I do not mind a peninsula set up or an narrow aisle that cuts through the layout area. I also do not mind a bridge, even if I have to duck under it to access an aisle. Multilevel track is fine too.

I hope this helps to see the actual space that I have to work with for the track plan. 

Thanks again for your help.

Terrence

OPEN PDF FILE:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ksk1...inRoomGrid12x17B.pdf

Whats the minimum radius needed for the Layout?

Do you have operations in Mind? or like continuous running? or a mixture? 

I know you said you prefer non-reversing loops, but do you want to be able to change directions without having to physically touch anything? 

I'd make the curves as wide as possible, at least on the mainline.  While you may have stuff that will handle small curves now, in the future you are likely to fall in love with something that requires larger curves.

Yes, like a scale Polar Express.

Build you layout around the perimeter of the room, NOT on a "table" in the center of the room. You will get a lot more running room that way, and more flexibility in your design.

Totally agree with this.

Regarding the windows on the left side of the room, can you install a set of motorized blinds with remote control?  If so, you can recover the space set aside for an aisle.

George

Lift bridges for the closets, that'll solve the issue of opening the doors.   Here's what we use for our modular club.

Terrence

I agree on a round-the-room layout. It is worth the trouble upfront to use the lift bridges John mentioned, or drop sections or lift-outs, for accessing the various closets, windows, doors, etc.

The advice in maximizing curve arcs to 072 or greater is important and achieved with round-the-room unless you intend to restrict your equipment. Probably depends on your HVAC system, but for example, how often do you have to open your windows? If one keeps their round-the-wall benchwork to about 36" or even less where window reach is necessary, the problem of opening/closing blinds and window sash is solvable.

The old photos below shows my 9x19 room with a 9x16 round-the-room benchwork that covers a double-hung window, 54" high knee wall doors on each side and a hinged drop gate for access from the room entrance door. My end curves on my dual mainline are 084/096 and 072/084.

Not the same configuration as your room but just an example of what can be done depends on one's "druthers"

Hey all, great suggestions. if I could run completely around the room I would be in OGR heaven. 

I definitely could install remote control blinds for the window. I only open the window when I don't need to run the central AC, but it is nice to be able to have the option to open it when it isn't too hot or too cool.

GunJohn: your liftout bridge solution is very interesting. It could solve the problem with the doors.

But there is one other option that can provide more space: the top closet door leads to an 8 foot long by 5.5 foot wide area that COULD be added to the layout space. It's actually a mini room.

OGR member Moonman suggested adding the closet to the layout space and it could be used for the trainyard. I won't need a door on that closet. I could "tunnel" through the wall to access the closet-based yard.

The mainline will use 072 Fastrack on the outer loop; 060 on the inner. Lionel's scale Polar Express (and Legacy 990 system) are on preorder. the new train room will also allow me to run my two Lionmasters (UP Big Boy and PRR T-1). They can operate on 036 Fastrack, but they will look much better on 060 and 072. Most of my other engines are MTH/Railking PS2 that easily run on 036 curves.

On the layout I hope to include an Atlas O double engine house, Lionel Coaling Tower and a small handful of buldings (including my Lionelville Fire House, Ford Dealership, Esso Gas Station, MTH McDonalds etc.). What ever fits.

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i never realized how complicated it is to get the track plan set. I am thankful to have all of the great OGR members to offer suggestions and ideas. This is a fantastic forum.

I am hoping Moonman will post his initial layout concept in this thread to show what he has in mind.

Remember, the lift or drop bridge can be a lot more compact if you are building a permanent layout.  What we have is overkill for a permanent installation.  For a modular layout, it has to be rigid to allow us to have independent modules that will stay dimensionally stable for transport and installation with no real side support.

The drop bridge that Dewey posted would be simpler to build and work just fine for permanent installation.  I was just trying to get the idea across and it's the only lift bridge I had handy.

That really is the ball-game.  I went through dozens of RR-Track variations on my 10' x 18.5' PRR Panhandle.  And even then I ended up changing a section off the mainline and adding an underlayout storage yard.  (It's in the photo gallery if you want to see it).  Things change.  Your needs change over time.  And then there is the point where reality collides with your ideas; that causes some in-process changes, too. 

