Track plan help

Well here it is 2016 and still no layout, I'm getting closer to getting a loop up and running but my son the "B" in B&S Railroad requested a bridge, so before laying any track I needed to complete not only the bridge but also the landscape beneath it. This is my first attempt at scratch building and landscaping. The pano photo is from May of last year all others are current.

Hi Scott,

Happy New Year!

Well, you have made progress. You have a train room, sky walls, lighting and power, trackage rights (benchwork) and a very nice trestle bridge.

I'd say you have railroad. I think that you have accomplished a lot. it's not a race, it's a hobby.

As time has passed, Railmodeller has updated their software for mac. Others are having success using Windows based software in a virtual machine with windows running.

What is the distance from the center rail to the long wall ?  Short wall?

here's an idea to what you have...the outer line wraps around the inner line which has the reversing loops. The inner and outer cross-over with a double 11° crossover. Passenger station there, city around that end. Yard in loop with trestle. Mountains/tunnels along long wall approaching tunnel.

There's a mix of some large radius in there to give it some shape. if you want to see the track detail, I'll zoom on areas for multiple views

Thank you for updating your progress.

Carl, 

Thanks for the layout, I like your idea, saves money on track. I have another post out there asking the best price on GarGraves Stainless. We have kind of settled on a double main, but I'm not set on it if you have another idea. I've attached a few more photos and a drawing. This is just what we had come up with. The distance from the south wall and adjacent center rail is roughly 7 1/4". Thoughts were to add a turnout and climb to an upper level indicated by the dotted line, this would form a 54" reversing loop around the raised city next to the north wall. We have an Engine shed but it takes up a lot of real estate so we thought of raising the city and making an engine area under it. The existing loops are 72 and 63 so I'm looking at 41/2" center to center roughly.

Image 2957 shows just playing with the ideas in the sketch for the reverse loop on the trestle side, this side is 38" wide, the lake behind the trestle will fold down to access the area. My son wants large mountain with tunnels in this area basically starting about 8" after the trestle. The thin area on the north wall 42" out from the wall. East wall to edge of the layout is 32".

Scott,

The plan turned out that way because I tried to balloon the loops and fit in some O96 on the east end and mix some in other places to smooth out the run.

Your plan looks good. perhaps snake the inside run along the south so the train moves a little. Watching them go straight all the time everywhere might get old.

perhaps go around and object or building. Like 0113 .

Going up to the city adds space. It would take away the wall area for building flats along the south wall. the 5" is enough for a narrow street and sidewalk with fronts.

That's all that I have now.