@Ted S posted:First Ken as usual, great job! I love this plan!
Question: were the 3D views with the cloudy blue sky background generated with AnyRail? If not, what software? Very nice!
My suggestion is this... add back a couple of the lost industries inside the open space. Freight station, seed & feed, etc.
Now... instead of a 3% climb to an upper level, why not go down 3% to hidden staging!? I'm exploring this option on my own layout design. If you hide the descending ramp track behind some scenery and put a reversing loop on the staging level like you did on the upper level of the original design, you no longer have to "fake" a connecting line. Trains will disappear "off stage" and new ones will magically appear in their place. New locos to be serviced, new freight loads for local industry, etc.
I'm not sure whether I'll incorporate hidden staging on my own layout because of the difficulties with building it, and a few concerns about steepness of the grade. But for both hands-on operating and train watching for visitors, the ability for trains to appear and disappear without physically lifting them off and putting them in a box, is huge. Please think about it!
Thanks Ted, yes the 3D was done with AnyRail, this one did turn out nice!
One could populate the "people-space" with more layout, but I prefer to have a comfortable space for two people to work in.
I like your idea for hidden staging beneath the main layout section, but it would be hard to get to, build and service, as you mention. The veritical access hatches would have to penetrate through the hidden staging level. Maybe...
To keep the elevated AND add hidden storage, the layout would need another run of a descending grade, probably also on the left, widening that area. Maybe three storage tracks with a reverse loop.
