Newmodeller96

I have always wanted to add a lower level fiddle yard to my design. I have been doing some work with dimensions in my loft space and have come up with the following design. I don’t have the ability to have a double track helix which is a shame however I can fit 2 x 3rd radius helix one each side of the layout. I would then design a fiddle yard with a line that can swap trains from the UP to the Down side of the fiddle yard. I plan on having the fiddle yard only about 8 - 10 inches lower than the main layout as space is of a premium still.

My thought is that with the double slips at the top of each helix means that i could technically move a train off of each line to each helix however on second thoughts i don’t think there is need for this as I do want to run them as UP & Down lines so the trains would only need to run off the helixes in 1 direction. 

Looking forward to some constructive advice about these. 

@Chimer amazing thank you

4 minutes ago, Chimer said:

You could replace the point between the two slips with yet another slip and join the down via a trailing point.  But it would be an odd manoeuvre for a train to leave one of the terminal platforms and immediately reverse to head off on the down line ....

 

 

 

That was one of my ideas! But as you say it feels weird! I wonder whether I should move the emu shed to the headshunt position, then do the double slip change so that trains from the siding can then get to all platforms?

Hi All,

While playing with my track design I am getting stuck about the station entrance/throat. At the moment anything in the terminus platforms 3,4&5 can only get onto the up line and anything in the EMU Sidings and Headshunt can only get into Platforms 3,4&5. 
 

Could someone help with a way to re-design the headshunt area so locos can get into there from 3,4&5 then out onto the down line.

I have attached the zoomed in section for reference. I am modelling 80s to modern 3rd rail network southeast in 00 gauge. 

Thanks

H

5 hours ago, Chimer said:

It feels a bit unbalanced somehow - the platform road nearest the camera being much longer than the one on the far left.  Could you rearrange things so the platforms fan out two ways from the centre, rather than a single fan from the right?  Something like this perhaps ...

 

Done using medium Streamline points and giving platforms just over 3" wide. 

 

Hope this helps the thought process!

@Chimeryou might have solved what I have been looking at for ages. I’ve been trying to make the “fan out” approach work but couldn’t make it look “good” thanks!! 

Hi All,

I have got myself totally confused about signalling and wondered if someone could help me to add signals to my layout. 
 

the diagram is below. I am modelling in the modern era south east of England if that helps at all.

many Thanks

Hi Everyone. 
 

I have got some track down roughly on my layout but now it is on the board I would like to open out the “station” section more to allow for slightly wider platforms.
 

I have attached the picture and would like to move everything attached to the double slip (the red line) further on to the board. Any advice greatly received!! 
 

h

Anyone got any more news on Peco track! I ordered 4 electro frog points from Rails Of Sheffield at the beginning of March but am still waiting! I’ve emailed just to be told they are still waiting for supplies. Are there other shops with supplies? 

19 hours ago, Satan's Goldfish said:

What would you want another level to do? stand alone separate system or gradients up and down to it?

I think because of the space I have it would probably have to be a separate system.

Hi Everyone, it’s been a month or so since I last posted and have begun laying track and testing what it’s like! I’m wondering whether anyone has any ideas of how I could add another level to the layout? 

1 hour ago, Mike Storey said:

That's much better overall. Once you start to lay the track out, you will definitely get a better feel for things. In particular, it is all a bit horizontal and vertical. You might want to try experimenting with some different angles, such as for the EMU sidings maybe, just to break it up scenically?

I totally agree Mike! I have been thinking turning some of it a bit!! 

Well here is the most recent update! 

I have removed that top track and agree it has tidied the whole space up! Tomorrow is my modelling time so will get a chance to lay some track out and get an idea to what it would feel like. 
 

thank you to all the help over the past months I’m excited by this outcome and can’t wait to start looking at scenic options and get building!

Hi @RobinofLoxleywhat is OP?

Hi @Fluo66thank you for your comments. I hadn’t thought at all about the trains heading past the station on the corner. 
 

I have put you’re ideas into my plan and really like the way they look.

Thanks @ITG the station building will be kind of hidden on the lower station and access will be from a large footbridge over the top of all the lines.

they are all double slips in all places that they are used. 
 

so the bottom left of the layout will be under a hill and I am working out how to disguise the top left. Top right will have station stuff around hopefully to disguise that section! 

This is my new update. I have simplified some of the station track. I know I need more space around the branch line station to make platform space but once I have the track on the board I know I can do this. 
 

Any other points from people?

@Chimer thank you for the advice. I am happy not to use flexi track just seen advice that it made it look “smoother”.

My main issue is that I have mainly Hornby set track curves but I want to use PECO point work for the stations so need to work out how it will work. 
 

any tips on making set track look more realistic in the corners?

hi all

I want to use flexitrack on curves to make them more realistic but I can’t use any rail, etc as I have a Mac and can’t use them on it. 
 

Is there any chance someone could plot some track onto a rough idea of my baseboard sizes so I can work out what tracksetta guides to buy? 
 

thanks

H

1 hour ago, MyRule1 said:

The most pertinent comment in this thread was

 

 

You say that you have now constructed the boards, which is a good start. However as @Flying Pig says there are still some fundamental questions that you have not addressed:

 

What do you want to get out of this layout? The ability watch trains go past or the the desire to run a complicated timetable?  Will you have more than one operator available for running sessions? Without more than one operator and end to end layout is very hard to have more than one train moving at a time, unless there is some form of automatic operations. Which brings me to the next question DC or DCC? This is as important for the operation of points as for running trains? That raises the question of your budget. What stock and track do you already have?  With a Bachman 4 car  EMU's coming in at over £350 and Hornby Netwrokers selling for up to £150 this will not be a cheap project.

