Track Plan Draft - Input Wanted, Help Appreciated

I dont understand the double ended yard on a dead end. That seems like nothing more than a waste of switches. Stub end it, build a runaround into it, and just work from one end. It'll give you more siding space without the second ladder.

Thanks Boilermaker1, I was thinking that same thing.

Hi Guys,

Here is a slightly updated track plan with some changes in the yard area. 

Thanks  

Do you have enough room for your roundhouse?  May it could be elevated to give you a little more room for the roundhouse tracks.  Since will not be pulling trains into the roundhouse, you could go with a steeper grade. 

Thanks for including the RRTrack file. I was able to open it up and take a closer look. 

I agree about the round house location. Just because it can "fit" doesn't mean it works. You'd have it surrounded by elevated tracks. It would be very difficult to work with it and ensure that engines are tracking as you expect.

I also noticed the use of the crossing on the elevated portion leading into the stub yard. That seems like an awkward application. Is there any way to remove it and run straight in?

Lastly, you have lots of track running directly over a lot of other track, plus overhead tracks crossing those below at very oblique angles. I see this as a problem when you go to build the table work that's going to support the elevated tracks. Pay attention to what you see in the 3D version. Rotate it around and try to imagine the kind of scenery that's going to surround all of that track.

I just finished my layout operationally tonight and was playing with getting trains in and out of the yard. Since it's a new alignment from my previous versions it's going to take a lot of practice to get it right. Your layout is significantly more complicated than mine so I expect that operations is going to be very challenging.

Have you built a large layout before? Are you going to have help? If not, you've got a lot of work ahead of you. You can also run RRTrack in the simulation mode. That will give you another look at operations so you can make changes before you cut wood, lay track and run wires.

Thanks for the feedback Trainman!

I’ve enjoyed following your thread here on the forum.  I have built a large layout but that was over 10 years ago in HO.  This would be my first in O-Gauge.  When I purchased this home 10 years ago the intention was to fill the basement with a new HO layout.  At that time I came upon some Lionel O-Gauge and never looked back.  I’ve been collecting O-Gauge trains for the last 10 years and so it’s definitely time to build this layout.

I will take your advice and start looking at the 3 D model in RR-Track.  Once I come up with some revisions I will post them.

Thanks,