Looking for 4x16 layout design

J

Jonnyspeed

New Member
Jun 14, 2004
10
0
1
51
Cleveland, OH
www.rrpics.com
OK. Looking for layout design assistance. While I would love to have my own dedicated train room with an around the walls style layout it probably won't happen. One of my Druthers is that I will probably end up with an island style layout that sits in my soon to be built Rec room.

With that in mind, I would like help designing a 4x16 (could be widened to 6x16) HO island (Tabletop) layout.
Here are some of the Givens and Druthers:

-I like detailed scenery and structures.
-Operations split: 70% railfan 30% operations
-Era: not too speciffic.. C&O steam trough Chessie System, including some B&O
-Would like a small passenger depot possibly depicting late passenger trains (ie. smaller)
-I live near the B&O Lester wye depot in Lester, Ohio. I don't know if that could be included, but I like it.
-I love boats and water. Waterfront scenes, rivers, etc...
-I have never modeled it, but I like dense industrial scenes where trains snake between buildings and industries.
-I like bridges.
-I like the smaller local train service type operations. (Trains actually servicing customers) Big intermodals not so much.
-I would like to have a scenic divider down the middle to create 2 seperate scenes
-One scene should be an industrial "open staging" type. Doesn't have to be a functional yard, but provide storage. The other scene should be more rural for railfanning.
-I have always wanted an engine servicing facility. (Good reason to have a lot of engines sitting around)
-I run DCC and I would like to hookup my laptop to automate mailine runthroughs while I manually switch the local or just watch.

-4-6x16 island style
-Don't want a pure switching layout
-I have already purchased a good deal of Atlas Flex and #6 switches.
-I hate trains that seem to just chase their tails.
-No spagetti bowls
-Needs to be simple enough to be completed in a reasonable amount of time (6 months - 1 yr.)
-Construction is complete on the benchwork. Subroadbed will be foam or Woodland Scenics risers. No plywood risers/subroadbed.
-Keep the plaster to a minimum. I'd rather work with foam.
-Don't want to waste space with a functional yard...rather use the open staging concept.

Let me know if I left anything out. We'll see how the designs go. If I find one that really fits me I'll send you a $50 gift card or something.

Post designs here and send them to me at jonathan@rrpics.com please.

Thanks,
Jonathan
 
Well, I don't know about a design on hand because I threw out all mine after I moved and lost a 11x17 foot room. Something to say sense no one else has replied on it yet. 6' would be better because of the 50+ foot locomotives and car's so 22" curves won't fit in 4'. However, being 6x16' there would be plenty of room for a yard on one side and if your including a divider then I would say some type of moutain portal would be a nice way to to get that "long distance" travel kinda feel. Divider would have to be directly down the center of the layout giving 3 feet to either side. Depending on how tall the layout will be 3 feet should give you just enough for a nice layout yet still be able to maintain it. (ie track cleaning, repair etc.) I'll play around and see what I might be able to come up with. Something that I saw you didn't mention. Single or double mainline?
 
One thing you might consider is that an island-style layout dominates a room a lot more than an around-the-walls layout: you can set a shelf layout onto furniture instead of mounting it on the wall. This leaves the middle of the room free for other functions, while a 4x12 layout will require an area of at least 8x16 feet in order to be fully accessible.
 
Please don't take this the wrong way, but why did you build your benchwork without a track plan in mind? You wouldn't dig the foundation for your house before you had a blueprint, would you? ;)
 
Squidbait said:
Please don't take this the wrong way, but why did you build your benchwork without a track plan in mind? You wouldn't dig the foundation for your house before you had a blueprint, would you? ;)
Click to expand...

I am reusing previously constructed benchwork. If I go with plan "A" then that is all the space I have in my rec room. If I go with plan "B" I will have a 10x16 dedicated room. Obviously I prefer plan "B", but we don't always get what we want now do we. Besides, I am following the advice of Iian Rice and John Armstrong and have defined the space first, now I am looking for a plan. It does no good to draw a plan that won't fit the available space now does it... 6x16 would be the max. space available in plan "A".
 
jetrock said:
One thing you might consider is that an island-style layout dominates a room a lot more than an around-the-walls layout: you can set a shelf layout onto furniture instead of mounting it on the wall. This leaves the middle of the room free for other functions, while a 4x12 layout will require an area of at least 8x16 feet in order to be fully accessible.
Click to expand...

I apreciate the idea, but trust me.... I need an island design for this particular scenario. This is plan"A". If I can figure out a way to get a dedicated room it will be 10x16 and I will definitely build around the walls. I've already got an 8x12 frestanding
"around the walls" style layout that was from a previous location. I could expand that very easy. That is plan "B"

For the purpose of this thread though I am only interested in an island stlye that will be at the back of the new rec room. The room is going to be built like a log cabin so I don't want to touch the walls with any backdrops or anything. It has to stand alone.
 
Besides, I am following the advice of Iian Rice and John Armstrong and have defined the space first, now I am looking for a plan.
Click to expand...
Space is different from benchwork.

Anyway, since you've realized that around-the-walls allows more space and you've consciously decided to go with the island, I accept your decision. I only regret when people make islands because that's all they know.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom