i had just replied to a post on running a longer train on tight curves which in it Made me think about my own layout in progress. If I run a long train, no, no 100 cars, but say the 27 I saw on the piece in the mentioned video in that subject I would have just enough room for one train to run around my layout over and over, so often as it gets tiresome real fast. As soon as the train entered the curve at the far end the last car would be enterng the straight which the engine is just leaving, a fact which would be repeated on the other straight wall. I have been playing/ organizing/ building this layout now for several years as I get pulled back into the swamp as it isn't just right yet. Last night I was thinking of this as a new problem as I have over 100 cars to play with and can really only run about 25 for a mainline operation.
I did think I have seen people use a second layout under the the original but with scenery and all. I have already built the sub structure and most the track layout for the original design and going back under would be a tough proposition. But I am thinking of doing so and not for a layout so to speak but a staging for at least 2 trains that can run in sequence so one is not abused with the same train over and over, minute by minute. I need to design it so on one side the train slips down enough to run under the layout and stop so another comes up to run the loop. If I can get 2 trains staged down then the viewer would get a better appreciation to whats on deck. I guess I can drop far enough in a 30' straight run to get under the layout's supports to play, "stage that train". Best thing about this I don't have to play unpack and pack the cars up everytime i want to run some different train. I already have a yard on the top side but best it can only hold about 8 cars in one siding as the first switch into it is at the end of the narrow end of the room entering the longer straight at either end. of the room. And so the curve and clearing the switch takes up a lot of room leaving me with little car storage length in the yard. I am using 5's and I could go with a tighter switch but to gain a few extra inches and at what cost now. I am not an operator interested in switching out cars but a mainline run guy and yet I don't like to zoom around the layout either, getting nowhere fast.
Phill
