New layout needs plans - The Whistle Post

ThoroughBreed · #1 (**permalink**) 05-05-2009, 07:25 AM

I have one layout 30% built, no scenery, and most of the track laid.
I am about to start another layout in the bedroom, an around the walls shelf type. I have the wifes blessing to do what I want to, as long as i dont bother her, lol. I'm gonna have to rehang 3 doors to swing outwards, which shouldn't be a big problem, except the bathroom door. I have started building modules to hang on the wall using the regular l-brackets from wallyworld. They will range in length upto 6' long, but will only get upto 18" wide. My theme here will be for long running, with a few long spurs, as the dimensions are as follows: 14' wide by 16' long in a complete square. I will try to make the curves wide radius to accomodate my autoracks and occasional excursion passenger train. I also want to have at least one yard, about 6' long to swap out trains, and a passing track opposite of it to run 2 trains at once with a single track mainline. My system is already dcc along with all my locos, so that takes care of the wiring and throttle issues.
I am open to any suggestions for track plans using the above measurements. You can have mountainous regions, industrial, open plains, whatever you can think of. I have a Fuel depot conglomeration in a box thats dying to be setup, along with 2 roundhouses (1 atlas and the other is a walthers?), a 90' turntable, and many small buildings already built. Almost all the buildings built are for the mainstreet type atmosphere, no warehouses, grain elevators or other industrial applications yet. I just need the plan to put one in somewhere and then will get one. I definitely need at least one grain elevator, as I have about 25 covered hoppers that need a purpose to exist on the layout lol. A auto dealership, manufacturing plant, or offload site would be nice also as I have about 20 enclosed auto racks of either the Walthers or Atlas articulated types. One more thing to consider is a coal mine/loading site as I have about 60+ hoppers and a couple of tipples that can be bashed to accomodate the loading of the cars. I have one train that is handled by my "own rr" that has mainly old patched 70 ton hoppers to carry the potash away from the plants. I want to use mainly 6 axel, sd70 series power also, so thats another reason for the wide radius curves.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. I am open to any plans submitted.
Thanks, Eric "ThoroughBreed"

hoscalemodeler1967 · #2 (**permalink**) 05-05-2009, 08:06 AM

hope this helps, you as well as others. this link will take you to a site that has a tonne of layout designs done up in all kinds of scales and using different track, etc. there are literally tons of designs here.

Layout Depot - Home - Sharing model railroad designs and layouts

ThoroughBreed · #3 (**permalink**) 05-09-2009, 12:27 PM

Heres the layout of the room, it is accurate within 6".

franksmit3 · #4 (**permalink**) 05-09-2009, 11:35 PM

I have several SPINS booklets that you might be interested in. If it were me what I would do is to Google Earth an auto assembly plant to see how a loading system works and copy that. For the grain cars, see Trains Magazine's article on how they handle grain (March09 I think), or again Google Earth to see how it is loaded or unloaded. Keep the industrial sidings long, (twenty cars) and the sidings on the main line (thirty cars) to achieve a continuous train run. remember that the layout will collect dust, so keep it as simple as you can. The wife will note the dust at some time, and reply accordingly. franksmit3@gmail.com

Trainman1965 · #5 (**permalink**) 05-10-2009, 06:12 AM

Eric what room is this.

ThoroughBreed · #6 (**permalink**) 05-11-2009, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trainman1965

Eric what room is this.

The master bedroom of course, lol.

ThoroughBreed · #7 (**permalink**) 05-20-2009, 05:40 PM

Here is the first module for the layout, a yard with plenty of switching that will be continued around the corner to the end of the yard. The outer lead is the leg to the upper shelf, and on the other end will be a lead going to the upper also.
I plan to have this setup to run 2 mainlines, 1 going up and the other will continue around at the same level as the yard.

ThoroughBreed · #8 (**permalink**) 05-21-2009, 10:15 AM

Well last night I applied power to the module to check the track for any defaults and it immediately shorted. After a little thinking and swearing, I realized that there was a Shinohara wye switch on it and removed it. It immediately resolved the problem. I remembered that the shinohara switches aren't dcc friendly but yet they cost more than the atlas ones that are, lol.