Sectional Layout Design, 3 Variants: Atlas-O O54&O63; Atlas-O O72/O81; American Models S48/S54.

Reach and access are pretty good.  Most of the tracks are within a 30" reach. 

The three corners and the center of the curve-back loops are beyond that distance.  I use a step ladder and lean out resting my belly on the top step, to reach about 10" further, for a reasonable reach of 40"-42".  The curve-back loops are about 68" wide, for a reach of 34" to the center.

The yard has a switch lead passed the yard tower.  There is one passing track and yard run-around track.  Parallel track center spacing is 4.5" except in the yard, where it is 4.25".  Vertical clearance where tracks cross over one another is 6", or about 5.25" after subtracting for roadbed and rail height, and support structures for the bridges/trestles.

Correction, there are just three O54 turnouts in the yard, and two more O54 turnouts serving industries.  There is one O72/O54 curved turnout at the yard throat.  The rest is O72, O72 'Y', and #5.  Both crossovers are #5 turnouts.

Expanding to O72/O81 makes the curve-back loops about 89" across, for a reach of 45" to the center.  Maybe doable with my step-ladder.

An experiment:  I made the right-side passing-track crossover a pair of O54 turnouts with a 1-3/4" straight separator.  This adds a couple of inches in usable length to the passing-track, and a bit more than that on the length of the storage at the end of the passing track.  Since the yard throat is O54 anyway (O72/O54 curved, then a #5), I though perhaps this is not too bad a compromise.

I added a locomotive escape track, so a train can pull into the yard/passing track and the head-end loco can cut-off and escape back to the engine terminal.   Supports a 16" loco at present being cut-off.

The practical length of a train less loco is 88", to fit into the passing track used as an arrival and departure track.  Of course a train could be longer and fit into/broken across two yard spurs.

The mainline side of the passing track was about 93" long, so less than an 88"train+16"loco unfortunately, so one train of a passing pair must be smaller than the yard max. 

So instead I pushed the curved yard throat turnout 'around the curve' one O54 section length to get a 103.5"" long passing track on the mainline side.

There is a bit of an optical illusion where the track comes off the O72/O54 turnout by the Yard Tower, looking like an "S" curve.  There is no "S" curve, so I added the blue line, which is perfectly parallel to the wall and table edge.

Great work as always Ken.

@Ken-Oscale posted:

A quick look at how big this would be expanded with O72/O81 curves:

Ken, 

can we see entire layout with these 072/081 curves.

thanks.

@R.Cabrera posted:

Ken, 

can we see entire layout with these 072/081 curves.

thanks.

I'll work on it, perhaps this weekend.  -Ken

A first draft of O81/O72 version:  Max grade is 2.6%.  It has a big reach problem in the curve-back loops.

One more yard track compared to previous version.  Turnouts are O72 or #5.

Some ideas on access:

Another redo of the yard.  I created a longish passing track (purple) that also contains the yard throat and the yard switch lead, using all #5 turnouts.

Another yard version, this one with a loco escape track in yellow.  Longer yard spurs.

One more yard version, with two entrances to the turntable.

Ken

If you keep going, your're going to make me want to start all over again.  But, I won't. 

@Ken-Oscale posted:

One more yard version, with two entrances to the turntable.

Ken,

This design just keeps getting better IMHO. Can't wait to see more of the evolution!

Thanks for the encouragement gents!

Trying some terrain ideas (and ballasting):

More terrain work:

Hello Ken,

Your track plan is really coming together now!  I really like it.  

The only question I have is are there any locomotive servicing facilities being planned as well i.e. coal tower, ash pit, water tower etc? 

@Allegheny posted:

Hello Ken,

Your track plan is really coming together now!  I really like it.  

The only question I have is are there any locomotive servicing facilities being planned as well i.e. coal tower, ash pit, water tower etc? 

Yes, I just haven't added them yet!   Thanks!

Here is what I have been planning.  The ashpit can be emptied into the conveyor to a waiting hopper on the other turntable lead track.  The water tank could go a number of places, I may move it, and probably add additional tanks.  In this position, the water tank can service locos on both adjacent tracks.

@Ken-Oscale posted:

More terrain work:

Ken,

Just keeps getting better!!!

If reach was not an issue? What would you do in the areas you provided for access.
I personally use a Topside Creeper which would allow access with the current benchwork dimensions.

Looking forward to see your creativity.

RC.

@R.Cabrera posted:

Ken,

Just keeps getting better!!!

If reach was not an issue? What would you do in the areas you provided for access.
I personally use a Topside Creeper which would allow access with the current benchwork dimensions.

Looking forward to see your creativity.

RC.

Thanks so much RC!

As I mentioned before, this expanded O72/O81 plan has problems with reach and access.   I solved what I could, as you see.  What remains a problem is the large turn-back "blobs".   For this reason, I did my original plan as O54/O63 with much better access and reach.  Responding to requests, I have looked at this expanded version and its problems/limitations.

I like the Topside Creeper, and have thought about buying one many times.   I use a short step-ladder where I can step up one or two steps and the lean across the top step, supporting my weight with my stomach on the top step (yes, tiring), which gets me a 40" plus reach.   

The bottom blob is not as bad, with nearly 360 degree access, the center is out of reach.  The bottom blob is about 84" across, so only the very center is beyond a 40", and that may work with and extended stretch/reach for just a few minutes.

