Another plan

[SAL Comet]

Here's my latest try- and the first two from my last post. Lower side of the image is the front, upper is against the slope of the ceiling. HO scale, and yes those are 15" R loops. Less than ideal I know, but all my rolling stock is short (40' or less) and seem to operate fine on my mock-up. My GP-9 will push 14 cars through the loop with no problem. Which do you like?

 

[Russ Bellinis]

What brand of gp9 are you running?

 

[Ralph]

Hi SAL,

Space considerations being a reality, one does what one can! Glad to hear the 15 inch radius curves are workable because nothing kills the joy more than frequent derailments. Your space with the sloping ceiling does offer some unique challenges. As you know from your other thread I'm not a big fan of reverse loops so I vote for the third plan. Hmmmmm, since the wall slopes by the upper part of your plan have you considered placing your sidings and spurs on the lower part instead and placing buildings in between them and the mainline running against the wall to hide it to take care of a difficult scenic challenge? Just musing...
Ralph

 

[shamus]

Hi Sal,
My choice would be the bottom one, more room for scenics later on. :thumb:

Shamus

 

[SAL Comet]

Russ, It's a old (80's?) Bachmann, I got at a yard sale, in a box with a bunch of old tyco cars and track.

 

[TinGoat]

Well...

Eliminating the reverse loop does simplify wiring... But then you have to use your 0-5-0 switcher to reverse trains.

I do like the third layout design too.... But you need to have some prototypical justification for the added mainline curves...

How about one of these? The second one gives you a longer passing-siding/double-mainline. but of course they both contain reverse loops:

 

[Russ Bellinis]

Russ, It's a old (80's?) Bachmann, I got at a yard sale, in a box with a bunch of old tyco cars and track.

If it is an old Bachmann, it will have "talgo" trucks, where the couplers swivel with the trucks rather than being body mounted. If you try to do any switching or pushing cars around a curve, you will probably have difficulties with derailing. With a 15 inch radius, probably the biggest locomotive with body mounted couplers that you could use would be a sw. You might keep the 15 inch radius turn back curves to allow you to do some continuous running, but I would consider eliminating the yard in favor of more industries. That narrow a layout is more comfortable doing switching operations in my opinion.