New Layout - Need Help

What is the yellow on the track plan ?  Uncouple Tracks ?    The placement at the end of the yard track is not helpful.  Uncouple tracks need to be closer to the switch.  Also you need an uncouple track out on the main so your train can leave the caboose and other cars behind while you switch the wanted car or cars into the siding or yard track.

Look like a good track plan. Plenty of mainline running, yard tracks for storage, and roundhouse for locomotives.

Steve

I like your plan a lot, but I am not experienced enough to give any suggestions as I am just starting my own new layout.  What software did you use to draw out that plan? I really need to do that for mine and the way you did your plan looks like what I need.  

Thanks,  Roger

I too am building a new O-gauge layout, and my biggest piece of advice (that I am following after learning the hard way) is to think about how you will be able to reach all parts of your layout once it is finished, particularly the track (for periodic cleaning or the occasional de-railment).  My maximum reach (at the height of my layout) is a bit over 3 feet, so the widest part of my layout is 6.5 feet, such that no track is beyond my reach and I shouldn't need to crawl on the finished layout for any reason.  Other ways around this for wider layouts include building lift-out sections, to allow climbing under the platform to access central areas.  That might work for your "mountain" area.  A claw-type grabber can extend your reach for derailments and such, but not sure how good they would work for track cleaning.

Please note my response here does not in any way suggest that I think I should be in the category of "experts" - there are a LOT more people here with WAY more expertise than me...but you certainly came to the right place for help!

Good luck!  

Dale

Nice design. I really like your 096/0104 mains!

Question/comment about the location of the double crossovers. Obviously, one purpose of a dbl X is to be able to move between mains (in a shorter amount of space). The other one is to improve yard access so that both mains can have access to a yard area. The dbl X on the left does not seem to add this capability. I would consider moving this to the top of the drawing. This way you would be able to access the yard tracks on the right and the coal yard on the left from both mains.

The 2nd dbl X on the right allows both mains to get into the town area, however, you may be able to accomplish this with a single crossover.

John

Interesting, but problematic.  It seems that your design is a combination of "let-em-run" and an "operating" railroad.  The operation side is where I see problems.  If you are pulling cars from (or pushing cars into) the two longest tracks at either the coal yard or the town freight yard, you will be fouling the main line.

Suggestions:  Why not run your "town spur" between the mainline and the town; then, curve it around to your coal yard.  Might even put in a little passing siding at the coal yard just for run-around moves there.  To fix the town yard issue, try moving the mainline completely to the outside of your table.  Then, add a passing siding to the inside of the main line with an extension on the town end that becomes your branch to the coal yard.  Your new, concentric passing siding becomes an arrival/departure track for the town yard, and with the branch extension through town, you now have a yard lead that doesn't foul the main line.

Chuck