Seeking comments on framing plan

Looks good.  My only concern would the entrance into the 'PIT' is a little on the skimpy side for my girth!    Russ

you can till build open frame then put 1/4" luan down with 1" foam board over that

will be strong and lite....

access 2'...???

also I would extend the 3 track yard another foot into the door way..over 5' wide can afford to give up a foot or so..

8' long tracks..times 3..24 cars max...

looks good

Hi Ted,

I assume that you want to be able to disassemble the pieces or have the sections movable if needed. I would use 1" x 4" framing and 1/2" ply for the deck. The mating ends would be inside the outer frame. If you wanted to get fancy, you could rabbet the outer edges for the ply to sit flush to the top edge of the outer framing and rip the mating ends.

These would be light enough to handle. The weight is going to come from the legs. You'll need to climb on the corners. You'll need 2" x 4" s for support and a diagonal of a 1" x 2" to prevent sway.

Option 2: Build short L-girder bases and then sit the 1/2" ply on top and screw the deck from the bottom. That could be disassembled and moved.

The Track plan:

1 r-loop doesn't work. You need two. The large area is set for counter-clockwise running. Then you can't return to clockwise. the top right yard needs clockwise to back in. You could add some switches in there for an escape path for the engine so it could go in engine first, uncouple and back out on another spur.

If you built a wye off of the top right corner and went into that space, you still won't have enough length to turn around.

A double wye crossing the center would block movement in there.

Moving the top cross-overs to the corners would open up the straights. A little more work to fit.

Turning a train around without the "hand of God" takes a lot space and is difficult to fit into a plan.

Is it Atlas with Ross switches?

lacing turnouts always a hard one for me..I can avoid the "I can get in the track, but I cannot get off the track"  issues I'm always wanting to add one more turn out

because evidently I feel the need to be able to run trains like 4wheel drive trucks.go anywhere and everywhere

I would make the table framework out of 1x4s and the top out of 1/2" plywood (cheapest grade) and top that with 1/2" homasote.  I would use 2x2s for the legs and bolt them to the corners with 3/8" carriage or hex head bolts.  To secure each section you can bolt them together with 3/8" bolts with wing nuts or you could clamps (maybe more expensive but easier to take apart when needed).

Good luck and keep posting some pics of your progress.

Rick