Hello everyone,
I am new here as you know and I was hoping I could get some input on a fairly simple 4x8 HO scale layout I hope to do in the future.
My plans are to have a coal mine that services a power plant on my layout for my switching and operations with a possible spur that leads off stage to a possible future expansion on one end.
My idea was to have a mountain along the back of the layout and grades climbing the two ends of the layout in a classic wide loop setup. Inside the mountain I would like to have a hidded staging area that includes switchign for the coal mine and Power plant areas in order to facilitate switching empty cars and full cars. At least at the power plant. The mine isn't quite as important to do this with as the work train can return with empties and park them on a possible siding at the mine and pick up a loaded train there to return to the power plant with.
I have the RTS program by atlas and I have tinkered with it but I am terrible at designing good looking track plans.
I am not looking for a hugely complex switching setup just one or two simple sidings for trains of cars perhaps 6 4 bay hoppers long plus caboose. I am thinking of going flex track when the time comes to make this layout but I'm debating due to the expense of roadbed and ballasting and such. I currently run on a loop of EZ Track on the floor to enjoy my trains so anything is better than nothing I suppose.
Hoping for ideas or improvements to the idea from the more experienced designers here.
I am new here as you know and I was hoping I could get some input on a fairly simple 4x8 HO scale layout I hope to do in the future.
My plans are to have a coal mine that services a power plant on my layout for my switching and operations with a possible spur that leads off stage to a possible future expansion on one end.
My idea was to have a mountain along the back of the layout and grades climbing the two ends of the layout in a classic wide loop setup. Inside the mountain I would like to have a hidded staging area that includes switchign for the coal mine and Power plant areas in order to facilitate switching empty cars and full cars. At least at the power plant. The mine isn't quite as important to do this with as the work train can return with empties and park them on a possible siding at the mine and pick up a loaded train there to return to the power plant with.
I have the RTS program by atlas and I have tinkered with it but I am terrible at designing good looking track plans.
I am not looking for a hugely complex switching setup just one or two simple sidings for trains of cars perhaps 6 4 bay hoppers long plus caboose. I am thinking of going flex track when the time comes to make this layout but I'm debating due to the expense of roadbed and ballasting and such. I currently run on a loop of EZ Track on the floor to enjoy my trains so anything is better than nothing I suppose.
Hoping for ideas or improvements to the idea from the more experienced designers here.