Whatever tool you end up using, be prepared to revisit the track plan.  It's a good thing, because changing a virtual track plan is a lot less expensive than tearing up track, roadbed, and benchwork and redoing it.

George

Listen to him.  I was just about to ask if you thought of using the closets, and that 5.5x8 room would be a great room to have a storage yard in.  This would allow you to do the engine yard in the main room.

You'd still need a way to get into the closet to attend to issues in the yard.

Okay guys.

I have re-imagined the train room use of space incorporating many ideas and suggestions. The layout is still in the discussion stage.

-- I can live with track running along the window as long as its on a relatively narrow shelf/table so I can reach over to access the window if I ever want to open it. It's a great location for some bridge work. The pulley for the blinds are at the window edge closest to the bathroom door so it's easily within reach.

-- I have added the walk-in closet to run the trains into the yard in that area. I can cut through the wall for in-and-out access for the trains. No door necessary as the closet space will become part of the layout.

-- Gun: I added a lift out (or duck under) bridge.

-- I kind of roughed out a platform that features a winding aisle for easy access. It might have to go, but this is a rough concept

-- The software I am using cannot replicate ACTUAL 072 and 060 curves so the overlay of mainline tracks is just a rough proposal for a NEARLY around the room double main.

-- Looks like I will have space for a small town (NICE!).

Reminder: I will use Fastrack for this train room.

OGR member Moonman is working up a concept.

Obsidian Ken: if you see this I hope you are still willing to help.

I appreciate the feedback and suggestions of all of the OGR forum experts.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Click to see PDF file

Here is the revised train room plan (rough):

As for your window..... I will have a shelf with a city on the wall with the window.  But at the window I plan on putting a park since the window is at shelf level.  That way when you look at the park you see the window behind it with natural light.  That would make it easy to get to the window also?  

Okay, took my lunch hour and came up with this.  It is all FasTrack.  I think you could get more track in, or likewise more scenery, if you used something else.  I switched from FasTrack to Atlas for that reason in my own personal designs.  You can make the bridge in front of the window lift out too to help get to the window.  I don't know how much room the Atlas engine house takes, but made a spot for it.  The Industries can be anything, warehouses to refineries to mills to silos and so on.  I added a mountain to help break the peninsula up from the rest.  Plus it helps force people from standing in the door way to move into the room to view the layout.

I noticed your design doesn't have any ability to reverse direction. Given the extra room you have, just adding a wye at the top right of the main room would allow engines to reverse. Also adding a loop would allow the trains to change direction.

This was just hacked into your drawing to give you guys an idea. It will have to be checked for fit with actual track dimensions.

Dave

Dtrainmaster,

Thank you. I was neglecting the closet, but it provided the location for a large radius wye. I fit an 072 wye in there.

You got me past a block. Thanks for clearing the main.

Dtrainmaster: GOOD HACK JOB! Thank you for your input. It will be much appreciated to have a way to reverse trains. I certainly do not want to "man-handle" them to turn them around. I like the reverse loop in the closet -- it could easily be done with a simple "bridge."

MatthewG also recommended a reversing loop. Again, it seems like a reverse of sort is a "must have" layout feature.

Good suggestions - Thank you.

I just saw an updated drawing from Moonman (he is working in stealth mode behind-the-scenes). He has added a reversing method to his layout plan for my train room. 

We will post Moonman's drawing when it's finished.

Obsidian: I know you are swamped with Andrew's layout. I hope you can squeeze in some time when you're finished with Andrew's fantastic layout to show me what you had in mind for this room/closet space.

Thanks again everyone.

(Working today and tomorrow, but I will check in using my iPad if it's not too busy at work.)

Terrence

Coram, NY

PS - L.I.Train: yes, joining TMB Model Train Club would indeed offer a great opportunity to have local some OGR buddies. 

Hey Sinclair: can you envision a way to add a reverse loop to your plan? Thanks!

A reverse loop would require another bridge/duck under.  And if you have one, you should have two so that you don't have to back through it.  I'd rather stick a wye in it, same place as Dtrainmaster did.  This will allow you to turn a locomotive and a couple of cars at one instead of a whole train.  This gives more operation potential.