New layout plans.

[davefoxx]

Too bad the two-door layout won't work, because if you were able to spread out on two doors what you're trying to cram in on one it would work better.  Yes, around here, we say, "Less is more."  We often preach about using the small size of N scale for more scenery rather than more track.  Nature is much bigger than trains.  That being said, it's clear that you're okay with sacrificing realism for the sake of operations.  That's fine, if that's what you want to do.  It is your layout, so build what you want.

DFF

[Bsklarski]

 

[Kisatchie]

ok.  starting over, with some inspiration of a layout over on nScale.net.



This at least looks more logical, even though I KNOW Ed will say I need about 75% less track

Let me first say I've never ever completed a layout. Even so, I like this plan. It gives a long main line, plus a number of freight sidings to switch. I'd like a bigger yard, but no big deal.


Hmm... I'd like a bigger
tree house, but it's not
gonna happen...

[ScrewySqrl]

Operations start in the yard, where out of 13 cars in the yard, an 8 car train is randomly designed, plus the destination industry is chosen (yes, with only 5 industries, sometime a place will get 2 cars, and sometimes an industry will have no deliveries, regardless, there are always 8 cars to pick up). After delivering the cars, and picking up from the industry spots, a mainline train can drop its cut of cars, then runaround and park in the engine house. Then the yard switcher can come and back the train into the longest yard track, and sort out the new consist that goes back out to the industry again. The switcher then spots the train on the AD track and adds a caboose, it then escapes back to the yard lead track. The road engine comes back and either hooks to the left end of the train for a clockwise run, or runs around the train to hook to the right end for a counter-clockwise run. Yard switching can be run while another train circles on the mainline. Through trains will come in on the staging/interchange track or from cassette storage. It will either circle and then park on the AD, the engine will run around and it will exit via the interchange, or it will spot the industries with new cars and exit via the interchange with old cars.

[Dave V]

So realism aside, just a friendly "warning" from a twice-around veteran...  Sharp curves and grades have a multiplicative effect on each other to significantly constrain train length (along with the usual limits on car and locomotive size).

[packers#1]

So rather than building this layout as a super-realistic depiction of a prototype railroad, you're building it more as a sort of card game? If that's the case then I'm not as concerned about the spaghetti bowl of track, since the layout is more about the game than building a prototype. I would still build it as a single track layout with passing sidings and reverse loops though. This wouldn't take away from having a train circling while yard ops happen, and it might give you a little more breathing room.

[ScrewySqrl]

So rather than building this layout as a super-realistic depiction of a prototype railroad, you're building it more as a sort of card game? If that's the case then I'm not as concerned about the spaghetti bowl of track, since the layout is more about the game than building a prototype. I would still build it as a single track layout with passing sidings and reverse loops though. This wouldn't take away from having a train circling while yard ops happen, and it might give you a little more breathing room.

Yes! Yes!      Somebody gets it!  It's a game!

for me, anyway, the randomness of the game lets operations be a little different each time without having to make up complicated waybills.   as for grades and curves, 2% is not too tough a grade for most of the engines I have.

I will note that just because I can't do any prep for actual track laying for another 6-8 weeks (we close on the house Nov 25th, and hope to be fully moved in by Dec 17-20), I'm fiddling around a bit with the 30x54 layout, stretching it to a 30-80 door.  vague Ideas of running with the 'peanut' theme and having all the industries be peanut related as a single-industry design - peanut versions of grain elevators going to sheller/roaster going to peanut butter factory going to candy going to food distributor going to the rest of the world.  Probably no real railroad really did this, but It would be entertaining anyway

[OldEastRR]

I assume you don't want the "switching game" to get unwieldy. To that end, several suggestions:

Make the spur to the "Plastics" branch off the same track as the Chemical Works. The Plastics doesn't need to move, just have the spur approach from the other end, This consolidates it into an industrial area, that a switcher can set aside in to let a through freight go by, and makes running around cars to deliver them easier. The track relocation will also give you more room for town features.

Why not two side by side spur tracks for Acme Products?

Not sure what the double light blue tracks are above the Yard: passing siding? Except you already have a passing siding with the light blue and the dark blue track. By shifting the LH end curves "north" you can move the light blue main and dark blue main to take that double light blue section's place. This gives you space to put a double-ended (for runarounds) yard track off the mains -- the Caboose track would branch off this new yard track.

Speaking of Caboose track -- if you put a double-slip in place of the switch now going to the engine house the caboose track could be moved to come off the double-slip. This would free up space for another long yard track. Crammed prototype facilities use special trackwork like that to get everything in and save space.

As an aside: one square foot for a town? Are there going to be roads?

Finally -- you might think about eliminating that dipsy-doodle S-curve by the Plastics building.

[ScrewySqrl]

I assume you don't want the "switching game" to get unwieldy. To that end, several suggestions:

Make the spur to the "Plastics" branch off the same track as the Chemical Works. The Plastics doesn't need to move, just have the spur approach from the other end, This consolidates it into an industrial area, that a switcher can set aside in to let a through freight go by, and makes running around cars to deliver them easier. The track relocation will also give you more room for town features.

Thaks! I will do that.  and it does look better.

Why not two side by side spur tracks for Acme Products?

not sure there's enough room, but I'll see if I can fit it in there.

Not sure what the double light blue tracks are above the Yard: passing siding? Except you already have a passing siding with the light blue and the dark blue track. By shifting the LH end curves "north" you can move the light blue main and dark blue main to take that double light blue section's place. This gives you space to put a double-ended (for runarounds) yard track off the mains -- the Caboose track would branch off this new yard track.

I'll fiddle with it.  I think it was originally a passing siding  for multi-train operation.  Looking at the other curves in the area, I don't think I can move the A/D track switch up though.

Speaking of Caboose track -- if you put a double-slip in place of the switch now going to the engine house the caboose track could be moved to come off the double-slip. This would free up space for another long yard track. Crammed prototype facilities use special trackwork like that to get everything in and save space.

Does anyone make a manual double slip?  As Is I'm thinking of making the caboose track double ended and shifting it over a little bit, so the yard switch tower, yard office and caboose track are all right there together.

As an aside: one square foot for a town? Are there going to be roads?

Finally -- you might think about eliminating that dipsy-doodle S-curve by the Plastics building.

More like 1 foot by 1.5 ft, but yes, there will be roads, and the town will go outside the track as well

I'll look into fixing the S curv

[ScrewySqrl]

Here is the thought experiment on stretching the 30x54 into a 30x80.

I've drawn it without spurs and only the hint of the yard, but the original passing siding




I'll ask you guys to fill in what you think would be a proper number of sidings and yard.

This would be for more realistic operation, not the game.  Thought experiments until I can actually get started with track

[OldEastRR]

Pretty sure Peco makes a manual double slip with locking positions.

[ScrewySqrl]

Pretty sure Peco makes a manual double slip with locking positions.

...In code 55, not code 80.

[ScrewySqrl]

heres the tweaked trackplan based on OldEastRR's suggestions

[ScrewySqrl]

and just because I didn't hear back on the shorter line:


the car float brings in sugar, and chocolate comes in from the interchange

[MichaelWinicki]

I think they're both interesting plans.  The "spaghetti bowl" would be fun to see being built because I don't think I've seen a layout with that much track in such a small space. 

The single oval plan is well laid out except I don't care for not having a passing siding/run-around track on the yard side of the layout.