http://www.largescalecentral.com/freightshed/index?p=home&d=row/
ok still attempting to get pictures on, just bear with me at least one showed up,
Only you can see the pics because they are on your hard drive.
Open Freight Sheds, Bob gave you a shed when you joined. Please size pics to 800 pixies wide. Upload all your pics here.
Open another tab and open LSC and your thread. Now open a pic in your shed, right click and copy location of image.
Shift to other tab with your thread, open the pic editor by clicking the mtn/sun postcard icon paste image location in top line and then OK Pic will open, click on the Enter key to drop cursor below pic, then you can go get another pic, back out of the open one and open another repeat…
PS; I opened your link and there are no pics in your shed, after uploading you need to click Save Photos…
Welcome aboard,
John
Here is a picture looking north on west side of yard, the plan is for the track to loop around behing A/C unit around tree and go north to far wall where it will head east
Track will up and behind tree to upper area and then travel to far side of yard
this is looking east from northwest wall, oppertunity for tracks on upper and lower , with possible double track on both
far north east corner of lot, the wall behind the blue pot hides the pool pump, there is room for a 10Ft loop here, with some major wall work, it is dry stacked so just lifting and moving to accomadate a tunnel portal. I am not going to push my luck onposting pictures any further until someone says they can see them. feel free to tell me what obstacles anyones sees in this idea, like how much room do I need to go from lower to upper level, about 14" difference in height and keep grade to reasonable for 20+ car trains
My main advice… Ready for this… Don’t spend a whole lot of time thinking and planing. Throw some track on the ground, and play with the “Let’s try this” or that. And after a bit you will get a feel for what you want better, and then change it. And then change it again. What we think we want and what really works for us is usually way different in the end.
Get some track down, run some trains, make some changes, and run some more trains. To run trains thru a hollowed out “Bush Tunnel” is way OK too. It actually breaks up a view, and adds interest.
Edit: I can see the pics. To run 20 car trains up a 14" grade, I’d keep it as shallow as possible. < 2.5% for sure. @ 2% means you will need 700 inches of run, or about 58 feet. @3% you will need 466 inches, or about 38 feet run.
Dave I am kind of a planner, but see your point , the quicker I get something going the more things I will want to do. I will see how quickl;y I can throw down some track and start!
I agree with Dave, we think there is so much room, but big curves can eat your real estate quickly.
With your planned wiggles, know that we have found a length of straight track equal to your longest car/loco between reverse curves will save you frustrations of derailments.
Ask all questions, only the unasked are silly.
John
I agree with John and Dave, why you might ask since I too have no track laid yet. I have not bought one stitch of track and am already on like plan #30. These guys are great with advice but then that means changes. Then someone else has a great idea more changes. I have decided to just follow Dave and John and start buying track and build a loop ( well not a loop but a pair of reversing loops). And see where that takes me.
The only piece of advice I can offer is consider a track plan that allows for out and back operation. Even if your a run around a loop kinda guy consider a way to do operations. I thought I want just loops and was given this same advice and then I went to Steve’s house for an operations session. And was hooked. So the best of both worlds at least for me will be combinations of reversing loops with sidings along the way.
That’s my .02; and you be lucky if you get your monies worth. I hope to be surveying and grading this spring and hopefully some track laying.
The blank slate! a bit daunting but yah gotta love a challenge.
a 20 car train is going to need minimum grades under 1% . level is best. Speaking of level have you thought about raising your RR? Even 12" will be better than ground level. You can always use landscaping to simulate up and down terrain. Tunnels and bridges are great.
I would limit the amount of track that crosses the yard. Stepping over, under or around track is a pain and always keep in mind maintenance of RR and yard so build in accessiblity.
It looks like you have lots of places where the train will disappear from view which is good and gives the illusion that the train is actually going somewhere.
Is that a pool or pond? If a pond How impressive would a bridge be going over it?
So many exciting options for you. I agree with Dave T, just get some track down and give it a go. There are also some great books from Kalmbach/ Model Railroader such as Getting Started in Garden Railroading.
