1615 Layout Planning: First draft with Track

[DKS]

I don't know if you need 2 helices/turnbacks unless Ed has a given of continuous running. Ed, do you have a list of givens/druthers, must haves/nice to haves, etc.?

If the return loop is unnecessary, then I would move the helix out even further into the middle of the space. But I have a feeling a return loop is likely desired.

In both Lee's and David's interpretations I see a troublesome room access pinch point between the bottom helix and the steps. I would suggest moving the helix barrel about a foot to the right and add an industry opportunity on a narrow shelf over to the left wall.

This might be a bad spot if it required a lot of traffic moving back and forth, but it's really not in the main operating space, so I don't see it as being a problem during operations. It's also why I didn't push the shelf all the way to the left wall, in order to create some wiggle room for folks entering or leaving the railroad space at the bottom of the stairs.

Also, it's not a helix, just a return loop. It could be made smaller/shifted right if necessary, I suppose.

[conrail98]

Both the entrance access and utility closet are my concerns with the room itself. Whatever goes in front of that utility closet needs to "removable" in the off chance the utility company needs to change out whatever is in there or perform maintenance,

Phil

[wm3798]

The door at the lower right is actually a window well high on the wall, with a floor to ceiling enclosure next to it that houses gas meters and that sort of stuff.  It'll take some bones, but you can have the meters moved outdoors to solve that problem.  The only thing you'd need to worry about is access to the feed valve for your front hose bib that's probably in there. (to shut it off so it doesn't freeze).

The door at the upper part of the diagram is the entrance to the back room and laundry and beer fridge.

David's diagram more clearly points up the space limitations of the room, but also offers the better potential for the WOW described by Eric.

I continue to contend that removing the staging function to the back room is the best solution, and use the helix blobs to allow for an upper deck for extended runs and more ops opportunities.

But the York Rd. underpass scene at the foot of the steps does offer a possible WOW if done comprehensively....

Lee

[DKS]

Walking down stairs into an open basement doesn't force the eye to gravitate.  Walking down a set of stairs with a door at the bottom, building anticipation and then entering into a room that has been designed well or throws you right into a duck under and saturates you with trains is a good example of "wow factors".

Wow factors are nice and all, but are they practical? Think in terms of construction; some of these ideas are great on paper, but a PITA to build--especially to build in such a way that they don't get damaged. Enclosing the stairs with a wall and door subdivides the space and makes the total available modeling area even smaller, whereas left open you have an immediate vista of the whole layout from the bottom of the stairs. Also think in terms of practical stuff, like being able to carry materials and large objects in and out of the room. I love the marketing-speak of "saturating one's senses with trains," but I think it may be much harder to pull off than describe.

I think it would be just as effective to make sure the entire space was finished, and finished well. Clean, smooth lines, nicely-finished fascias, lighting valances to focus the light on the trains, etc. Also, some strategically-placed visually-dramatic model locations would go a long way to add wow as well.

[wm3798]

I'm thinking of the latter, open vista effect when I'm thinking wow.  The eye can be drawn to a particular scene outright, but all of the other flavors are present peripherally.



Nothing to duck under, nothing that's right up in your face, but WOW.
 

[DKS]

I'm thinking of the latter, open vista effect when I'm thinking wow.  The eye can be drawn to a particular scene outright, but all of the other flavors are present peripherally.



Nothing to duck under, nothing that's right up in your face, but WOW.
 

I agree. The only thing I would have done to that space is use more compact lighting fixtures, and hide them behind a valance, in order to avoid the visual clutter the spots create. Other than that, yeah, wow.

[asciibaron]

Nothing to duck under, nothing that's right up in your face, but WOW.
 

too bad it's not a model railroad.

that will not be Ed's basement - no bacon.

[Mark5]

Wow! Look at all those light fixtures!

[DKS]

Wow! Look at all those light fixtures!

Must get a little toasty down there after a while, especially when you add a dozen visitors or so.

[sizemore]

Wow! Look at all those light fixtures!

Must get a little toasty down there after a while, especially when you add a dozen visitors or so.

Doesnt need to tan in winter either....  ;D

The S.

