Track plan ideas

[atnas666]

hay guys im after some ideas ... I have a room that 216cm wide by 322cm long A bit like the pic below any ideas on what i can fit and how?
00 gauge




sorry im new to this and appreciate the help

[End2end]

Why not see what you can make up with SCARM free layout designer software.
Just make the layout board to your dimensions then add track as you see fit.
http://www.scarm.info/index.php
Can probably do quite a lot with 10 and a half feet by 7 feet.
No affiliation but I do like the FREE product.
Hope it helps.
Thanks
End2end

[atnas666]

Hi and thanks yeah i downloaded SCARM but straggled so much lol.. with making the baseboard (entrance etc)

[atnas666]

May be some one might want to have a play with my measurements to see what they come up with

[Emettman]

Hi and thanks yeah i downloaded SCARM but straggled so much lol.. with making the baseboard (entrance etc)

I found Anyrail easier to learn, to actually handle the track, but am pretty sure SCARM can do more, especially on the scenic side.

Chris

[Emettman]

May be some one might want to have a play with my measurements to see what they come up with

Can do, but a lot depends on preferences and their order of priority.
"Watching the trains go by", or much more "hands on operation"?
If the biggest possible curves are needed to run express trains with long coaches, something quite different will emerge than if a branch-line, industrial or dockside scheme is preferred.

More than one level allowed, or all on one level with no gradients?
Modern, or is there a need to provide for releasing/turning steam locos?
(Terminating and reversing a 4-car DMU isn't the same!)
Age and number of operators?

Chris.

[atnas666]

More than one level is fine. And to be honest its gonna be a mix of ages. From a mallard to the new Hitachi (pre ordered).
Basically it going to be a collection of loco's that i have either been on or actually seen.

Sounds odd i know

[End2end]

Sounds odd i know

Number 1 rule stands true here....
It's my railway and I'll run what I want!

One thing I think that would concern me first and foremost is wether to or not, and how to or not, brigde the door gap with any rough plan.
Thanks
End2end

[atnas666]

Yeah this my buggiest thought/problem as the door opens inwards. So its either going to have to lift or swing. But as the door is in the corner it makes it so difficult to put a full circuit in that i would love.

[atnas666]

but realistically im not sure the door problem can be fixed

[End2end]

Not sure it would fit and it's really quickly and roughly drawn in paint so definatly not drawn to scale but how about something like this?

atnas.JPG (25.23 KiB) Viewed 2827 times

2 Stations (A & B)
Twin track mainline loop over a double track bridge (D)
Twin track End to end outer branchline with posiblility to change tracks as the crossovers (C & E)
This would give you a continous run but may cause a bottle neck at point E

You could raise the tracks against the wall on the right hand side at station B to give a two level station.
And also remove the sidings at the bottom to give better room access or leave them in for the other end of an end to end run with a third station perhaps?

Thanks
End2end

[TimberSurf]

I use AutoCAD, as that's my natural work skill, quick sketch of principles shows roundy roundy is possible with reasonable curves (could be increased radii)
Door hanging the other way would allow better access!

Atnas Plan1.jpg (60.84 KiB) Viewed 2819 times

[Emettman]

I use AutoCAD, as that's my natural work skill, quick sketch of principles shows roundy roundy is possible with reasonable curves (could be increased radii)
Door hanging the other way would allow better access!

I got to the same two basic possibilities for a double track mainline, using R3 and R4 curves.
For operation I would be thinking about either a single large through station on the longer side, with at least one loop set up to serve as a bidirectional terminus line,
or a high level terminus, with a station on the continuous run with a terminal bay to reverse the trains.
A return loop would be possible but would add further to access issues.
I suspect 4 coaches may be the limit.

On the door, a sliding one just inside the room might be the most convenient, if change is any sort of possibility.
I will have a bit of a play.

Chris

[atnas666]

End2end i rather like that and TimberSurf i also like your 1st one.

Emettman sliding door is out of the question im afraid. As for re hanging the door so it opens the other way its a possibility.

But im sure the lady of the house will not agree not the dogs as there would not be room for the there beds in the hall.. So actually scrap that im stuck with the door

[luckymucklebackit]

I still swear by the C.J. Freezer plans books, even though they have gone out of favour recently. His plans are fine as project outlines, just don't try to reproduce them exactly as some of the track geometry is a bit unrealistic.

Search Amazon for C.J.Freezer, he has authored many planning books

One word of caution, that is a big area for a beginner, you might want to start with a small project in a corner of the room, designed with extension to the rest of the room in good time, it is easy to start off with an ambitious plan and get discouraged when you have put weeks or months of work into a layout and it is nowhere near complete.

Jim