Okay, here's a chance to play... I have a 3x14' peninsula on the layout I just can't quite decide what to do with. If anyone has thoughts, suggestions or otherwise, here's what I can tell you:
1) HO
2) Entry on one of the short ends. You do not need to account for curving in from the mainline (i.e. tracks can head straight in). The entry to this peninsula is such that tracks can enter about anwhere across the 3' width -- and pretty much any number of tracks within reason (e.g. from 1 to maybe 4-5) could enter reasonably.
3) Terrain elevation on the peninsula can be about anything (hill, gully, canyon, etc.) but the tracks enter at 0" elevation. So they either have to bridge/tunnel any elevation changes or face some serious up/down grades to gain any altitude.
4) The layout has a logging operation and coal mining operation which would like to have some customers in this area
5) In an industrial/siding, etc. area, I have 18" min radius, #4 min turnout.
I keep toying with the idea of this being a harborside scene (would be a river harbor, given my locality, not ocean)... I have precisely zero experience or knowledge of such a thing, though. I just know I've always found the ones I've seen in the train rags really intriguing.
I'm not looking for you all to submit designs or anything (you're welcome to, of course), I'm looking more if folks could suggest existing layouts or books with layouts that are in "the neighborhood" of this and might be a source of ideas or easy to modify.
THanks,
Kris
1) HO
2) Entry on one of the short ends. You do not need to account for curving in from the mainline (i.e. tracks can head straight in). The entry to this peninsula is such that tracks can enter about anwhere across the 3' width -- and pretty much any number of tracks within reason (e.g. from 1 to maybe 4-5) could enter reasonably.
3) Terrain elevation on the peninsula can be about anything (hill, gully, canyon, etc.) but the tracks enter at 0" elevation. So they either have to bridge/tunnel any elevation changes or face some serious up/down grades to gain any altitude.
4) The layout has a logging operation and coal mining operation which would like to have some customers in this area
5) In an industrial/siding, etc. area, I have 18" min radius, #4 min turnout.
I keep toying with the idea of this being a harborside scene (would be a river harbor, given my locality, not ocean)... I have precisely zero experience or knowledge of such a thing, though. I just know I've always found the ones I've seen in the train rags really intriguing.
I'm not looking for you all to submit designs or anything (you're welcome to, of course), I'm looking more if folks could suggest existing layouts or books with layouts that are in "the neighborhood" of this and might be a source of ideas or easy to modify.
THanks,
Kris