[DKS]

Here's a very rough pass at where mainlines might be run within the space I'd sketched out. Roughing them in this way can suggest where major features, such as yards, facilities, and switching areas might naturally go. It's just a starting point for further discussion, and there are many options, of course. The return loop for instance could be another helix to avoid trains lapping themselves. Two helixes would make for a really nice long run. The line doesn't have to pass into the other room, if it's not desired/permitted. Not sure if that stretch along the wall there is long enough for a staging yard, anyway.
 

[seusscaboose]

Wow factors are nice and all, but are they practical? Think in terms of construction; some of these ideas are great on paper, but a PITA to build--especially to build in such a way that they don't get damaged.

having not been to Ed's, i was assuming the townhome stairs were enclosed and construction not an issue.  I agree, an open staircase makes materials easier, unless there is an external door.

Enclosing the stairs with a wall and door subdivides the space and makes the total available modeling area even smaller

Agree when speaking of a small area increasing the number of walls is not a good idea, in that case, the layout will likely lend itself to scene breaks and the like.

I love the marketing-speak of "saturating one's senses with trains," but I think it may be much harder to pull off than describe. I think it would be just as effective to make sure the entire space was finished, and finished well. Clean, smooth lines, nicely-finished fascias, lighting valances to focus the light on the trains, etc. Also, some strategically-placed visually-dramatic model locations would go a long way to add wow as well.

good scenery goes a long way, i myself have travelled from Plywood Plains to whatever stage of quasi-complete i am at.  Regardless of size, good scenery always helps.  Look at the incredible stuff you , Vollmer, Ed, Lee, etc achieve. but even a small room can be manipulated with visual blocks (mountains, large industry, etc.).  My thoughts on wow factors were more leaning to a larger space, with Ed's being in the lower end in terms of size.  

I can imagine going into his basement (or up to lee's penthouse) and walking into a "trainroom"... not a room with trains in it.  but i don't want focus on that point. To each his own.  This is a "No Flame" zone.

What i would be interested in hearing, in addition to the design elements of the RR, are the visual aspects as well.  How Ed will (potentially) bring the "visitor experience" into account as he designs his space (assuming Ed even cares about the visitor experience... heck.. he just may wanna run trains and operate ).  that is somewhere where i myself am lacking and could potentially gleen ideas.

when i think entrance to a train room, i think this
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/TsGgnE7k08cnTpFSgWrSeQ?feat=directlink

even though the scenery is overwhellming, it makes an impression that is memorable as you walk down the stairs and into the empire.  Of course, for most modelers to achieve anything close in terms of size would be impossible, however in a smaller, more realistic setting (say a townhome or side room) theoretically (given enough time to continuosly improve it) it could be achieved.  Look at what the modular guys do in HO, as Dave says, good scenery would compensate for alot.

Ep

p.s i took money out of the equation as a requirment.  Lets assume we can model on a shoestring effeciently ;D

[wm3798]

If you compare the shot that I posted with Eric's, I think you get an idea of how you might want to approach that introductory visual.  Mine shows the comprehensive Wow, in terms of all the things that David mentions (with the exception of the light fixtures... but to be honest, when I was in the room, I didn't even notice them.  The layout grabs far more attention than the hardware that supports the show) while Eric's shot focuses on a particular WOW scenic element.

One of the motivators behind my idea of putting the modular beer-line style industrial area in the foreground was in line with both.  While not the first thing you see, it has the potential to be a visual high water mark that sets the tone of the layout's quality, and clearly denotes the nerve center of the railroad modeled.



I tried to achieve that with the location of my paper mill and Maryland Junction right by the entrance to the room.  The goal is to provide an immediate glimpse into what this layout is about, as well as to divert the viewer's attention away from all the crap on the floor! :-[

Lee

[seusscaboose]

as well as to divert the viewer's attention away from all the crap on the floor! :-[
Lee

never noticed the crap... thats what they make curtains for... to hide the crap.

EP

[DKS]

The bottom line, however, is that, once a visitor makes it past the "wow" (whatever that may constitute) upon their entrance to the layout space, presumably the next stage is really the meat and potatoes, the raison d'être of the layout: operation. So I do think that it's perhaps more valuable to focus on that aspect, and worry about presentation down the line.