Track Plan for Review and Comment

Well, that's pretty awesome Matt!  What are you going to use for switch machines?

Matt......two comments......

1. Congrats on retirement!

2. I love the layout plan!

Peter

Simple . classic design!  Do you plan on having a yard?  And that is 45" radius ? not Diameter?

Has to be radii if he is planning to run some 2-rail scale equipment!

Chuck

@Dave Koehler posted:

Simple . classic design!  Do you plan on having a yard?  And that is 45" radius ? not Diameter?

The boxes in the drawing are 1 foot by 1 foot

Matt   I like the layout  Congrats on the retirement

I did a 2 rail/3 rail interchange and used Scaletrax.  You are correct, the track is fully insulated, but the switches are not.  You'll have to modify the switches to make them fully insulated.

Nice track plan!

Congrats on retirement!  I like the flow of the 2-track main.

My 3 cents (adjusted for inflation)...

Duckunders and retirees don't mix - I hope there's a way for you to build a lift-out section.  Unless you have access on all sides, there may be some reach issues in the upper-right corner.  Since it looks like you're planning to run long trains for viewing, would it be possible to expand by 12-18" along the top of the plan and add at least a couple of long staging tracks? (connect to the upper left, where there's no elevated track)

Matt,

I’m with Peter and Ben. Congratulations on your retirement, and nice track plan.

Andy

@Mallard4468 posted:

Congrats on retirement!  I like the flow of the 2-track main.

My 3 cents (adjusted for inflation)...

Duckunders and retirees don't mix - I hope there's a way for you to build a lift-out section.  Unless you have access on all sides, there may be some reach issues in the upper-right corner.  Since it looks like you're planning to run long trains for viewing, would it be possible to expand by 12-18" along the top of the plan and add at least a couple of long staging tracks? (connect to the upper left, where there's no elevated track)

Thanks. The section with the icing dock is removable to enable reaching to the back curve in the corner. Keeping switch work to a minimum, coupled with wider curves should minimize derailments. I'm looking at where I can make modifications to add staging for long trains.

@AGHRMatt posted:

...   Minimum Radius 45" on the primary main (O-90); 40.5" on the secondary main (O-81).

Congrats on retirement.  I very much like your layout.  (and very impressed your 3rd garage bay is 30' deep.  I was thinking for a workshop? or golf cart?)  

Will it affect your plans for minimum radii if sometimes the primary is inside the curve and sometimes outside?  I am working on a simple two-track mainline on an upper level in a smaller room, and my minimum (O-72) goes back and forth between the two tracks.  Thanks.

@Sather posted:

Congrats on retirement.  I very much like your layout.  (and very impressed your 3rd garage bay is 30' deep.  I was thinking for a workshop? or golf cart?)  

Will it affect your plans for minimum radii if sometimes the primary is inside the curve and sometimes outside?  I am working on a simple two-track mainline on an upper level in a smaller room, and my minimum (O-72) goes back and forth between the two tracks. 

Thanks.

The third bay was designed for a full sized car. I was seriously surprised it was that deep. It's actually only ten feet wide but I can spare two feet from the second bay.

On the left side, the secondary main gets a brief 49.5" radius curve to maintain the 45" minimum for the primary. I'm still tinkering with it to see if I can cut in a ramp to lower level staging.

Im also investigating doing a single main loop to loop with a long passing siding, but it's proven to be a big challenge.

In the upper left, right before the two mains cross under themselves, could you break off there and run down to a lower level staging, with the grade hidden underneath the elevated section of the main?

@PSM posted:

In the upper left, right before the two mains cross under themselves, could you break off there and run down to a lower level staging, with the grade hidden underneath the elevated section of the main?

Interesting idea. I'll look into it.

@AGHRMatt posted: ...snip...

Hmmm, a thought, change the location/direction of this siding, then all of your switching moves will be trailing moves.

I think the original plan is fantastic.  Look forward to seeing the progress.

John

Just saw this.

It's really nice Matt.  Wouldn't change a thing.  You don't even need a dehumidifier in Arizona from what I gather.

Best of luck with retirement.

John

Matt,

Congratulations! Now the fun begins. Looks like you have good accessibility so I say go for it.

Dave

Matt, Congratulations on your retirement!  I like the plan also and don't have any other suggestions.