Happy RRing
Devon Sinsley said:
I agree with John and Dave, why you might ask since I too have no track laid yet. I have not bought one stitch of track and am already on like plan #30. These guys are great with advice but then that means changes. Then someone else has a great idea more changes. I have decided to just follow Dave and John and start buying track and build a loop ( well not a loop but a pair of reversing loops). And see where that takes me. The only piece of advice I can offer is consider a track plan that allows for out and back operation. Even if your a run around a loop kinda guy consider a way to do operations. I thought I want just loops and was given this same advice and then I went to Steve’s house for an operations session. And was hooked. So the best of both worlds at least for me will be combinations of reversing loops with sidings along the way. That’s my .02; and you be lucky if you get your monies worth. I hope to be surveying and grading this spring and hopefully some track laying.
Thanks Devon, I am wanting some operations type but also would like to be able to just let them roll aound the track when company is over, just for the fun of it, you know beer deliverey when poolside etc. but have the operations fun of setting ang pulling cars, the big problem is getting things built so I can start having fun with them. On top of all that I have a daughter getting married this year so It will be a while before any free cash is available for track or rolling stock purchases, trying to squirrel away $ 20.00 here and there is proving difficult.
Hey your in great company here. The nice thing about LSC is there are all walks here. And no one really is above or below another which is nice. Bob has made room for us all. We have guys who seem to have it all and guys like us who are new and don’t have anything.
I will offer another thought, not really advice, but a thought. Since you have a blank slate if narrow gauge steam interests you then consider 1:20.3. I say this only because it lends itself well to scratch building and bashing. Most narrow gauge stuff was wood and kinda rough and tumble. So it’s easy to build with wood or plastic with basic skills and tools. Also I think it affords a lot opportunity in inexpensive locomotives to bash or build off of. Bachmann 10 wheelers are usually under a hundred used and slot of potential. Not the best drive train. But it works and lots of them. Check out my build under modeling/my first build. I would link it but I don’t know how on my phone. I mention it because all said and done that loco will be under $200. I have built a box car out of redwood and cedar scraps for about 20. It’s just an easy era to pattern and build on a budget.
Another option would be the giant 7/8 scale. Check out Eric’s stuff on here. He does a ton with a little. All back woods sort of stuff that in my opinion is the most unique stuff on this site. He is a genius with gizmos and I know he isn’t spending a fortune to do it. Just an idea.
I’ll add that just because your primary desire maybe a certain scale, theme, and era the nice thing about large scale is you can branch out. I love my 1:20 but I am also working on a modern 1:29 consist with a diesel loco. Sure it will be small on my 1:20 layout but who gives a rip. And the nice part compared to other track gauges is that there are many options for the same track.
Pete,
Much of what has been said is good advice. I don’t agree totally with Dave and others on ‘just throw some track on the ground’. It is my belief that 'If you don’t know where you are going, you won’t like where you end up." Having a starting plan is a good idea, that does not mean is will be cast it stone. Over time I am sure you will discover better ways to do things, change motive power interests, era, etc. and change to the layout will be inevitable.
In my household, I am a died in the wool steamacholic. My wife is an ACL fan. My power and rolling stock is primarily 1:20, hers is primarily 1:29. As I build, I will be using only 20 foot diameter curves and large switches. The will look good on 1:20 and better at 1:29. Bridges will be a bit wide at 1:29 but livable. Structures will be mostly build to 1:24 because they are a standard architectural scale, and some doll house accessories are available. Don’t be afraid to make compromises, they ware inevitable, but make them with YOUR railroad in mind.
There are as many opinions of what is ‘the best way’ as there are folks posting on the forum. The most important thing is to have fun with YOUR railroad in the manner that suits YOUR happiness.
In the mean time, Happy Railroading!!!
Bob C.
The “best way” is what works for the individual. I also started with a plan, but, I accepted the needed changes and adjustments that took place along the way. I even have done right of way realignments over the years to fix various issues.
And yes, I had a definite plan in mind, a 1:24th scale, loose representation of the P&CSRR. 9 locomotives and some rolling stock. I can attest that things do change, because now I have something like 47 locomotives, streetcars and such, in scales from 1:29 to 1:20.3.
So I do agree that you can plan the project to death, and never get started. That’s a bad thing. But I think at least a rough idea of what you want, before you just throw down track would be a good idea. But don’t become mind locked on your plan neither. Things don’t always work out, out in the dirt, like they do on a sheet of white paper (or napkin).