Track plan critique

Any chance that you can flip the left and right sides of the layout?  What is he limits on the useable space?  Are there other obstructions like gas meters, furnaces, etc.

Jan

Hi leikec

Quote 

"The things I do like? I like the center divider on the island section. I like the way the track flows, and I like the general feel of the design--it's designed like a 2R layout because that's in my modeling DNA"

••• You seem to have this design in your DNA, and all looks good from what I can see on the screen shot plan. 

Nope, the space is pretty well fixed--it's a single car attached garage, and it has to hold garden equipment and a car in addition to my trains.

Jeff C

Hi Jeff,

I like the plan. Have you used any easements in the continuous run?  The now NS service area in Altoona, PA has an interesting engine service facility that would work with you area. The TT is at the end(like yours) with an engine building for diesel work.

I just fooled around with the Atlas track, switches and TT to come up with something like it and give you a ladder of stubs for storage. The diesel building is 30" long. The Atlas TT is 15º with 2 spots missing for the control house. So, I used to 081 1/3-7.5º to get to the building.

Good luck! It looks like a nice design in that space to run scale.

I'm looking at a redesign with an eye towards putting easements in all of the mainline curves. There are a few places on the current plan where the curve transitions from 072 to 054, but I'd like to do better.

Thanks for the design ideas, Moonman.

Jeff C

I liked it so much, I wanted to see if I could create it large radius. I have down to ~9-10% 054, some 063, mostly 072, a little 081.

This will go into my inventory, named the Leikec. I thought the wye was a little awkward and put # 5 to smooth things out on the left. I'll probably refit with Ross switches.

Looking at the 3D, I set the view block at 8". Probably needs to be 10" or 12"

Thanks for a creative design and post some pics while you build it.

I finally got a chance to revise my plan and I ended up making big changes. I was able to maintain

a minimum 063 curve, and I got rid of the wye.

All of the track work is off the shelf Atlas, with the exception of the crossing at PM tower, which would have to be custom built to fit--a task I think I could handle. This plan also gets rid of the view block, which is fine as I think I can do without it and instead use scenic devices (trees, buildings, hills) to achieve the same end. This plan also has more room for scenic treatment overall, and the yard and turntable area is much more functional and avoids using any stub end yard tracks (which I've decided would be too short to be useful on this layout). 

This layout flows a lot better, and has  the continuous running I need, while also working as a switching layout for when I want to operate beyond running trains round and round or out and back To and from the yard.

Jeff C

Has anyone else scratchbuilt a crossing to fit a location on your layout?

Jeff C

Perhaps you can find a Trackmaster crossing, built-up or kit.  These show up on ebay.

This is a 60° crossing but they can ge had in 90° an 45°.  You could take the pieces and rebuild it to fit your needs,

You could cut the approaches to an Atlas crossing if it fits your angle needs.

How high is your layout going to be?  I saw one that was high enough that the hood of a truck would fit underneath when parked in the garage.  The layout was fixed permanently unlike others which would be lowered via ropes when the car was out of the garage,

Jan

I custom-made a 67° crossing from a thick piece of plastic material which is the same height as the track, then cut flangeways through it with a radial arm saw. It's short enough that the loss of power on the plastic section is not an issue, any more than it is with many of the typical 3-rail crossings. The plastic crossing section is fastened down to the table and then the approach tracks are cut to fit and also fastened down. Make sure it's wide enough that wheels do not short to the center rails when crossing the crossing. It has worked reliably for many years. 

custom crossing