Layout change's 08/05/2023

Hi Mike,

A double crossover in the center would reverse both ways.

Hi John, The long section in the middle I am trying to leave open for buildings! Or were you talking about where the 2 tracks are close to the front?

Mike, it seems John must mean the section in the middle where you want to have buildings.  A crossover out front would only let a train change tracks, not direction.

How old are all the kids?

@Mark Boyce posted:

Mike, it seems John must mean the section in the middle where you want to have buildings.  A crossover out front would only let a train change tracks, not direction.

How old are all the kids?

The oldest grandson is 13 and the youngest out of 4 just turned 5. They love the trains, but I pick them put to see everything else or bring chairs for them to stand on.

Mike, just isn't any practical way to get those loops to O-72. This is the best I could do and I don't think there's enough clearance around the loops. And there certainly is no room to move around the room  or add buildings, etc.

@mike g. posted:

The oldest grandson is 13 and the youngest out of 4 just turned 5. They love the trains, but I pick them put to see everything else or bring chairs for them to stand on.

Yes you will be picking up the youngest for some time with the present height.  In my case, I’ll have modified my layout several times and then be in the senior center before I would have to worry about helping a grandchild see the trains.

Thanks Dave, I didnt think there was a way. I just thought I would throw it out there looking for a miracle! LOL Guess I will have to see if I can switch my engine back from a fixed piolet, something I will have to think ab out!

Hi John, here is what I have come up for a crossover, I put it all the way at the end to leave as much room for buildings! LOL

@Mark Boyce posted:

Yes you will be picking up the youngest for some time with the present height.  In my case, I’ll have modified my layout several times and then be in the senior center before I would have to worry about helping a grandchild see the trains.

LOL Mark you never know! One of your daughters could come over tomorrow and ask how you would like to be a Grandpa! LOL

Okay, Mike, just wanted you see what it would take. If I get some time tomorrow, I’ll see what I can do about the clutter on the right side. As it is now, there isn’t enough clearance between all those tracks.

Hi Dave, I am also going to try to clean it up. It should help me learn more about SCARM!

Thank you for all your help, you always seem to be there to help the community!

Mike, things started coming together for me using SCARM these last couple weeks.  Your brain is younger than mine, so I hope it comes together for you too!

Mike, I’ll let you play with then, I’ve got a few things I need to do. If you get stuck, don’t hesitate to contact me.

@mike g.  Mike - if you placed a double crossover where the single is, you would get your engine reversing option.

It continues to be mind boggling to me that 12 x 24 is not enough room to do all you want considering 072 dia curves. I never thought I would have that much room and with the present situation that is not going to happen.  My 9x13 left a lot of wants impossible, my new available space at max 12x16 is not much better. A real head scratcher, lots of compromise in the future.  Maybe I just have to buy a larger house and move again. The thought gives me a headache.   

Morning Jeff, Thanks for your comment and I am with you as my head hurts also! LOL

We thought about moving to get out of our state and the tax burden, but the wife decided she can't leave her grandbabies too far away. So, I decided to change things up for the grand kids as I was going to if we had moved so they can see it better. Plus, the layout I have now is nice but takes up a large amount of space. This new one will give me a little corner to have a small workstation. Here is what I came up with this morning. 

As you can see, I fixed the spacing between track using flex track.

I have attached the file if you would like to make some suggestions.

Hope you're having a good day and getting ready for the big move!

Mike, Staying near your grandchildren is huge.  I'm glad you are staying put.  As far as the layout goes, I think it was good to plan for a small work station right in the train room.  So what is the height of the yellow lower level?  I think I missed out on that detail.

Hi Mark, thanks, In the plan it states 40" but I think Iam going to lower that. Just don't know how far yet!

Yes, that might be too high for the youngsters.  Thank you for helping me with my oversight

@mike g.  Mike - Illinois has one of the highest tax burdens in the country. Champaign/Urbana is particularly bad.  Go out for dinner 10.75% tax, buy prepared food at the grocery store 10.75% tax, own a house 3% of the value ( a $400,000 house gives you the privilege of paying $12,000/yr and few services) and no property tax increase cap. Michigan is not cheap but 1.5% is way better than 3% and has increase limits. I voted with my feet.  Our grandkids were in Michigan so it was an easy decision to escape Illinois. Illinois is a great place to live, just not for paying taxes, and unmanageable in retirement.

I'll noodle over your scarm file.  What purpose does the green loop serve?  I see access to a couple of short spurs but not much else. (I assume that is on a lower level - my scarm is rejecting the recent upgrade so I cannot open anything at the moment.)  Jeff

BTW Dave you are a magician with these track plans.   

Jeff, thanks for the comment, but I haven’t had much to do with this design other than show Mike that O-72 loops won’t fit. 🤣 The green line is the upper level. It provides space for the spurs and presumably a town, industry or something as well as a reversing loop.

Mark, we’re 2,000 miles away from our oldest daughter and 2 grandsons. It’s definitely a struggle to see them at least once a year, especially since the youngest now lives 3 hours further. But, having been military, we’re used to it and you just adapt.

Mike, good job on the redesign. I’ll download it and take a closer look. The only thing I don’t like is the red grade track that will block the view a bit along the aisle and require a multi-level lift-out, assuming you’re not going with a duck-under. I’m interested to see if Jeff comes up with any more ideas.