The Nondescript Southern/Norfolk & Western Railroad

[Kisatchie]

Below is an approximate image of the space I have to work with. At the bottom is a 12" x 10' shelf right next to an 18" x 10' shelf. Each shelf will have a town. The 4' x 8' island will have a small yard and another town (or two?).
I'll be using Kato Unitrack, and I'm trying to make up a rough track plan. But hey! if anyone wants to volunteer a plan, go for it!
 
                                   8' island
_________________________________
|                                                          |
|                                                          |         
|                                                          |
|                                                          | 4'
|                                                          |
| 8.5'                                                    |
|                                                          |
|                 _______________________|                 
|                 |                                                                         
|                 | 2.0'                                                                         
|                 |                          7.5'                                                               
|                 |_______________________________                                                                         
|                                                                          |
|                                           0" elevation              |
|                ________________________________| 2.5' (18" shelf and 12" shelf)
|                                           8" elevation              |
|_________________________________________|
                                      10' (butts against wall)

I'm going to have my wife the digital photographer take a photo of the overall plan drawn on graph paper later. The last digital photo I tried to post was "too big" - more than 5 megabytes? So I may have to rely on one of you generous forum members to post a to-scale diagram of this plan for me if my photo is too big again.


Hmm... is this a G scale
layout or an N scale
layout...?

[Denver Road Doug]

I post this, not necessarily because it fits well or that it matches some list of requirements, but just as a cool layout...decent design...that has a lot of good elements...that might start some discussion or provide some inspiration for the process.



This has already been posted on TRW, so take image rights up with them if you want.   

This could easily be adapted to Louisiana terrain...bayous and so forth....might have to be a cypress tree "tunnel" but you get the idea.

[basementcalling]

So there is an 8 inch elevation difference between the shelves?

[Kisatchie]

So there is an 8 inch elevation difference between the shelves?

Right. But I'm thinking it might be easier to build with one shelf 30" wide, but the backmost 12" raised with foam to 8" high. The track can gradually lower to 0" elevation as it traverses the 4' x 8' island.


Hmm... will the island
have a palm tree...?

[jmarley76]

Alright, hot tub time for Dee!

I would recommend either layout design software (free in some cases) or the Kato Unitrack template for drawing up your plan. I mention the later since you were asking about Unitrack switches  in other threads.

[Rich_S]

I post this, not necessarily because it fits well or that it matches some list of requirements, but just as a cool layout...decent design...that has a lot of good elements...that might start some discussion or provide some inspiration for the process.



This has already been posted on TRW, so take image rights up with them if you want.   

This could easily be adapted to Louisiana terrain...bayous and so forth....might have to be a cypress tree "tunnel" but you get the idea.

Hey, I recognize that layout, It's David Popp's very first Naugatuck Valley railroad. I always liked that layout and what it grew into, just a shame David got ride of it.  I agree, it's a great layout.

[Dave V]

Hey, I recognize that layout, It's David Popp's very first Naugatuck Valley railroad. I always liked that layout and what it grew into, just a shame David got ride of it.  I agree, it's a great layout.

I'm not sure I agree that it's a shame...  When a layout stops doing for its owner what it was intended to do, there's no shame in getting rid of it and starting over.  In his case I think he sold it.

[Rich_S]

I'm not sure I agree that it's a shame...  When a layout stops doing for its owner what it was intended to do, there's no shame in getting rid of it and starting over.  In his case I think he sold it.

Dave, You are correct, he sold it on Craig's list. It's a shame from my point of view as I was hoping it would generate more modeling articles. But you are correct, why hold onto a layout that no longer holds your interest. But I'm starting to wonder if David has layout burnout, look at how many layout construction projects he's involved with at MR. Last I heard, the Naugatuck Valley had been replaced with a slot car track, with scenery that matches any model railroad.