 

@Newmodeller96Please don't think I am trying to put you off but I speak from experience. I have spent many years in planning my dream layout and invested in the stock, DCC system and track to build it. Now that I am fully retired I have the time and space for a layout the size for yours. After considering the options above I have ended up with a simple branch line station, with passing loop. On reason is that I wanted a fully to scale station and even a small station and goods yard can me over 3 metres long.

 

My last point is the 2020 has taught us that we are not immortal. I am of an age where  this might be more important but what would happen to the layout is you move house or become unable to use it in the future? Can it be dismantled would it have to be chopped up? I have seen this more than a few times in that the preservation society I work with has been offered layouts in the past and we have never been able to extract a layout from its location intact.

Thank you for this @MyRule1

I guess the reason I haven’t answered about what I want from the layout is cause I still don’t 100% know! I guess a mixture of both continuous running (hence the addition of the loop track) but also the ability to run timetable-like movements!

I'm hoping once the current situation is over to get to know more people so we could operator with more than one, person. However for the time being it will just be me! 
 

I do have a Hornby select DCC system but am hoping to upgrade to the Roco Z21 or other system soon as I just can’t get on with the Select! In terms of rolling stock I have very little but I also am quite lucky that I do have funds regularly available to invest in new rolling stock so the prices on those models you mentioned doesn’t worry me too much - there definitely won’t be many of the bachmanns though!

I am thinking very clearly about the points of moving the layout, etc. Me and the mrs are planning a big extension in the next few years and with that the roof of the house will be removed so at that time it will need to be split up and stored so it has all been planned with that in mind. 
 

thanks again. H

@Chimer thank you. This is exactly what I needed for this area of the layout and I look forward to working on the plan with it tomorrow when I’m a bit more awake! 
 

46 minutes ago, Satan's Goldfish said:

 

Sorry how messy this is, hope it makes sense: Mirror image your whole station and EMU shed layout at the top*. Add a junction at the station throat so you now have 4 running lines in front of your water tank instead of a fiddle yard. 2 lines at the front go down a gradient to a new lower fiddle yard in front of your diesel depot. Balloon loop at end of fiddle yard under scenery, make sure it's accessible for derailments! 

 

 

Means you can have 360 degree scenery around the whole layout, only 1 station to worry about getting point work correct but there's still a destination for your trains to go to, and no handling engines to swap ends in the fiddle yard.

 

*might be slight differences to make it flow better as a mirror image, tough to tell without drawing it.

Ahh unfortunately the reason I can’t be this complex on the track in front of the water tank is that I want it to be removable.
 

My original thought was to put a helix near the water tank so it would drop down there and go under the diesel depot for storage but I scrapped that for the continuous run! I totally get where you are coming from so I could think of something! 

18 minutes ago, Chimer said:

 

Well, on this particular plan, what you've missed is that trains cannot get into the terminal platforms on the small (bottom) station without running wrong line from the top station.  If we're using terminology you don't understand, which I know we tend to do far too much, you only have to ask, as you just did about balloon loop .......

Thank you for that! Where from your point of view would you put the cross over from the inside line to the station? 
 

also is there a rule about what would be the “up” or “down” line! 
 

thanks

1 minute ago, Satan's Goldfish said:

 

Ref this plan; imagine trains are always driving on the left (same as uk roads); the crossover I've marked at the top only really helps trains travelling clockwise get from the outer to inner lines so probably isn't needed. Any trains changing direction at the station would use the terminus platforms, and any trains travelling anticlockwise around the layout would have no need to go from the inner to outer line there.

 

Where that crossover is needed though in the bottom left so that trains travelling anticlockwise on the inner line can get across to the reversing sidings, as I've drawn on. HTH

 Either above or below, wherever makes more sense as a plan develops. But to start with would a circle of at least radius 2 curved track fit in there... preferably radius 3!

I think a radius 2 would fit but it would be tight for a radius 3.

3 minutes ago, Satan's Goldfish said:

Question; not that I'd want to overly complicate your thought processes on what you're building anymore than they already are, but are you able to use any extra space inside your operating well? More specifically, could you add a small corner board to give space to add a balloon loop next to what I'm assuming is the chimney at the end of roof space? You'd need to turn your terminus station around, but it would help with returning and could simplify your fiddle yard so you could go scenic all around the room...... the down side is gradients become involved if it's to pass/under your mainline.

 

 

I’m not 100% sure what you mean? Would that balloon loop be beneath the board?

So @Chimeri have changed the small station so that there are now 2 platforms on both sides of the track, so it can be reached from all platforms.
 

What have I missed about “wrong line”? Trains come out of the emu depot in the top left and onto platforms 3,4 or 5 as I wanted and from those they can then get onto either line.

trains from both the depot at the bottom and the emu depot at the top can get onto both the inside and outside line. I’m not sure what else I’m meant to add so that the trains can get onto either line?

I’m sorry that someone newer to the hobby than yourself doesn’t immediately understand an issue when we are just thrown terminology that we might not necessarily understand instantly. A bit of help is sometimes easier than just random comments and emojis that don’t help us enjoy the hobby and put more people off wanting to “model”.