New Layout Advice

[johnjpeebles]

Hi Everyone - would like some advice on a new layout.  I've been doing shelf stuff and a Z scale 1x3 foot diorama for awhile, but recently got a 10x10 storage room with AC and power that I can build a larger layout in (for cheap!).

I'd like to put in a relatively simple (still very new to larger layouts) track plan that has great operation potential, and I came up with the following sketch (sorry for the poor quality).

The main concept is that the staging yard is in the front, and can stage trains either to the beginning, end, or via the junction of the layout.  Junction is on the mid-left, and the "end" would be right before staging, while the "beginning" would be reached via the lift-out bridge.  Trackage for towns and industries is something I don't know how to implement very well, but was wondering what the group thought was possible with this arrangement (am I forgetting something, is this hopelessly optimistic, etc.)

For operations, I really don't like roundy roundy layouts, I really want staging, and I want the option to run in a loop for testing/display purposes.  Also, I have access to the entire bottom side of the layout (that's where the roll up door is).

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[johnjpeebles]

Replying to my own post here with more information that I forgot.

- I'm trying to avoid having trains pass through a scene more than once.
- I'm going to use Sievers benchwork and focus on making each piece as modular as possible, maybe even putting dividers in between each of the bench pieces, and treating them as self contained "scenes".
- I'm most concerned with the staging yard placement (whether it's feasible to pack a yard into that space).
- I'm handlaying the turnouts.
- each square is 6" on that diagram.

[Philip H]

john,
With regard to  the staging yard, it might help to know what scale your drawing is on, so we know how much space you have to access it, and whether you intend to have "active" staging with an operator, or "passive" staging with automatic block detection and the like.

Philip

[johnjpeebles]

It's designed to be an active staging yard with an operator.  The size of that benchwork section for the staging yard is 96" by 36", but it has a divider running down it (dotted line).

[Philip H]

Thanks.  What's the distance from the edge to the wall?

[johnjpeebles]

The entire bottom "wall" is a roll up door, so the edge would be roughly 5 feet to a wall.  Between staging and the wall is 24 inches (bottom right).  Tight, but OK for 1-3 operators I'm hoping.