New Layout. Please Look.

Hi AP,

Have you used all of your switches?

Are all of the yard stubs a Given?

What's the scale of the grid?

Can the furnace still be serviced or will the layout block something?

I ask because I have some ideas for the yard. It needs a longer yard lead to build a train on and not foul the main by going out on the wye. A short caboose stub would be nice. Then you could play in the yard while trains are running the mains.

Even though the stubs are long, imagine building an 8 car train and then getting a caboose for the end and staging it for pick-up. You'll see how the main where the wye is will get fouled and you'll have to use a stub awkwardly. A little tweaking will solve that and give you a yard you can work in for a session.

AP,

Next item,

What will the sidings towards the top be used for?

Hi Moonman.  Thanks for the reply!  As for your questions:

1) I do have some additional switches.  They are 048.  I was trying to avoid using them so that I can get to the entire layout with my bigger steamers (Niagara) but the yard might be a great place to use them.

2) Scale is 6" per square.  The entire layout is approx 25'x14' at its widest points

3) Furnace is serviceable from the other side so no problems there.

4) The siding at the top was just another spot for staging.  I didn't really have a good plan for it.  I changed it to a passing siding in this iteration.

Tony

Hi Tony,

Thanks for the update.

What size switches are used:

1. To create the wye
2. To create the ladder

I suppose passing siding area could be open for anything. A little wider and an accessory or station would fit between. Could be you'll decide you don't need it at all. Perhaps a little wiggle in the track to show-off the train.

Ok, back to the yard...

In developing a track plan you may wish to consider additional issues.   How permanent is this to be?  If long term, think of the level of health for you and RR running visitors will need to crawl under a duck under.  Around the wall running opens up a whole new drawing board.

Also, what is the purpose of you layout? Is it for display running of the same couple few trains or alternating between a much larger collection of  trains?  

From your track plan I see a rather nice display railroad with the ability to handle several trains running simultaneously.

Possible problem:  with any sizable collection or growing collection without an increase in staging you will have a lot of 0-5-0 shifting going on which only exposes trains to damage.

You mentioned that there is service of the furnace from non layout sides.  That hints to a much larger basement area. 

If not an around the wall how about a pair of long fingers sticking off along each of the two continuing walls beyond the sketch.

Depending on type of equipment you work with, the fingers could be point to point  passenger terminals or one passenger terminal and one freight yard or two freight yards or etc.

Another way to develop a storage area is to build a subway ramp down directly below the overpass ramp up.  The subway multi track staging could run a full 360  then rise below the desending overpass ramp.

Photo shows a 0 scale six track staging area built under an industrial / mining site.

Hi Moonman:  The switches for the Wye are 060.  The wye itself is 072.  The switches in the freight yard are all 060 except for the last two on the short stubs.  Those are 048.  I made a conscious decision to not use anything smaller than 060 diameter here.  I want to be able to run some larger Steamers (NYC Niagara and the new Lionel Big Boy if it ever arrives).  I like your idea about the wiggle in the siding track.  That's precisely why I have non-uniform lines in the entire layout.  I want something more visually interesting than 100% concentric loops.

Tom: Good questions.  My collection is growing.  I started primarily with NYC Steam, then it grew to include early NYC diesel, then on to Conrail and CSX.  Along the way some Chessie diesels made an appearance and a Western Maryland 3-truck shay moved in.  So, depending on my mood, I will run different trains.  I do have room on the other side of the basement as you noticed.  However, it's pretty much taken up with storage, laundry, etc.  I love the pic you posted.  I dont' have the track budget to do that now, but I have left some room for future expansion.  BTW, I also hate duck-unders.

AP.

I like your design,  as you said I do not like duckundes either. Is there anyway to have a lift out section?  What end of the layout would be your entrance? What size curves will you have? Those scale steamers take up alot of real estate and curve size.

Hi Seacoast.  I might have room for a small lift-out section.  But with the high-line track, that makes it a little more challenging.  The all curves are either 060 or 072.  The outside mainline track is all 072 with an 060 inside track.

AP,

Attached is my suggestions for the yard change. I added a nearly 90" yard lead into the curved open area which required one more 060 switch.

This allows you to pull and almost completed train out of the siding, then back to the top straight to pick up a caboose or stage it. Then, the switcher can get out the way for another engine to back in and pick it up. Just play with it and you'll see that it provides operational capabilities.

I don't know which track layout application you are using, but you need the 1 3/8" extension tracks on 060 and 072 switches on the divergence and thru on that end. Also, the straight between the two switches for the wye needs a 1 3/4" to fit properly and a 1 3/8' on the other side.

I also removed 10" and included power blocks and uncoupler tracks for the stubs. Build it to your liking. I just put them in there.

I just wanted to throw one thing in.As planned,how is your yard operation going to work?How are you going to switch from yard switcher locomotives to main line locomotives without them getting in the way of each other?Nick

Thanks for all of the input.  Moonman, your input was especially valuable.  Final track plan is attached.  Demolition of the existing layout and construction of the new bench work to start in the near future.