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As I start to place some ideas down on paper as to how I would like my new layout to look, I'd like to ask your opinions of what you believe a layout that focuses on operating accessories should look like.  Let me say that I will have a double track mainline, probably raised on trestles and higher grades, to run fast passenger trains.  

The accessories will be on the main level and should be readily accessible.  I have 18' x 12' to work with.  My first thoughts are to operate from the center of the layout.  This would mean a lift bridge to gain access so bending would not be an issue.  It's not myself that concerns me but guests shouldn't have to do a duck under.  

I don't have any sketches to post at the moment.  I just wanted to get these thoughts down before they exit my brain.   

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Have any idea of which accessories and how many? (the answer(s) may depend on how much you are trying to fit in the space).

Aside from bridges, not too many accessories would be a good idea on the high speed line, as there may be enough movement in the passing trains to strike something (and some larger scale trains might not fit past some accessories without damage at all - some may be too wide, others may be too tall (double stacks come to mind)). 

You even have to be careful with bridges, while a #305 Hellgate with one track through it will probably fit most trains, others such as the 6-14167 (213) lift bridge have low clearances, even for some items that would be a surprise to you in terms of  getting clipped.  (My particular example is a KL by Lionel Pennsy caboose that came as part of a 3 pack to go with the A5 when Lionel re-issued that.  The caboose will not pass the 14167 lift bridge if the smoke stack top (it's a smoker, so has a removable "T") is installed.)

Obviously things that don't interact closely with the trains are less critical (radar towers, control towers, dispatching stations, heliports, etc).  Things that actually load/unload are very critical (culvert load/unload, ice station, barrel loader, log loader, coal accessories, etc)

-Dave

 

Last edited by Dave45681

I am talking about all of the post war accessories Lionel made, including some American Flyer pieces.  Coal loaders/unloaders, Log ramp, Barrel loader, Cattle or horse car, Various forklift operating accessories, Milk car, etc.  Of course things like radar and floodlight towers, along with other items like the operating switch tower, signals, etc. will also occupy some space.   

As mentioned, the high speed line will be somewhat separate from the freight section.  The HS trains will have their own stations and yards.  It sounds like alot to fit into the space I mentioned, but that space can be expanded into the rest of the attic.

 

Depending on the diameter you use for the outer main lines, I think you may have quite a challenge fitting everything into a 12 x 18 space. 

I've got a simple triple loop setup on a roughly 12 x 11 foot area, and using O72 on the two outer and O54 on the inner gives a very small (in terms of square footage) area to play around with for setting up lots of accessories.  I have a 2 foot wide gap in the middle,  for access, but no duck under/hinge up/etc.

Of course, if you use tighter curves, resulting in longer strait runs for the outer loops, the middle opens up considerably as you go to lower diameter curves.

-Dave

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