Thanks to all who offered feedback on the layout I posted a while back. Here is an update and latest plans:
1) Facilities: Fully finishing the basement where the train will be located has been found infeasible. Despite the oft-offered advice to finish the room first, it's come down to funding: Finishing the space would be about $25,000 to pay someone, or about $10,000 in materials plus many hours I've not got to do it myself... So "finish first" would delay start of the layout, probably by a few years. It's a sacrifice (the time, I mean) I'm not willing to make. I've had 3 prior layouts all in fully unfinished basements, and it never really bugged me. But we can do some things to improve the space without the expense of drywalling, flooring, drop-ceiling, etc... So here's what we'll be working with:
a) room IS climate controlled,
b) sufficient power and lighting (well, outlets for lighting) have been installed,
c) concrete walls and floor along with ceiling have all been painted dark grey to have them "fade back" as much as possible,
d) rolls of "runner" carpet have been kindly donated by a pal and will be installed in aisleways post-initial-construction to ease the feet.
2) Layout
After considering a lot of feedback I got right here, the layout has been notably modified. Some highlights:
a) Main line remains double-tracked, minimum visible radius 36", minimum non-visible radius 30". All rolling stock and locos have been tested on 22" radius and run nicely, so this should be very adequate.
b) logging area has been redone as a switchback operation with a sawmill at the base of the hill
c) the "industrial area" is as-yet undetermined. I'm thinking it might well be a 1940's oil refinery a la the latest issue of MR... Generally would like to use this nice-sized-but-too-narrow-to-turn-a-loop piece of real estate (12' x 3') to do a comprehensive industrial area rather than a bunch of very limited ones. Something along the lines of a refinery with multiple RR functions involved. Other options might be a steel mill or a great lakes dock.
d) Hidden staging has been added at the lower left side. Double-ended staging can feed trains to mainline in either direction.
e) baseline height of layout will be 55"
Happy to hear any questions/comments...
Kris
1) Facilities: Fully finishing the basement where the train will be located has been found infeasible. Despite the oft-offered advice to finish the room first, it's come down to funding: Finishing the space would be about $25,000 to pay someone, or about $10,000 in materials plus many hours I've not got to do it myself... So "finish first" would delay start of the layout, probably by a few years. It's a sacrifice (the time, I mean) I'm not willing to make. I've had 3 prior layouts all in fully unfinished basements, and it never really bugged me. But we can do some things to improve the space without the expense of drywalling, flooring, drop-ceiling, etc... So here's what we'll be working with:
a) room IS climate controlled,
b) sufficient power and lighting (well, outlets for lighting) have been installed,
c) concrete walls and floor along with ceiling have all been painted dark grey to have them "fade back" as much as possible,
d) rolls of "runner" carpet have been kindly donated by a pal and will be installed in aisleways post-initial-construction to ease the feet.
2) Layout
After considering a lot of feedback I got right here, the layout has been notably modified. Some highlights:
a) Main line remains double-tracked, minimum visible radius 36", minimum non-visible radius 30". All rolling stock and locos have been tested on 22" radius and run nicely, so this should be very adequate.
b) logging area has been redone as a switchback operation with a sawmill at the base of the hill
c) the "industrial area" is as-yet undetermined. I'm thinking it might well be a 1940's oil refinery a la the latest issue of MR... Generally would like to use this nice-sized-but-too-narrow-to-turn-a-loop piece of real estate (12' x 3') to do a comprehensive industrial area rather than a bunch of very limited ones. Something along the lines of a refinery with multiple RR functions involved. Other options might be a steel mill or a great lakes dock.
d) Hidden staging has been added at the lower left side. Double-ended staging can feed trains to mainline in either direction.
e) baseline height of layout will be 55"
Happy to hear any questions/comments...
Kris