layout help

Looks pretty cool!   I am working on mine.  All fastrack  072 outside, 060 inside with 084 on reverse turns to keep the outside a 100% 072 loop. Are you doing lift bridges in the blue area? 

Jim 

Yup, the bridges will be lifted...via a combo of gates and hinges...

Here is an updated look with SCARM.  I am thinking about adding a cog railroad, but haven't found any in o-scale yet.  The cog railway will go up the 'mountain' which would model the Mount Beacon Incline Railway and have the old Mount Beacon Hotel on top of mountain.

From there, they can ride the DeWitt Clinton Heritage Loop up in the Catskill Mountains.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...acon_Incline_Railway

How will you reach that double crossover in the event Mr. Murphy visits your layout?

Good point, thank you! I may move it or create an access panel next to the turntable.

Hi Trains1957,

I have a couple of thoughts -

First - crossing the Hudson - I have to come to the position that many complicate this whole business. I was designing a layout for a multi-purpose entertainment room that required  crossing a primary aisle. The guy had some good woodworking talent. We had not decided how to handle that. When I returned a week later he had it solved. It was a simple French cleat solution. The "bridge" board just sat down and fit into some cleats on either end. The cleats were attached to framing and the bottom of the bridge board. Think of cutting a board at 30° and the cutting the ends square at the appropriate length. One fits point down into the other half opening with gravity holding it. It locks very tight. A small quick disconnect connector handled the power to track. Like crimp bullet connectors

The wire is disconnected and the bridge is removed by lifting it up and stored when the space needs to be opened.

Second - I don't see enough track in the main room to get a nice grade to the mountains when crossing the Hudson. The bridge, that should be level, complicates it. The solution - lower the table height on that side of the Hudson for the appearance of a higher altitude.

In SCARM, you can do two things to represent - make all of the track at an elevation and make scenic objects at lower to negative heights for the 3D eye candy. Make all of the track over there "bridge" track with no supports and create the terrain with objects from the figures library.

If you want some help refing the track plan, just post the latest version . Atlas has accessory track ends #6057 to make custom length tracks when needed.

Looks like fun!

Here's an updated look! I tried getting the flex track to snap in place. It worked on some locations,  but not all.  It's very frustrating as I spend more time with the software, than actually getting anything done.   Let me know what you guys think.  thx!