Hello!
I am finally getting ready to build my garage layout. It's changed scales from my original plan as I no longer intend to build an N Scale empire, but I still want to be sure it provides years of enjoyment and doesn't necessarily take the rest of my life to complete. Haha ... I DO know that I want to have a small roundhouse (3-6 stall) and a few open-air roundhouse tracks to not only have some prototypical feel of a decent size yard but also to give me somewhere to display locomotives.
I started putting together a design in AnyRail for a double-main plan with a center shortline/branch line to allow for 3 trains to operate without interfering with one another. I would like both outer mains and branch line (inner loop) to be able to interchange to some degree in a 2-4 track yard. I'm going to try and stay in a 1955-1965 time frame to give myself a little more flexibility with motive power. I also am a fan of western roads, so I am thinking of a Southwestern Wyoming-Utah-California-Esque line so I can run power from UP, SP, ATSF, WP, CB&Q, etc. So I will need steam and diesel facilities to some extent and a turntable large enough for Big Boys. I am also thinking that I want to have the branch line (inner loop) higher than the outer mains to create a visual break of sorts, but I realize that the current track plan precludes this with the current access points to the mains. I would also like to have a few industries to serve along the various lines to provide some fun with local service and light switching. Basically... I want it all (HAHAHA) and I have to try to make it fit/work in this space.
If I were to keep everything essentially flat, what major drawbacks would this plan present? I realize many of you have been operating your layouts for a lot longer and I appreciate all advice and critiques.
Thank you all VERY much in advance!
- Elliott
