halsey

I really must stop revisiting this and move on BUT I have just had a possible "lightbulb" moment....................... I do like Jon_1066 track plan but thought the gradient would be an issue with 2 heights required on my bridge AND I do take on board Chimers comments re the marshalling yard access......... BUT if I allow the branch access on Jons plan to always be on the outside of the main line the 3% gradient will fit after the bridge and if I use freezers branch line plan as mentioned earlier it will all fit in. Dare I ask do we all agree on this or is my plan, just posted today, better for any reason We have guests for the weekend so I'm going to set myself the final decision point as first thing MONDAY am to allow this to run a bit longer but then I must start building and as mentioned the critical positioning of the gradient and the branch baseboard will have to be my starting point. Thanks again

Thanks Jon_1066 but after a great deal of thought I will struggle to make that plans "construction" work as it will need the bridge across the door to carry 3 running lines one of which would be at a higher level and that concerns me. Taking Chimers comments - I think my latest plan addresses your concerns - I believe point one is addressed on the latest version (attached again here for clarity) and point 2 is covered in part by the fact that the branch baseboard at 4.5" does in fact only cover the headshunt and points not the sidings and one day the "empty" area to the left may well be developed with a turntable and engine shed or a canal basin who knows.. I think its now decision time and time to start track laying so I thank all of you for your contributions..... The final working plan as attached here is what I will now start to build with the 3% gradient being the first and a very fixed element and then the 2 loops with their associated turnouts located appropriately completing the end of phase1, the marshalling yard phase 2, the branch phase 3 and then (having learned a lot more and sadly gained a few unwelcome years) a much more detailed look at buildings etc before the goods yard at phase 4 and a canal basin or engine shed phase 5 if I survive that long! Thanks again.

Hi, I like it and yes from a quick look I think its do-able and would fit - clearly my difficulty is going to be to understand and choose a final track plan from various contributions (which I must do soon!) given my very high level of ignorance so if I may, and if you'll forgive me, as these are genuine questions................ what didn't you like about "mine" and the way it has evolved? why is this layout better? why should I change - is this better operationally, less of a train set, closer to prototypical practice??????? I can see some benefits I would just like to understand a bit more but not get sucked in too much.............. I hope you can see/understand where I'm coming from.............. Thanks. PS I genuinely don't know how much I'm asking of you here but is it possible to replot this using only small radius points as that is what I have already bought

Hi, Limited if any passenger (Loco and 3 coaches max) would be branch round and round and back to branch - goods is my thing. So on a main line trailing is "behind" and facing is "in front" of (the loco) and trailing wherever possible is better? I am using one setrack LH curved point in the bottom left to come off the last section of a 2nd radius curve not perfect practice but it does help matters. Thanks all. PS just unpacked a woodland scenic 3% gradient - a bit expensive but brilliant!

It feels as thought "we" might be getting there. Re the fiddle yard crossover I'm beginning to struggle for length so had in fact put a second crossover just before/after the curves bearing in mind this is all behind scenic breaks - see plan I am still struggling with facing crossovers etc terminology any chance of a sketch as to where it should be and which way - I am assuming that the current crossover shown between the branch and the creamery is OK. similarly with my space issues Chimers top (1st) plan is a bit space/depth hungry

Hi all - this is where I'm at and where it would be good to 95% stay (unless you know different) but I still have a question about main line crossovers do I need another one - please don't look for prototype compliance but good fun playing trains (not train set) using setrack radius 2 3 (and 4 on the branch) rest all streamline - do your worst - please be gentle and above all please don't dishearten me as I would really like to move on and start laying out phase 1!

WOW thanks for the effort - I have just been playing with the final suggestion from davepen yesterday and it doesn't work primarily because of the gradient issues - this has got my grey matter working well this morning and I was just about to try to create a hand sketched cut and pasted plan to attach here BUT I've just found Chimers 1st plan (the second one doesn't work for me) and it looks good and doable and possibly an improvement - I will now go and play some more but have 2 questions will this marry well with Nearholmers sketched marshalling yard which I have located on the inside loop on the opposite side of the room (behind me as it were) and if these two plans are combined do I need any further crossover provision on the main lines and should this/these be formed from 2 LH or 2 RH points? FYI - my branch line will be taken from Freezers 60 plans for small locations and is SP38 without the loco shed. I'm committed to creating the 2 main loops (and therefore really need to sort the points detail) and the branch line and its 3% gradient access first (because its at maximum reach at the back)so I can get on with playing trains and modelling experiments then phase 2 will be the marshalling yard and then phase 3 probably next winter the main goods yard once my skills have improved but following so many threads it seems as though it would be right to sort the overall design first - hence all this activity. Next steps - I am going to sort a sketch of where I was at pre Chimer as this feels a better fit but incorporating Nicks clean it up a bit comments as well. Thanks all for now

