Hello TC,
Love it. But then why shouldn't I, you seem to have drawn a variation of my layout. In my case I think there is more track hidden than visible but there are few times when a train is hidden completely for long.
I have essentially 5 major levels with 'Harriet' being the lowest. Here I have a reversing loop, two sidings next to the future log pond and mill and an exit to the fiddle cassettes.(replacing full cars with empties)
I then run up through 'Auggy' by-passing the yard, staging sidings and the continuous loop and up over '3 bridges' where the track splits and is now two lanes through the cut and mountain up the rise to 'Jake Loff Hill' and under 'Devo'. As we reach 'Lower Elgin' the tracks diverge and form the reversing loop for the return.
Lower Elgin has 2 routes to 'Devo' from both sides of the loop which then switchbacks over the trestle to 'Upper Elgin' where all the clear cutting and log loading is going on. This track then continues on to the top fiddle cassette, approximately 50 cm higher. (replacing empties with full)
I don't have a track plan picture but seeing Shamus's "click the track plan" picture choosing page, I want to flatterise his idea.
I didn't waste my time working out a track plan or playing with software, other than a few pencil sketches. I did it the easy way. Lay all the subroadbed, roadbed and track. Start with the major scenery. Then look at it in disgust and spend 6 months tearing it all down and starting over.
I tried to keep my inclines as low as possible to clear underlying track and anything steep should really be on a straight section. Curves suck your pulling power even without a grade. I don't have any sections over 3 percent but I do have a steep curved section that requires my 4-4-0's to triple head if they want to get any thing worth while up the mountain.
The Heislers, Shays and Climaxes hardly seem to notice but I like to double head. I have plastic frogs in the 'Auggy' yard and double heading prevents stalling especially for the little Climaxes. All rolling stock must have their axle sockets reamed with that little axle reamer thingy tool and metal wheels should also be used if you plan on getting many cars up to the top at a time.
Grade transition easements will need close and careful attention and turnouts should be kept away from these areas. I heartily recommend soldering the flextrack sections that span the easements before installing for the same reason as soldering curved sections. Hidden sections should also be soldered. I soldered everything I could because it's my idea of fun. Try to avoid any thing in a hidden or limited access section other than as smooth straight and flat as possible.
I look forward to seeing your vision become reality.
I was going to build a mining layout and then I saw yours. Yes, it's a lot of track but that's what makes it interesting to me. I already have the track so it's just a matter of time.
