Suggestions for proposed layout

What is the desired size? It looks like you are off of the desired table? 17' x 12'?

It really depends on what you see with your mind's eye as the final result.

You have plenty of room for scenery now. Do you have lots of Dept 56 buildings and accessories and the like? Adding more track will cut some of that out.

A small elevated section will add the prerequisite tunnel/mountain.

Multiple trains running look nice on a holiday layout. I can see five smaller loops in this space with a twice around in the center around a tree or center piece item.

thanks "moonman" - yes, the grand kids when younger loved to give snow-village at christmas - we have 35-40 pieces most with accessories - many accessories and trees

you noted the track hanging off table - this can be easily adjusted

thank so much for your suggestions - -

rdeal

I love the ski hill.

Which track are you using? I have an idea.

If you will run "tinplate" will they be std or O?

rdeal'

You have a lot of room for a great Christmas layout that you and your family will love.

I had a similar situation (with a lot less room) in that I had 60 Department 56 buildings with no place to really display them, and a Lionel Christmas train and New York Central train running on two independent loops of track on the floor around our Christmas tree.

The attached file shows the permanent corner layout that I developed.

A few pointers from my efforts:

• The reversing loop is a "must" with Grandkids as they really like to watch a train change directions.
• To Moonman's point....a tunnel is also a great addition to the layout.  I used the top of mine to feature most of my "North Pole" items.  Make sure that the trains in the tunnel are accessible (I cut an access opening in the side of mine.)
• Change out the light bulbs in any houses that you cannot easily reach to LED bulbs.
• Add some operating accessories if you can.  My layout does not have any "moving" accessories at this time and is "nice" to look at but needs more action for my Grandchildren.
• Take your time and search these forums for suggestions as you plan and build your layout.

Howard

What track are you using? Controls are conventional (needs blocks) or a command set up?

Level- If you add turnouts, and divide the dog bone into two power blocks, with each block able to be switched to the inner loop power controller, you could move trains between tracks, and reverse direction on them "no hands". 4 turnouts & 2 toggle switches are all you would need.   

Remember- The smallest loop of a dog bone, or crossing(x) is your train length limiter.

Level Elevation- On the dog bone could give two villages, mountain(s) and a bridge along the back. Adding dimension to a flat world is more fun.

A trolley? No matter what, yes, yes, and yes. I love them.

As a kid, my Grandfather set his up straight, and along the front edge so kids could easily work the bump and go by a hand across the track. But visually I wanted to see it travel between towns (Hint, hint).

For visual, I would do another elevated line, open track(no wood under) on trestles with a timed stop at a walk down trolley station near your lower, inner loop "town" and bump stops at the other two 'towns" on the ends. A trolley is light and wont need extra support. The open rails wont be as bad of a visual block either, but will be one. So playing with that idea later, may be a better idea.

Or

Flat about the same thing, across the front edge, and/or crossing tracks with a stop and wait set up, where the trolley stops and waits for any trains. That can be done with block control, and/or simple Lionel under track contactors.

 A siding? Why not?

Especially if kids may run this it allows some switching/delivering, but a parked engine is cool too. Again, some block control would let you do this in conventional, or command on that track.

Look no hands! 

"h morgan" thank you - i do not have operating accessories - except a beacon that turns, two flashing signs, 3 different lionel christmas gateman - thanks for the tip on using led in the snowvillage houses - thanks so much for your help

"moonman" - all trains are O gauge - two christmas trains from MTH, steam engins and passenger and freight, and two lionel steam engines, one will pull five snow village christmas cars and one will pull seven lionel tank cars + two on order

At the prsent i am planning to use all fastrack - waiting to hear your idea -

guys, thank so much - rdeal

thanks so much - this is great

"adriatic" - thanks - at the present plans include - village to the right "homes" and town center and to left - ending on left - - - i was thinking of elevated trolley - but really like the idea of "crossing tracks with a stop and wait set up, where the trolley stops and waits for any trains"

again thanks - rdeal

Power controls. What do you use?

quick and dirty in scarm. Moonman what you think

"adriatic" - i have three MTH proto3 engines - planning to use fastrack with MTH DCS

thanks for you help

"jhainer" - tunnels look so cool -

thanks - rdeal

Thank you rdeal, more than likely that becomes relevant at some point for options like the stop & go, accessories etc..

And I'm getting some questions out that normally cause some delay, done and over for a bit

Are you using a transformer now? Which type, and will that stay, and is there more new power coming too?

On the inner section, is that a crossing(X), or an over under? Does it matter?

Do you own anything already?(track)

"adriatic" - transformers? i have the two mth that came with the two train packages from Mth - more power will be coming as needed - via - help from this fourm

inner section - is crossing (X) and does it matter - nothing is written in stone - but i would like to use an elevated trolley -

track - i have two small ovals of mth realtrack and one enlarged figure 8 fastrack

i was hoping to began a moderate elevation from the outer point to point track and use the mth steel bridge in the top middle -

again - thanks so much for your help

rdeal

Ok,

Here's what came out...

12' sides 4' wide  with a 8' center 5' wide  for a 12' x 16' U or C. I tried to keep the sheets of ply even , but needed 5' wide in the center for the twice around. So, it's 4 sheets of ply and a 1' x 8' strip or 5 sheets of ply. The rest could be used for the tunnel/mountain.

4 trains and a trolley, one loop in the center elevated in the front tunnel\mountain to the rear and right.

The depressed figure 8 on the left is 048 except for two center curves that are 036.(This can be modified to eliminate switches for cost and to 036 as it is right on the edges of the table)

The rest is all 036, except trolley has 2 072's.

The bridge could be incorporated into the elevated line in the center.

4 locations for a tree. (I forgot one at the low right)

If you like it and want to work on it, I'll do it in RRT. The 3D is much nicer in SCARM.

 I'll play some more tomorrow. Maybe lower the "island towns some" and work on a raised trolley.

  This one would activate the FT-31 switch at the center city stop, each time it reaches that point. I was going to suggest going with streets for the trolley in the city. For turn size and interest by changing the rails. 

  My main beef with myself is reaching any tunnel derailments. Mainly to the right side. 

  Will there be walk around room? What's your reach like?(access hatches!?, or are you a climber?) Access hatches would let that cut out area we did up front, be filled. 

A parts list, would help us use what you have vs useing your wallet.

Curve size & brand, straights each size, etc. 

Moonman's offers more train action, but I really like yours too.

Well, my thought was simple build, reliable operation and high scenery to track ratio with lots of train action, lights, lighted buildings and such.

Here's SantaFe158's Redford Theater Holiday Display

Here's the thread: Redford Theater Display-2014

I was going to mention the holiday reliability of what you had switched too.

I just like to play with the program.

I'd be amazed if he actually copied everything that was there, Or anything really.

 I also have had some outside the forum contact with rdeal, and though not specifically mentioned, I think he has some additional design decisions he may make. But that may be scenery based...I'm just guessing around.  

That theater isn't that far from me. 20min maybe.

Adriatic,

SantaFe158 and Mark Bee had a real nice display. It's set up so the theater operators can turn it on from the movie and light control booth. Check it out this year.

thanks "moonman" for showing me the snipped tool in windows - this is my first attempt a redrawing the original layout - but i really like the trolley tracks that "adriatic" suggested

thanks for all the help - rdeal