Model Railway Forum

Hello, I’ve been working on various deigns for my first layout, this one seams to be the most likely to get approval for the spare bedroom.

I drew the plans out to inch and a half to the foot, that means one eighth on the rule is an inch.
The layout is 7 foot by 6 foot with a 2'x3' cutout. I’ve drawn the track in with ink and the rest in pencil.


Features.
Tunnel top left.
The Siding marked 1 is for a stone quarry cut into the hill in the top left.
Siding 2 is for the engine shed.
The station is in the lower left with two platforms.
In the centre are two adjacent bridges the upper track will rise 2" and the lower track will drop 1"
Siding 3 is for the coal mine set on the hill side which forms a deep cutting for the track.
Siding 3a is for the brick works and clay diggings.

As this is my first layout I’m hoping the more experienced members will give an opinion on how it will work and if they can see any glaring problems. Also any suggestions for improvement.

Thanks, Dave.

Access! How are you able to reach the tunnel track for derailments and, importantly, for track cleaning?

If the 6' and 7' edges are against a wall you'll have difficulties. If you can walk around then OK.

Hi Ian, yes it will be on casters so I can pull it out and will be able to walk to the back. it will be built on a wooden frame so there will be access beneath, also the legs will be set in from the edge so when I cwtch down my knees should not tangle up with the frame.

Thanks, Dave.

I can see a potential problem with the two points facing each other at the bottom of the layout.
If a train was on the inside track travelling anti clockwise and crossed over the points onto the outer track then travelled around the circle the polarity will be wrong when coming back onto the inside track wher it started.
I think I am right what do other members think?
Puddles

Thanks Puddles,
Well spotted that is my attempt at a reversing loop and I’m still getting my head around such things so it’s quite possible that it can not be made to work. What do others think? The layout will be DC with two or possibly three controllers.

Cheers an important question, Dave.

Hello journeyman
In no way am I an expert on electrics but my layout worked very well.
My layout was DC and split into 8 controllers, I put dropper wires on every length of track except for the shunting lines which made it easy to connect to the relevant controllers for the different sections, each section was isolated from each other with plastic isolating rail joiners. I had insulfrog points and used the points to isolate the shunting lines so a train siting on the line would not move when the point was against it. Having so many controllers running trains was a bit like juggling but once I got the hang of it all it was great fun.
Hope this little bit of info helps you.
Puddles

Hi Dave - I think there may be a couple of "reverse loops" built in to the layout which would give you an immediate short circuit. I'm still trying to get my head round exactly where they are. I think Puddles highlighted one. I think both the lines running down the centre of the layout would cause a short circuit. They can of course be isolated, but that would stop constant running, other than around the perimeter of the layout. Barry (BB)

I think it is overly complicated. A similar design but much simpler will be just as interesting.

I am not one to look at plans too much. If they look complicated they probably are. I am of a similar mind as WTD. A simpler design that is easy for one person to operate.

Glencairn

Eight controllers that’s some layout Puddles! I can see how you could spot that return loop as you are used to such complexity.
Hi Barry (bulleidboy,) yes there are two return loops one Intentionally formed at the top of the righthand loop and the second one spotted by Puddles formed when I put the points in to get from the inner to the outer loop when going anticlockwise.
Thanks WTD and Glencairn simplification may be the way forward.
It was my intention to have the outer loop for continuous running while the inner loop would be used for shunting between all three sidings and forming new trains with out interfering with the outer . I’m hoped to have either of the loops as contiguous running but only one at a time.

Thanks again for all the input, Dave.