A new plan?

I've been at this one for a while... 18" wide shelves on two walls.

Done with 24" radius curves and flex track. Other than some snap switches I already have to use for sidings, everything will be #6 turnouts and 24" or greater radius.

The main line that would run around the room could be completed at a later date. Extending the curves as far as the 18" benchwork allows enough room for trains to pull past the turnouts, line them, and proceed.

Still too hot for drywall work, new windows are being installed down there this week though.

Basement Update

Very short update, the 4x8 table is fully disassembled and drywall is in the mudding and sanding stage. All of my railroad stuff is far from the messy dust!

Planning...

So, since I don't know how many readers there actually are out there, here is a brief update. Basement progress is coming along slowly. Summer weather = time outside, not in the basement.

In the mean time, I have spent a fair amount of time trying to figure out how to build a layout that works like the prototype, doesn't elimate the use of this room, and actually build to an operational state.

4x8 is off the table, no pun intended. 18" shelf on a long wall, 12" shelf on a short wall, with a 4" shelf to get trains all around the room. That is my current idea. I can't pull myself away from the option of continuous running, otherwise a point-to-point switching could be done with 12" on both walls or even less.

About ready to set up a few turnouts on a table-top... just to do a different kind of "yard work"!

Under construction

Well, time to finish the basement so I can finish this railroad! Won't be long before drywall can go up. I am considering moving from 4x8 layout to a 2x10 layout with an around the room loop using a 4 or 6 inch shelf. One project at a time...

Happy New Year

Well I have not updated this in several months... Over the fall months, picked up a few pieces of rolling stock and Christmas gift cards brought a bunch more! Working on a roster sheet to track what I have, but 5 new 50' box cars, 3 new 40' box cars, and 2 caboose units! Also have some buildings to assemble including an Atlas Maywood Station and some additional equipment sheds and shantys.

I have been spending some time trying to operate what I've got for track. Simply put, not too happy with it and have been messing around with some ideas that don't require a full tear up. I think I've got a plan that will add the passing siding I'm missing and at the same time give me a much longer run to the three-track yard.

4x8 has limitations, but still the only feasible option. If I finish the basement, I would have a room approximately 10 x 13. A 2.5 to 3.0 foot deep shelf on the 10-foot wall with a 1-foot wide shelf around the room could yield so many more operational possibilities... one step at a time though, 4x8 is what I have to work with today.