Victor D posted:My main concerns are that I have too much going on in the space given and that there will be too much train/track action to leave room for ample scenery. Any thoughts and suggestions regarding any part of my current design would be greatly appreciated as I am new to this forum and typically get stuck inside my head!
I agree with Mike, but only to a point. I'm a runner in that I take no pleasure in switching cars around, dropping them off and picking them up from make-believe destinations, etc. I like to watch multiple trains run in opposite directions, over/under each other, etc. However, I also like somewhat realistic scenery, whether it be a crowded cityscape or the country side between faux destinations. but that has to be tempered by the available space.
That said, the biggest problems I see with your design is it's ALL track because like so many you want to use O72 curves. RealTrax doesn't have O36 curves, so I assume you meant O31 or O42. I can understand why you want to change from RealTrax to ScaleTrax, but don't know why you want to change to larger curves given the space you have. IMHO 9x16 is not enough space to support such large curves. Search for "Seneca Falls Model Railroad" to get an idea of what you could do in the same space using O31 curves. Even though I'm a "runner", I appreciate visual interest. I get the crappy look of engine overhang, etc., but if you fill the space with things that draw your attention away from that, you end up with a very pleasurable experience watching trains run.
I also don't know why you want such a large table where you're going to have problems reaching all the track to deal with derailments, etc. If you have room to walk around a table, then your available space must be larger than 9x16. If that's the case, have you considered an around-the-room or another type of design?
As for the design itself, the biggest problem I see is you only have a single reversing loop and once you go through it to turn a train, you have no way to turn the train again without backing all the way through the loop. The same is true of the storage yard where you back in to pull out or you pull out and then have to back in. I have the same problem with my space, so I'm just going to leave the trains where they are after a running session and forego the hassle of backing trains in for storage not to mention the cost for the switches and track. And then there are the totally useless spurs,so I get your comment about removing them. A couple of spurs with buildings are okay for visual interest, but filling them like you have will only waste more money on switches and track that won't look right or get used.
