craig

 I have 2 Athearn Genesis with Tsunami sound on board the sound they produce is reasonable but the LokSound seem so much better and I don't think they have all the functions that a separately fitted decoder would have, what I am really asking is it better to purchase a locomotive then install the sound or get one that has been factory fitted?  

Thanks Craig

I recently purchased a Broadway-Limited CSX EMD SW1500 Switcher with sound. I Started off with larger models in hindsight this was a mistake as my working area is just over 8'. I have a plan where I will pull or push two 50' or 57' boxcars or covered hoppers around the layout the switcher is 6" in length and the sound it produces is very good.  The Layout size is just over 8'x 18" and I will use Peco 75 streamlined track that I have had for years and it will incorporate a "double Slip" to assist with operations. This layout is set in Savannah USA  but its not based on anything, just a fictional place. I would like any constructive or negative comments with any suggestions for improvements 

Thanks Craig 

HO scale  Savannah CSX 8' Shelf layout 

Hi Chris .. I think I spoke with you today (Saturday) .. you gave me some good advice on Cobalt motors .. thanks again wonderful layout .. very impressive .. all the best for tomorrow. and reading through this thread made it all come to life.  thanks for taking time to talk with me and posting all your images on here too.

Craig

Thanks Dave and Jack

I see what you mean about the short sidings I have removed the short length of track before Milwaukee Grain to increase the sidings by about 6". thanks for that i never noticed they were so short

PS it is an HO model 8' x 6'

Thanks for that suggestion Adrain, I guess Lumber is easier to look more realistic than Scrap piles

Thanks to everyone who took time to look at my poor track planning .. LOL ..but hopefully i will improve  with my limited wall space and layout knowledge I have come up with this version, I think it is more workable and maybe more realistic

Please feel free to comment, this is the only way I will improve.

Thanks Craig  

One question I have is what's the point of the middle track which crosses W. Fairmount Ave?  Looks like its a extended crossover between the other two tracks, but you already have one of those about a foot further right.  Eliminating that track would also eliminate what I assume to be a double-slip switch by Milwaukee Grain.  I would not expect to find one of those in an industrial switching area.

 

My other comment is that it strikes me as odd to have the two tracks entering Trackside Services each coming from completely different tracks.

Hi Mike

Thanks for your comments .. to answer your first Point, i was trying to create a run around but i see what you mean it does look silly, about the two tracks entering Trackside services thats how it looks like to me on Goggle maps I thought it was unusual too even with my limited knowledge but ill check again.

Here is the link to the Google earth view. https://www.google.com/maps/preview#!data=!1m4!1m3!1d918!2d-87.9576564!3d43.1087115!2m1!1e3&fid=7

Hi Everyone

I have managed to acquire a couple of walls for a shelf layout, my son is leaving home   and the boss  has given me permission to build a layout on parts of 2 walls . so I have room for a 6' x 8' "L"  shelf layout no more than 2' deep so again I have been looking for some inspiration my search on Google maps has taken me to Milwaukee I found a few interesting sites close to each other that has given me an idea.

Now this is where i respect the advice of you guys I might have too much track on this layout but i need some operational interest that i don't think i would get with the last plan.  I purchased some Curve turnouts to try and get little more room and instead of using point (switch Motors) I see "Caboos ground throws" are available with a DP switch that might be better for my use (if anyone has used them before you input would be most welcome)

https://www.google.com/maps/preview#!data=!1m4!1m3!1d341!2d-87.9578832!3d43.1092198!2m1!1e3&fid=7

Thanks Craig

Personally, I wouldn't have the turnout under the overpass.  Unless your trackwork is better than mine, Its the most likely spot for a derailment, IMHO, especially a 3 way turnout...  Having to reach under the overpass to put cars back on the track will get annoying.  

I think you are right about that Mike  ... I was just trying to get a structure to hide the fiddle yard in the original plan. 

Craig

Thanks to all who responded in the past 24 hours .. I like they way everyone is thinking about having "Bordour Fencing" rail served either live or disused track, also the possibility for a longer spur siding at "R&R Industries". the only reason I used the 3 way points was to save space so i could make the road over the tracks without affecting the turnouts but i can look at that again. I positioned "Page Blvd" there just to break up the fiddle yard area but maybe a simple cassette feeding the tracks might be better.

