[slivesay]

Hi all,
My son is 2.5 and has been train crazy for the last 8 or 9 months. So after taking him to the model railroad museum here in San Diego and remembering how much fun I had with them when i was a kid, I decided to build us both a train layout. I am a complete newb to this as my layout as a kid involved a 4 car train running around on an oval.

The amount of information available is daunting and trying to determine how to apply it has been quite a challenge.

I've done a lot of research and I have gotten a lot of invaluable information from this forum and other resources. I particularly enjoyed following the evolution of Xrunners' layout. That process helps make things click into place for me.
I've spent quite a bit of time trying to develop a sensible and interesting layout for my available space and would appreciate any constructive feedback/advise/suggestions for my design.

Some basic info:
Scale: HO
Era: late 50's early 60's
Location: undecided at this time
Operations: Continuous runs to keep the boy happy and switching to keep me happy
Size: 8.5x10 in the garage. I can extend the cutout to 2' to make the size 9x10 if needed
Control: DCC
Track: Atlas Code 83, Atlas #4, Peco #5, Walther's Curved Turnouts #6.5

This is essentially a loose mashup of two MR designs; Cripple Creek(right) and Callahan Central(left).
I'll be using 2" foam core board as a base.
I've put in structures to ensure that they will fit but they are not set in stone.
I'd like to put in some bridges, tunnel and water features also I'd like to add some elevations but am a bit afraid of getting into that.

Thanks in advance

 

[slivesay]

Thanks for the replies all

The lift-out section does have me worried and I had not thought about the tracks not being perpendicular to the seam and I can see how that could make life difficult. I'll have to rethink that. Maybe I suck it up and make it a duck under.

All track is within 30" except the very top at the mid-point of the table but I can climb up the existing bench to reach that if necessary. That plan might be better in theory than in practice.
I was planning to build this out in phases. Outside loop with the two towns and industry spurs first and then the inside loop and finally the yard last.
This is prob the 8th revision of this particular version and each revision wound up with more track, I was wondering if it was too busy or too much.

I have gotten an enormous amount of info by going through past and present threads including yours NSHO. I checked out layoutvision.com, I'll have to think about modifying my benchwork. I'm thinking maybe a water-wing type to accommodate the door on the right.

Regarding the spurs... This layout would run clockwise? At least thats my assumption. That would leave the team track, freight house and gravel industry on the left as well as the creamery on the right needing some sort of runaround to position the car, correct?

Here is a simple drawing of the garage. The space does extend more to the left and bottom but this gives a better sense of the area. I can't expand the footprint too much more than this

 

[slivesay]

Thanks all,
I've been working on tweaking the design. The rest of the existing bench isn't useable, needs to be reserved for 'honey-do's'.
Yep the one in Balboa park, still has lots of trains and they seem to be adding to the HO layout. Lots of fun though and inspiring

 

[slivesay]

I'll probably leave out the liftout for now and re-examine it later. I do like the thought of a longer continues run than what a loop will provide but not sure yet if the effort/hassle is worth it yet. I had anticipated using a tongue and groove type fitting but I like the height adjustment screw you use.
The left side of the layout is accessible as this is in the corner of the garage with the widest area towards the center of the garage. The longest reach will be at the top centered on the table addition. This is about 38in but can be reached by climbing on top of the existing bench to the left. Not something I'm anticipating having to do often but doable if i need to.

 

[slivesay]

Layout Update

Ok so here is the latest update to my layout, grid is 12". The space i have is about 25% of the garage but it was not readily apparent from the pic so I included a portion of the garage area so the layout location is easier to see.
I'll build this in phases starting with the inner loop, then the outer loop and finally the interchange/extension.

I tried to reduce the amount of track but didn't really succeed, so I'm looking for suggestions.
These are not set in stone but here are my thoughts on industries, suggestions are welcome (era mid-late 50's, loop = small/mid-size town, extension = rural area)
Industry-1: Oil & fuel depot/dealer or freight house(is this redundant with a team track?)
Industry-2: food processor/cannery or cement manufacturer
Industry-3: dairy/creamery or small mining
Industry-4: rural mill or co-op

A few questions..
1. The interchange has 2 tracks, my thought was A/D for the interchange. Is this overkill?
2. This layout runs counter-clockwise, staging on the extension would be for departing off layout or would i be able to run arriving as well? If arriving is possible should i have it arrive via the same route or try to connect at the top right of the oval with a wye?
3. Is the three line crossover section by the interchange and yard overly complex?
4. Should I remove the inner loop and attach spurs to the outer loop? 1 train continuously running(unattended) is required to keep my son happy so I can run operations, this is why having a longer continuous run and the lift-out was and still is attractive.
5. Where exactly does the yard lead here start? If it starts at 'A' then its about an inch short, if it starts at 'B' than its too long.

 

[slivesay]

Thanks all,
I've removed the innermost loop and have extended the yard & staging tracks. I'm tweaking here and there and will post a pic of the layout when i feel better about it.

I have not really thought about how how long I want my trains to be, I would imagine between 6-12 cars as long as it doesn't look like the engine is chasing the caboose. Or more if I can get away with it.

The temptation to add 'one more thing' is really strong and thanks to you guys to for telling me I'm going overboard

Chad
My thought on a duck under/liftout is similar to your first suggestion and more than likely how i would do this if I do have one.

 

[slivesay]

Ok so here are two updated versions one is with a liftout/duckunder and the other is without. I wanted to ensure that the addition was doable without major mods if I did add the liftout at a later point.

I've simplified the layout, removed the innermost loop, extended the yard and staging tracks, and reduced the turnouts from 39 to 26/27.

I'm wondering if i should put something in the open space at the top of the loop but not sure how i'll get there barring elevation which I don't think I can do or want to do. Perhaps an engine facility coming from the yard? Also not sure how to connect it.

Anyways thoughts?

 

[slivesay]

I thought about that but wasn't sure about if that would work operationally. So the engine would travel up/down the ladder to get to the engine facility? Would it make sense to add a runaround on the ladder to allow for the traffic?