OK, so this is a photo of my current layout. Its my first, so be kind please. It needs a little explaining. I built it to accommodate the engines that I had at the time. The outside is 18v dc constant (lionchief). The middle line is DC, and the inner fig 8 is conventional AC. The train on top is AF S gauge. I wanted to showcase the AF more than others because it is my opinion the best I have. I originally panned on putting my HO in the middle of the S, but my bachman HO derails way to often. My table is slightly wider than 6 feet to accomodate 72" curves. Everything was done on a budget. I thoroughly enjoyed building this layout, but as you can imagine, it gets boring quickly. (hindsight is 20/20). I can expand the layout into an L shape if need be, perhaps even another 5 feet. I did build this layout as a table, meaning it has legs and I can slide it out to reach all around it if I want to.
I have since changed my mind and am willing to shelf my conventional and DC locomotives. I now have two lionchief locomotives that I want to run. (min O31) I will always want to run my AF, but its hard to mix S and O on the same layout and keep it interesting.
I'm not in a big hurry to change things, but I enjoy dreaming. I think I enjoy building and planning the most, so I don't mind if it takes me a while to build a new one. I will likely always be on a budget and I plan on using Menards O gauge track and used switches.
This is my actual idea. I left the S line out of the original picture for clarity. The smaller top loop of S would be a mountain/tunnel for the lower O. The larger loop of S would come out over the O in a trestle of some sort. This would expose more of the O than my current layout, and make a more interesting path for the S. I am concerned though that even on a trestle, the S may hide a lot of the O. The large curves of S sure make it hard to work into a layout. If I can keep my current table the size it is, it would be preferable, but expanding is not out of the question. I've even considered making a whole new table elsewhere just for S, but I prefer to keep them all together.
I do appreciate the input from everyone thus far. I'm taking it all into consideration. Posting takes time, and I appreciate the willingness of people on this forum to reply.