Thanks for this everyone - I'll have to have a further think tomorrow (just concluded a very long alcoholic lunch!) but my immediate reaction is I simply haven't got room for the further turnout activity around the branch and to the left as I only have room for a single point before I need to start climbing a 3% gradient as early as possible after what was my initial RH point location which was above the words "double slip" on the latest davepen sketch. The latest sketch tends to suggest that I need to (and can) locate 2 RH points (not the 2 LH as per my very first post today) to the left of the layout i.e. out of picture. Thanks all - more tomorrow when this has been played with real bits on the baseboards FYI the baseboard depth relevant to the location of the above is 32" is that OK?

thanks - in either case why the short section to the right of the turnout on the branch "entrance" (more points to buy!) - if needed what is min length? Could you perhaps address my crossover question earlier in todays posts 7.43am responding to you? many thanks Have to leave now back in touch tonight.

sorry but not quite right (the problem is my making in plagiarising someone else's plan) where labelled fiddle 1 - the top line is the branch as described running off to the left (fed with a RH turnout roughly at point C) then right to left main line then left to right main line then the short siding (at point A) etc....... fiddle 2 is exactly as you describe it I had assumed the headshunt would be below the warehouse (or on the inside main line) to clarify I'm not paranoid about good prototypical practice but much more good model railway operation in a very small space - but it's not a train set! Continuing thanks

Hi, On my original the top branch line (which only runs off to the left ) is connected to the "middle" left to right running line with a RH turnout roughly below the word "rear" which I think fits in with your thoughts I do have to operate at the "bottom" of the plan

hi Either I'm confused or my post was confusing (sorry) - using your sketch the top track is a branch feed going off to the top left of sketch using a RH turnout (not a loop - no space) the next 2 tracks form the double loop hence my question as to how the would/should any crossovers work ? If possible please stick to the original as closely as you can just revisiting the crossovers as quite a lot is now purchased and fits well but the crossovers can be altered as the main one is formed by 2 "Y" turnouts and the other with either 2 LH or 2 RH yet to be purchased (or found on ebay). Many thanks for your interest and help it is really helping me.

I'll try to sort better detail over the next few days BUT to keep it simple ............... if you ignore all I've said and simply project the original/attached plan to utilize the fiddle yard lines to be the 2 loops around the room (and the outer track to be the feed to the branch/yard off to the left) then my question is........ given that the plan attached provides for one crossover between the 2 loops do I need another one does it matter where it is and which way should it face? Hope that helps

If anyone is still watching this I am making progress in laying out track to see what fits where (so far so good) constructing the upper level branch station above the fiddle yard which is accessed using a 3% gradient - the whole thing runs anticlockwise coming off the outside of the main loop and accessed via a RH point inserted to the left of the main point work. I wish I could get on with CAD but I cant so its enjoyable trial and error still based very closely on the second of my posted main track layouts with a fiddle yard based on Nearholmers sketch with branch above BUT what is challenging me at the moment is "facing direction" of the main loop crossover which I need to put centrally on the double tracks to the short left hand side of the room. Where I'm struggling is I cant "get" the logic of whether I need to use 2 LH or 2 RH points - as the main point work in the middle of the detailed plan uses a 2 RH format I have assumed that the opposite is what is needed so I have put 2 LH in place at the moment and it looks right but if you are able to follow my explanation am I right? I will try and sketch something soon to help you help me! Thanks for watching

Can I just say to all who have contributed - "Layout design by RM web" produces results - thanks to all now to start enjoying myself - watch this space!

Wow thanks for your input/effort - there isn't a scale so I cant comment on size but it looks about right. I'm only using setrack on the 4 corners the rest is predominantly small radius or "y" streamline and 100 flex track quite a bit already bought. I'm not committed to double track around the room but have decided to see if I can allow for a future raised section which would see an terminal station above the fiddle yard as it were in the bottom left of your drawing accessed from the mid point of the loop on the opposite side and running anticlockwise on the outside of all tracks for simplicity or plan and gradient. Your timing is also great because I'm wrestling with fiddle/marshalling yards and headshunts (and the fact that I've already bought 6 LH points and this seems to be almost entirely RH) - taking your plan can the yard and headshunt be reversed? I'm assuming the 2 inner tracks in the bottom LH corner aren't joined - but what are they for as they look short? I hope this isn't asking too much!

:scratchhead:aarrgghh!! Go away! Away now for a few days no track time!

sorry no intention to mislead but its not my drawing but is plagiarised from a 2014 thread on this site - the clue is the points - its based on 6" squares!

I'm still not sure if these replies are getting into the right place and are specific enough to the individual members input?? David - continued and many thanks - you will perhaps see that during the day that the principal modelled area plan has changed (attached again here) due to fantastic levels of input and a rainy day (meaning loads more and much better focussed research) - I've got to start somewhere so this new plan is now the way to go with 2 tracks round the room and a marshalling/fiddle yard "behind me". I'm going to start putting point assemblies together over the rest of this week to start to see how it all fits together. Enthusiasm firmly restored!

I am "doing the 4 corners" with setrack 2 and 3 radius double curves for that reason - thanks

many thanks - when I get to the other side of the room I'll bear it in mind

thanks for that - all contributions gratefully received

I like this - thanks

many thanks I think this is beginning to be where I'm headed

like this??