The top blob is the real problem, with the top right corner impossible.   It looks like something will have to be sacrificed in order to create an access hatch inside the circle.  Either the yard will have to be compressed, or the turntable has to go.

Here is a 2x2' access hatch in the upper right "blob", losing three yard track lengths and one turntable whisker.   Perhaps a superb craftsman can build three yard tracks across the hatch and have them connect at both end reliably.   I doubt that I can do it. 

So I put something interesting in the hatch, in this case Menard's Oak Point nuc plant.

Ken....I am really liking this design.....I am getting a 20x30 attic room in a year and have designed a similar sized layout for 072/081. My plan is all one 1 level.....my problem is that I can only think in 2 dimensions. I like the over/under aspect to bring more interest to the space. However, I am blanking on how I would do the curved trestles over the yard. Can you tell me what you envision there?

Peter

More terrain work.  I made an Oak Point plant complex, with a chain-link fence around the perimeter, helping to disguise the seam with the access hatch.   About ready to decorate with trees.

With some trees and the lift-out connecting bridge between the loops.

With the O54/O63 version (about the same scale) for comparison:

Maybe I like the lower section of the O54/O63 design.  Trying it:

Ken,

Couldn't you make the turntable drop down and use it as an access port?  Some folks have done this with great success.   In this manner you wouldn't have to loose any yard track.

@Allegheny posted:

Ken,

Couldn't you make the turntable drop down and use it as an access port?  Some folks have done this with great success.   In this manner you wouldn't have to loose any yard track.

Surprising idea!  How does one guarantee the alignment of all the whisker tracks, or do they drop down as well (not just the turntable).

This version has a run-around track as well as two approaches to the turntable.

This version has straight yard tracks (looks better), but a longer distance between yard tracks (5.5", looks worse for a yard):

The extended yard track can occasionally serve the nuc plant, when major equipment arrives by rail, during normal nuc plant refurbishment.  Maybe a flat car with a transformer load or with replacement piping would look right spotted there.

Ken,

What size turntable are you envisioning? Do you have a track and parts list you can share?

Thanks

RC.

@R.Cabrera posted:

Ken,

What size turntable are you envisioning? Do you have a track and parts list you can share?

Thanks

RC.

Both layouts use the Atlas-O 24" turntable, which can handle a wide range of O-gauge locos.

Additional clean-up:

I was interested in how this plan might look in S-scale.  Using American Models track, which looks good, is realistic, runs Flyer trains, and includes flextrack.   I went with S48/S54 diameter minimums (S40 or r20 is the "standard" for S).  11' x 15'6".

I did not want to go with smaller minimum diameters, so as to keep the grades in the curve-back loops at 3% or less.   And the widest turnouts are S54, matching the outer diameter min.

More ballasting and the power plant and Morton Salt spurs.

@Ken-Oscale posted:

Additional clean-up:

Ken, looks great!!! Does the design use Atlas sectional track or flex track or combination.

Can you share a parts list including structures etc.

This design is a perfect match for my space.

Thanks. RC.

@R.Cabrera posted:

Ken, looks great!!! Does the design use Atlas sectional track or flex track or combination.

Can you share a parts list including structures etc.

This design is a perfect match for my space.

Thanks. RC.

R.C., its a combination of sectional and flex.  The structures are mostly from Menards, with some Lionel, and houses from MTH.

I can post a copy of the AnyRail file for the track, and you can look at and display the track sections at your leisure.  AnyRail is free to use to look at a layout, but if you want to change and save with more than 50 pieces, you need to purchase.   Anyway, you can look at a layout with more than 50 sections, just can't save.

I am glad this looks like a good fit, I would love to see you build it and post pics as you go along!  -Ken

@Ken-Oscale posted:

R.C., its a combination of sectional and flex.  The structures are mostly from Menards, with some Lionel, and houses from MTH.

I can post a copy of the AnyRail file for the track, and you can look at and display the track sections at your leisure.  AnyRail is free to use to look at a layout, but if you want to change and save with more than 50 pieces, you need to purchase.   Anyway, you can look at a layout with more than 50 sections, just can't save.

I am glad this looks like a good fit, I would love to see you build it and post pics as you go along!  -Ken

Ken, That would be great. I will purchase AnyRail this morning. Looking forward to the files.
As for building the layout, absolutely, I will post start to finish updates and photos/videos.

I may have to continue to pick your brain in the interim 

RC.

@R.Cabrera posted:

Ken, That would be great. I will purchase AnyRail this morning. Looking forward to the files.
As for building the layout, absolutely, I will post start to finish updates and photos/videos.

I may have to continue to pick your brain in the interim 

RC.

RC, here is the AnyRail file for the track plan.  Let me know if you have questions.  -Ken

Ken, thank you.

BTW, I send you and email separately. Did you receive.

again, many thanks.

RC

RC asked about the possibility of adding hidden staging tracks.   I came up with this idea, running the staging tracks beneath the elevated track section, concealed by the elevated terrain.   Staging tracks are level, so no grade to reach them.  #5 turnouts, minimum diameter O99.   You can see the entrance to the staging tracks is a tunnel portal beneath the support for the double-track steel bridge over the yard.

Similar staging tracks can be added for each of the other two versions of the layout.