Im just so  glad to have google maps as a reference, its making the layout more realistic and plausible to me.

Thanks again everyone ,, much appreciated.

Craig 

Hi everyone 

I have been reading this thread with great interest, but sadly i am no further forward with my own personal small layout. i have been searching google earth and bing maps for something that might suit my small dimensions of 8' x 2' max smaller if possible in HO (i know its small) i found this Springfield, MA - Bing Maps

My question is could i compress this to my needs and would i have enough operational interest (having never built a layout before) apart from an oval with a siding as a child. 

Any feedback would be most welcome 

Craig 

To be honest I had not thought about the Era or place ..I was hoping that would just be a natural progression of the layout. As you can see the layout size is paramount, I will have access to the rear of the board as its free standing. So I guess it back to the drawing board .. Thanks guys

seen a layout that fits my given area. I added a double slip to give it a run around but I'm not sure it I have lost the desired look of the layout. Ill post both please comments are most welcome.. Layout size is 8'x 18"

Cheers Craig

That looks great .. I could just extend the middle section to give me a bigger runaround .. thanks

Another trackplan, that would work well in your space, is "Arendtown" being built by Fabrice Ffayolle as a tribute to Carl on the French "TEAMTRACK" forum http://teamtrack.xoo...3-Arendtown.htm It is O Gauge, so will reduce to your space if built in HO. The trackplan is here Http://img71.xooimag...ard-2da6b2d.jpg

Hi

I started to place turnouts on a base board last night based on your trackplan and I discovered some extra turnouts Left radius turnout and right radius turnout and a long crossing. Not sure if they help any with the panning, I am using 8" boxcars I thought they were smaller, I,ve not purchased a loco I want one with sound to add some interest to the shunting operation. I am looking for one smaller then 12" but I cant see any on the the net thus far. I am sorry to trouble you again ..

Cheers Craig

I have 1 asymmetric 3 way turnout .. 3 long right hand turnouts 3 long left hand turnouts .. 3 short left hand turnouts 3 short right hand turnouts 1 double slip and 1 short Y turnout ..I thought I had curved turnouts I guess i never purchased them, sorry for the confusion

Craig - Put it down initially with track-pins - If you don't like it then it can come up again - some of mine (a serial layout builder) has been up and down like.... (I won't complete the similie on here!) Lots of ideas on Carls site http://www.carendt.us/ [1500+ at the last count} and a load more on the old forum - locked for postings - http://www.rmweb.co....hp?f=66&t=24472 If that doesn't work I'll put my track planning hat on! What you could do is download XTrkCad, Anyrail or SCARM - all free, and play with ideas - XTrkCad will let you run trains in 2D

 

The other thing we need to know - which directions are each of your turnouts and is the 3-way the symetrical or the assymetric one

 

One that you could look at on Carls site is Box Street (Click on Micro Layout Design Gallery, click on Linked Index on the left side and go down the index to Box Street Yard - You can always add another siding or two, if you wanted) and use a turnout in place of the sector plate - it will fit on your board length with no trouble, and the width will allow some scenery/ industry without looking overcrowded

Thanks everyone for you responses .. Shortliner asked a few questions ..ill try and answer them ..the Points are HO 3 way point is assymetric i have 3 pairs of long points 3 pairs of short Points and double slip and a short Y turnout... i can get more if needed. As to rolling stock I was thinking of Short box cars to save space. Has anyone any advice on which make of locomotive to purchase ( Atlas, Walthers, Athearn or Bachmann ) I was going to make the layout DCC and use a sound loco The location was going to be in a town of city ..with shunting operations.. but I'm open to suggestions

Thanks again for all the responses, much appreciated

Has anyone got some ideas for a track Plans in a North american scene just for shunting .. I've only got small board ..8' X 2' I purchased Peco 75 electrofrog 2 Medium radius 2 short 2 curved 1 3-way turnout and I have one double slip too..10 lengths of fleitrack some years back but never got round to doing anything ... any help advice would be wonderful. I just need a push to get started I'm kinda scared if I fix track to a baseboard and find out it wont really work or does not look right, it will be money down the drain ..

Thanks in Advance

Craig