Track Plans...

Steve, here are two 12X20 ideas that could be stretch for your space.   I would be tempted to look to add a peninsula inside the center, after stretching these out.

Hi,

The first consideration should be the room. get it ready visually and electrically for a train room.

The next decision is what percentage of the room is trains and what percentage is people space. This leads to layout access. Do you want to deal with hatches and crawling under or just reaching.

My first thought is to suggest an around the room with 24" - 30" wide table and perhaps a peninsula or two.

The track plan can be developed by creating your Givens and Druthers list by answering the questions in the attached article.

I'll come back and post some links for you to some layout build threads to help you visualize the project and see different track plans.

Steve, stick with these guys! They got me where I am today and are the best to work with! They know there stuff!

This is great guys ..thanks. I will be using Mianne to for my structure...the space I have will not require crawling, as I am planning on keeping the middle section open.

That would be great Carl. Thanks!

With all due respect and greatest appreciation to everyone trying to assist, you first need to decide whether you want a display layout or an operational layout. Then you need to decide who your railroad is where are your railroad is what your railroad is going to be doing and how you and others are going to interact with it. Those decisions will impact your track arrangement. How can anyone possibly suggest that at track Arrangement when none of this information is known. If you want to be like a lot of well-intended people and others that it make the same mistake you can go ahead and circular track and as many Loops as you want. You will end up being dissatisfied with it as many others have. Do yourself a favor and before you start arranging track haphazardly with no rhyme reason or purpose really sit down and think about what it is exactly you want to do what you want to accomplish and how you're going to have fun with the layout when you get done with it. It's a lot more than just arranging track to fit a space.

John C. posted:

With all due respect and greatest appreciation to everyone trying to assist, you first need to decide whether you want a display layout or an operational layout. Then you need to decide who your railroad is where are your railroad is what your railroad is going to be doing and how you and others are going to interact with it. Those decisions will impact your track arrangement. How can anyone possibly suggest that at track Arrangement when none of this information is known. If you want to be like a lot of well-intended people and others that it make the same mistake you can go ahead and circular track and as many Loops as you want. You will end up being dissatisfied with it as many others have. Do yourself a favor and before you start arranging track haphazardly with no rhyme reason or purpose really sit down and think about what it is exactly you want to do what you want to accomplish and how you're going to have fun with the layout when you get done with it. It's a lot more than just arranging track to fit a space.

Very fair and great points.... already have those ideas in play. However, I already know the space I can work with, and want some ideas for that space. I have my electrician coming today... lighting being planned... power station planning.. railroad will be made up of primarily 3 lines and a Midwest feel. Thanks for your thoughts.