Iron-Bridge-Rails (The I.B.R.) (Update #8)

Welcome!!!  It l(.)(.)ks like you have a pretty darned nice space for the trains.  Are you using any track/layout planning software?  The two (2) most common are SCARM and AnyRail... both are relatively easy to learn and are free up two about 50 or so sections of track/turnouts and around 39.00 to purchase.  They are well worth the time/money spent and they will save a lot of headaches down the road.

OH!  T-Bone... the moderators may want this thread to go into the Track Planning/Layout Design forum ...it's a better fit there. 

Welcome to the forum!  You're not too far away from me (Harleysville) and several other forum members.   You're off to a great start with your layout and I look forward to hearing more about your progress.

-Greg

Welcome, and, great looking layout plan!

Peter

With 8' wide tables, you will have to have walking access on all sides (though you may already know that, just can't tell from picture and diagram).  Also, be sure to leave plenty of room to access any other home infrastructure (plumbing, electric, etc.) that might be anywhere near your layout.  Finally, incorporating 4 different levels sounds like fun, but watch your grades (<4% is preferred), watch your grade transitions (at start and end of each grade), and watch how this may affect the scenery and size of curves you are thinking about.

Chuck

@Dennis-LaRock posted:

Welcome!!!  It l(.)(.)ks like you have a pretty darned nice space for the trains.  Are you using any track/layout planning software?  The two (2) most common are SCARM and AnyRail... both are relatively easy to learn and are free up two about 50 or so sections of track/turnouts and around 39.00 to purchase.  They are well worth the time/money spent and they will save a lot of headaches down the road.

Thanks for the information in reference to the software. I downloaded SCARM last night and started playing around with it, going to take me some time to get used to it but it is surly a invaluable tool to have!

T-Bone - I’ve examined your diagram but without the ‘grades’ I can’t tell whether you’ve incorporated ‘Horseshoe Curve’ into your layout.  Just kidding of course.  Welcome to the Forum!

PS - I wish I had the space you have available for a layout. 😉

@PRR1950 posted:

With 8' wide tables, you will have to have walking access on all sides (though you may already know that, just can't tell from picture and diagram).  Also, be sure to leave plenty of room to access any other home infrastructure (plumbing, electric, etc.) that might be anywhere near your layout.  Finally, incorporating 4 different levels sounds like fun, but watch your grades (<4% is preferred), watch your grade transitions (at start and end of each grade), and watch how this may affect the scenery and size of curves you are thinking about.

Chuck

The 23ft section is against a wall along with the 8.5ft wide section that is 10ft long (so both sides there), so I am actually going to cut an opening in the wall between the layout and the laundry area so I can access that portion...ugh. I've marked out in red where I will be cutting access points through walls and that section of the layout itself. I wish I was afforded the opportunity to walk all the way around but I'll take what I have and work on it to make it successful. I appreciate the information about the grades as I honestly wasn't sure what to set them at, so thank you.

Welcome to the posting side of the forum. You wrote that you had been lurking for some time, and it's great to see that you are now fully participating to take advantage of the wealth of knowledge available here.

So I have finally cleared out the space as I put in he diagram! I will be laying out on the floor sections of track to map out the placement of the benchwork this week and I'll take pictures for comments and suggestions. Thank you for the warm welcome!

@T-Bone1214 posted:

The 23ft section is against a wall along with the 8.5ft wide section that is 10ft long (so both sides there), so I am actually going to cut an opening in the wall between the layout and the laundry area so I can access that portion...ugh. I've marked out in red where I will be cutting access points through walls and that section of the layout itself. I wish I was afforded the opportunity to walk all the way around but I'll take what I have and work on it to make it successful. I appreciate the information about the grades as I honestly wasn't sure what to set them at, so thank you.

Rather than cut access holes through walls, you also have the option to cut access hatches in the layout, itself.

There are many creative ways to do this (do a search on the Forum) so that they are not visible to the casual observer and it may be less destructive.

@Richie C. posted:

Rather than cut access holes through walls, you also have the option to cut access hatches in the layout, itself.

There are many creative ways to do this (do a search on the Forum) so that they are not visible to the casual observer and it may be less destructive.

Thanks Richie! I was able to search around and found some very clever ideas!

Welcome.  I'm glad you decided to post something about your planned layout!

So it begins! Setting some track down to map out the placement of the benchwork. I started late last night moving boxes down to the basement and placing some track where the roundhouse portion of the layout will be, approx. 82 degree on the outside loop and hand bent following its curvature on the inside loop (approx. 75/78 degree). Did this so when I get the full scale bug Ill be able to run the really big engines without any issues.

Looks like a great start!  That's a tidy sum on track.  Good deal.  I did the same thing even though I had a track plan drawn in SCARM.  Three dimensional vilsual works best for me.

Looking good T-Bone. Nice load of track.

Bob

@Mark Boyce posted:

Looks like a great start!  That's a tidy sum on track.  Good deal.  I did the same thing even though I had a track plan drawn in SCARM.  Three dimensional vilsual works best for me.

Yup. I need to physically see and put my hands on it to make sure the plans are right...lol

T-Bone,

Sure looks like a plan that will work. One can't have enough access points and you are addressing them in first class order. I used the same materials list for track and turnouts. The layout (9' by 14') is 10 years old now (sheeesh!) and thankfully never had a problem with any of that. My access points were not done well and my 71 year old back lets me know! But we have been able to get it done. Welcome to the posting side. 8-) Look forward to seeing your progress.

Jim K

Getting things done slowly on the layout along with adding TMCC and Rail Sounds to a few engines I have. I'm thinking things will pick up once summer is over.