[Doug]

I was happy with my track plan and after a few months running it in I was ready to do some serious ballasting and landscaping.

This is how the layout was situated in respect to the room. The shaded red area is the track bench.

There was one issue that was annoying me slightly. I do like seeing the trains running non stop and I like to see long trains so this layout was ok. But the big issue with this tail-chaser arrangement is the non-prototypical aspect of trains going around in circles. Even with an up-and-over and reversing loops, it just didn't cut the cake.

So this plan below, is plan B. This is an end-to-end layout with a double mainline going around the perimeter. So basically a train goes from A to B up the line and then comes back down the line to the start. Trains can run non-stop if so desired. Siding, stations and goods yard will be found in various locations.

My question is this: What is a good working height for a layout like this? I now realise that it would be interesting to have sections at heights roughly 45 inches or 115cm high off the floor. I like the idea of bringing the layout up from its current 80cm table-top height. I have realised that I've been looking down from above at allot of roofs instead of the structures themselves at a better perspective angel.

 

[Doug]

Yes, I had though about the width of the sections, based on reach.

The American like to build high layouts. Us Europeans tend to keep them lower. Most shows that I go to, the layouts are low, but it's nice to see a higher layout where you can see the locos from the side.

 

[Doug]

Dennis, You Americans have perfected the art of sitting down

Gary has seen and sat on the rather uncomfortable stools that are in my track room. If I do raise the benches, I'll get some comfortable bar stools.

Building a walk-around track opens up other issues too. What about control. I've never needed mobile hand-held controllers, I might look into some sort of wireless cab control.

 

[Doug]

Yes, Lisa, it will be fully DCC. With some wireless controllers.

I'll have it wired (like my current setup) so that I can swap DCC systems if required. I'll have a DCC track BUS, a stationary decoder DCC BUS and power feed, a 12volt accessory BUS and 16volt feeds for boosters going back to my power supply.

Like this, I could if I wanted to test any DCC system on the track, run DC if I really had to, or even run Live Steam on the main lines. The stationary decoder DCC BUS is switchable so that the decoders would be protected from the Live Steam systems.

Booster zones will be switchable so that I could run any of the three sections separately if required without all the electrics being on in the other two zones.

A bonus of having the benchwork high up is that the wiring can be mounted on the inside of a fold-down panel in front of the layout - just below the track. Easily accessable with the risers to the track being long enough not to break when the panel is folded forwards.