West Cary Railroad

Looks like my scram file didn't upload properly.  Is there a way to share files other than media?  I'm certain my issue is caused by operator error.

Your file loaded just fine.  People need to "Save as" and then open it to view it.  If you just click on it, you'll see text.

Jan

AmeenTrainGuy posted:

Are you sure you want to fit all those things on your layout? Sometimes spacing things out gives it a more realistic look, and it's more fun to operate! Have you thought about doing HO? It's seen a lot of advancements in recent years, and fitting all those things onto an HO layout will work better. An HO layout will probably also cost less as well as give you an illusion of a larger layout.

The selection of things you want to add looks very fun! Also, keep in mind that roundhouses do not exist anymore for diesels. There are shops which serve a similar purpose. The mythical creature part is pretty cool. The minimal duck under part is important, it doesn't matter how old or young you are, duck unders are a pain.

No, I'm not sure I want all those things.  I think I want them.  I agree there needs to be space between things and realize my wish list will need some editing as this process moves forward.  I could live without the port/shipyard area, the round house and the coal mine.  Maybe two towns is a better description, with the smaller consisting of a passenger station and a country store and one industrial siding.  My thought were the smaller radius mountain railraod would serve the logging, mining and farm areas and bring full cars to main line to be transported to other places, while the main lines go around or thru mountain.

I thought about HO and I agree I could have my own little empire in that kind of space but her Dad left us O guage and that's what she wants to continue with.

Maybe I could put the diesel roundhouse with the mythical creatures...

Jan posted:

Your file loaded just fine.  People need to "Save as" and then open it to view it.  If you just click on it, you'll see text.

Jan

Thanks Jan.  I was just clicking on it.  

AmeenTrainGuy posted:

Have you thought about doing HO? It's seen a lot of advancements in recent years, and fitting all those things onto an HO layout will work better. An HO layout will probably also cost less as well as give you an illusion of a larger layout.

 

Cost less.  Really, have you priced good HO locomotives and rolling stock recently?

All factors considered, I feel 3-rail O-Scale layout would be less expensive.  Unless you are not planning on adding structures.  The foot print required for an “O” structure could easily accept 3-4 HO structures.  An HO layout would require more of everything... trees, people, buildings, vehicles... the list goes on.

Nice track plan, but as a layout plan, I agree access and reach are a problem, and will likely detract from your enjoyment.   Perhaps another revision could be worked out?

Not sure about elevations, and where tracks would meet at crossing rather than crossing above or below, put perhaps something like this could be worked-out:

Hi Tom,

Well, since you want to avoid 90 degree curves in corners, you have virtually eliminated "around the wall" designs which give you easiest access to all parts of the layout with one swing bridge.  Given the shape of your walls and the location of utilities, bathroom and entry doors, I would suggest a V shaped design with the legs of the V heading into the northwest (but not too far) and southwest corners.  Each leg should be wide enough to permit a "walk-in" area to fix problems with a swing bridge at each entrance.

Off of this basic design, you could build peninsulas for the structures and activities you covet.  You could even have the mainline from one leg cross over the mainline from the other leg near the point where the two legs meet to form the V.

For other ideas to develop track plans in unusual shape rooms, look at www.layoutvision.com.

Chuck

PS  It's SCARM, not SCRAM.

PRR1950 posted:

Hi Tom,

Well, since you want to avoid 90 degree curves in corners, you have virtually eliminated "around the wall" designs which give you easiest access to all parts of the layout with one swing bridge.  Given the shape of your walls and the location of utilities, bathroom and entry doors, I would suggest a V shaped design with the legs of the V heading into the northwest (but not too far) and southwest corners.  Each leg should be wide enough to permit a "walk-in" area to fix problems with a swing bridge at each entrance.

Off of this basic design, you could build peninsulas for the structures and activities you covet.  You could even have the mainline from one leg cross over the mainline from the other leg near the point where the two legs meet to form the V.

For other ideas to develop track plans in unusual shape rooms, look at www.layoutvision.com.

Chuck

PS  It's SCARM, not SCRAM.

It's not that I want to avoid 90 degree curves in corners, it's I don't want all the curves to be exactly concentric and all the lines to be parallel to the walls and edge of the benchwork.  I realize that some parts of the track will follow the contours of the room.  I just don't want to notice that it does.  Maybe I've given this too much emphasis.

Ken-Oscale posted:

Nice track plan, but as a layout plan, I agree access and reach are a problem, and will likely detract from your enjoyment.   Perhaps another revision could be worked out?

Not sure about elevations, and where tracks would meet at crossing rather than crossing above or below, put perhaps something like this could be worked-out:

I do have one of these in the garage that I don't use.  Folded up flat and hanging on the wall for more than a few years.  I think they call it a topside creeper.  It should help some with reach , especially if the waste pipe needs a cleanout.  I think I will commit to a duck under to access the water pressure regulator and inside water disconnect.  I have another valve outside at the meter that is easy to access if I need to turn off whole house water and don't want to duck under.

But I do agree, the process needs to continue.  I've spent many evenings in the space, starring and visualing.  I think my next step is to sketch a few different versions of potential benchwork and try to adapt some similar track plans to them.