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Yes...dam storm dennis Gitted no visit from joseph today...ws hopin for some progress and some insight...idle hands are a terrible thing and keen to see something beyond the baseboards ive fitted so far....also gutted as this week would have been perfect as home alone all week.

A balance of both is what im hoping for Lots of trains running ..some automated...others operable...tunnels...bridges etc and of course scernery adds to the final aestheticsl...all i can say is a hige thanks to joseph for his help so far...just wish he dam well lived next door....lol Often in the loft scratching my head with how to proceed...lol

Sorry chimer I did print out your design as it looked interesting...many thanks....as i did point out ive no idea what would work and what would maximise the space...fortunately i have been lucky with a cpl visits from joeseph...who really has enlightened me.....so far he has shown me that on the long stretch we can have 6 tracks 2 raised from base and 4 raised higher...we have flitted blocks and a curved here and there track beds...he shown me how to utilise kingspan and left me with some jogsaw work that will keep me busy

Can see why not many sent track plans...installed scarm and anyrail and it does seem a daunting task to produce a layout

Yep it literally is a blank canvass...i did mention it will be dcc as ive fitted decoders in my locos and lighting in all my carriages...spent months doing it all...lol Train detection...good point...i currently have the Hornby elite which i intend to use railmaster....working signals sound like a great idea...il have to look into it. As mentioned i kinda get impatient and worried that if i take too long to get started...il lose interest...i do lack the patience to sit there and plan something...im more of a doer and just like to get things done...sorry its just me If i was good at plans i wouldnt be asking for help here..lol I just want my layout to look good with as much as i can get on it and auto mate as much as possible...so i can sit back n chill and observe but also have the option to operate if the mood takes

Well downloaded scarm and anyrail Got as far as putting baseboards...but this track designing thing is beyond me I see why people get dismayed at the planning stage guess im too impatient aswell...boards fitted ...loft insulated...plenty of time temporarily...frustrated... really wish i had creativity...lol

I guess the array of coach direction may be something that a dedicated enthusiast would want to have correct but this layout is for myself and im not fussed either way...as said will prob only run 4 coaches max so not going for any realism...maybe one day il get picky....i may operate the odd train now and again...but.my fun will be the automation as im an IT guy and a pure tech head....im just extremely keen to get laying track and maximising the space i have...love idea joseph came up with for split levels lines and cant wait for him to get me started Ive seem some awesome split level 8x4 layouts with tunnels n bridges...so if i can get something like that both ends and joined by the 20' straight...the layout gonna be awesome Still really keen to see wat u guys would come up with as i could incoperate something that neither i nor joseph had considered

Yea get what you guys are saying....to be honest id have never known or realised..i just assumed coaches are coaches regardless which way they were and always assumed 1st class always at front of train. Also joseph was wondering on the long straight could the track be doubled up so that 2 track low and two high with wat u were showing me thenother day...4 tracks on that long straight allows more locos to be run then...just a thought

Il measure loft hatch area later, but the ladders push up and lay in the loft to the right side of hatch as portrayed in diagram...this is why a lift out section is in question...as id have to remove it everytime im finished...if i could avoid lift out secrion i would, but realise that leaves me with dogbone loops which i dont have no problem with....its all about getting the maximun from all space provided and as many locos running as possible safely...i realise most add things later...but prefer a good plan to make the most of space i have and have all the scenry...tunnels...bridges...crossovers and whatever ppl can think of

Ive attached a drawing of baseboard plan I plan to be running no more than 4 coaches plus loco n dummy in case of the 125's and my dmu's are max 3 coaches...i am not too fussed on pulling tons of carriages but like idea of stations...bridges...tunnels...multi level etc Loops are def required as id like a few trains automated and a cpl i can operate or automate As joseph suggested a lift out section over loft is possible...not ideal but if required it can be included

Another great visit from joseph...great idea and helpfull everytime...still weary of the lift out part but ur the expert...lol Thankyou for.your help and offer of the flexible track...noticed that i do have a lotnof steel hope u can return soon so i can get something to mess about with

Just to add...only idea ive come up with is to have 2 dogbone loops with the outer loop rising both ends so that they run across a sectioned tunnel down the long and returning on the edge of the long straight and the inner dogbone running through the tunnel or if possible one track in the tunnel and other next to the outer loop allowing and end to end through the tunnel to the middle of th 8x4's for a big station at each end...i could then have a fiddle yard just off the bottom of one 8x4 and a teminus coming off the end of the other 8x4...obviously they would have to join to the outer loop.....as said its only a thought and best i could come up with...lol

Wow jrs...your dads layout is insanely awesome...hopin i get something going soon and have been inspired. Ive spent the last week insulating the loft to an extent....massive difference in temperature now...got some spare 4x2 ply so gonna try strengthening the 20' span by uprights and shelving underneath....then its definately get working on a layout plan. Thankyou also chimer...will be studying your.plan also. Hoping my new found friend joseph visits tomorow as he is very knowledgeable

Wow david read ur post and it made no sense to me at all...just shows u the naivety of myself....do apologise though as it sounds awesome just beyond my comprehension...lol Joseph has been a big help but even he has overwhelmed me...lol My only experience in layouts was a 2nd hand 8x4 when i was v young.. I should know more as grandparents...parents...uncles...aunts and some cousins all worked on the railway back when it was british rail in SE london...i spent most of.my life traveling on traon as father didnt drive and we all had free rail travel...i even went to school on the train from falconwood to barnhurst as went to erith school...probably why i like the dmu style trains as similar to the SE electric trains when younger

Already sorted triangular sections to joins so that i can curve the track onto the long straight...il post some pics soon