Teardown that wall!

[S Class]

Spur in off the three track loads/empties track into the turn back curve of the grade.

For op's you can store a switch loco owned by the company (sorry it was a mine yes?) the road loco delivers loads to the two track siding and ether waits while the switcher runs out and cuts off cars and sorts them through the loaders then the road loco backs out and hooks up to loaded wagons on the other track and takes off, or it runs forward to the now stored tail of loaded wagons in the return loop and pulls the wagons, meanwhile the cuts spotted by the company switcher  are "magically" pulled by a second switcher (actually the road loco) off scene through the loop. If what I wrote makes sense (I'm a bit hungover).

Just mean that you can have two independent operators on the branch if you so wish.

[conrailthomas519]

MW- Thanks for your thoughts on being the one who has to crawl underneath the layout to reach those access panels. The placement of the layout in the room would be in the center of the room allowing access to all sides of the layout. 24 inch isle space to be exact. Does this make a difference?

S Class- Operations... I think Im on the right track where that is concerened. Im intending to model the Enlow/Forks Loadout Facility (Bailey Mine) in which is located at TIME,PA. The track arrangements are incorrect on the pictured purposed layout. I am considering to have them removed. It should be a single track ballon loop with the passing siding on the bottom end of that loop. In the case of following the prototype... Less is more
More switching? NS modern unit trains

[DKS]

MW- Thanks for your thoughts on being the one who has to crawl underneath the layout to reach those access panels. The placement of the layout in the room would be in the center of the room allowing access to all sides of the layout. 24 inch isle space to be exact. Does this make a difference?

Um... you can't have a 24" aisle along the back of the layout, at least not without making the layout 24" narrower, and that would result in a significant compromise in the plan. As drawn, the hidden area is set against the wall to the right. Please recall the email I sent with measurement discrepancy. One of two things was incorrect: room width or layout width. Since the room width was correct, then the layout width was wrong, which is why I set it against the wall.

If the layout is set relatively high for good viewing while standing (which is recommended), then getting to the access hatches would not involve any "crawling" or "contorting," just stooping. Also remember that, in the plan as drawn, there are removable panels at each end of the hidden stretch, which will allow you to reach the areas that would have the most trouble--the switch ladders for the staging yard.

[conrailthomas519]

DKS Can you give me a phone call please? I sent you a email last night with my phone number on it. If you did get it ... Lets chat a few minutes and get on the same page. thanks

[DKS]

We are go for an around-the-walls plan, possibly two decks. Please disregard all previous plans.

[C855B]

We are go for an around-the-walls plan, possibly two decks. Please disregard all previous plans.

Good for both of you. I had been biting my tongue to this point... the plan as it was playing out had too much hidden track.

[DKS]

Good for both of you. I had been biting my tongue to this point... the plan as it was playing out had too much hidden track.

Actually, its train length limit of ~3' was its greatest, er, shortcoming.

[Specter3]

This seems to call out for a nolix IMHO.

OP- do you not want to do a lot of "operations"? Or based on the previous plan and space just wiling to forgo it to have your specific locale modeled? Not being critical, just asking.

[DKS]

This seems to call out for a nolix IMHO.

Actually, there is a closet attached to this room more than adequate for a helix. Not an inch of layout space will be wasted.

[Bsklarski]

Curve the sharp corners. They hurt when you walk or trip into them

[conrailthomas519]

Previous track plan is scrapped! Will be working on a new track design with DKS, in which will allow me to run longer modern NS unit trains of coal. Both from an operatering stand point and the prototype. (Former Monogahela Railroad)

[Specter3]

Not fair not telling us about extra space! LOL.

[conrailthomas519]

Extra Space he says....well I was headed in the direction of a smaller layout. It turns out, the smaller layout doesn't provide me with what I am looking to do. With that being said, I am forced to go larger in layout size. In my case, I do have available space that I could use.
Adventures in layout planning!