I've been off this week, so I took the opportunity to make a rough mockup of a proposed 6x11 layout I am fixin' to build in my train room. Our living room is big, so up it went! The odd dimensions are due to it's being an old boy's bedroom, in a finished part of our basement, with closet space tucked under the stairway. But.. without any assistance it never goes below 55 in the winter or 75 in the summer, and has a drop ceiling and carpeting. SO even though it's not dream-layout sized, it's the perfect place to build a nice little Rdg-based branchline operation. It's roughed in with snaptrack so it's a little more "symmetrical " than it will be in real life. Curves will actually be 20 to 24" radius, 18" snaptrack it was I had on hand from a hundred years ago for the mock-up. All switches are Peco Code 75 short radius electrofrogs, track is code 83 flex...loosely based on a PRR (or PC) and Rdg branchline interaction that did take place in a few Rdg locations, but totally protofreelanced, period 1966-76.. staging will be a little 12"x30" sliding yard using drawer slides and a doorlatch arrangement. I am converting stuff to NCE DCC...I don't remember who posted them but one of you folks did a snap-track mockup a while ago on a W&N themed branch??? The 2 lobes are 6' long by 42" with a 3' stretch that will be over my workbench, and a quarry branch opposite that, on a 8" by 30" shelf...I know I'm being a bit longwinded for a little layout but it's my first "real" one at the tender age of 59..

That's exciting, Mitch! I can't wait to watch your progress. You're thinking of Mr.Bill Weand, the intrepid mock up builder, who''s working on a W&N layout. BTW, I'm also 59 (until July)!

Nice start Mitch...!
if you send me a sketch of the room with dimensions, I'd be happy to throw together a few ideas for you, if you want. I need to know room size, door/window locations, closet, etc...

This picture shows the transition from a 22" radius piece of sectional track to a section of Atlas flex track.





By the way, Mitch, when making those relatively tight turn back curves on the ends of the layout, don't discount Atlas code 83 sectional track, especially now that it's available in 24", as well as 22" and 18" radii. When I was building my existing layout, I bought some 18" and 22" sections in order to establish a template for shaping Atlas flex track (the original plan in MR used a combination of 18" and 22" code 100 sections). I soon realized that not only do the rigid curved pieces provide a smoother path than tightly curved flex track (less chance of kinks on joints -- even soldered joints), but they also have more delicate spike detailing than Atlas flex track. Since I built my layout, I noticed that MR made the same recommendation when building their Virginian RR project layout. If you cut off the "C" ties at the end of each section and replace them with full length ties under the joints, it looks pretty darn good. Flex track is great (and essential) for broad, sweeping curves, but I've really come to appreciate sectional track in the tight spots.

This shot shows the transition from a Walthers code 83 turnout to Altas sectional track.

Always good to see a layout get going! Now for the real work: Benchwork. Robin's sentiment about me is spot on, intrepid master of no benchwork! Since moving last year, I actually built some rather impressive structural wooden behemoths in the way of garage shelving (for a lot of train stuff) and have most of the materials for that W&N layout which has been shelved , but not abandoned. And actually has been redesigned as well. I'll start a fresh thread on that as soon as I make some progress, which will probably be post-slush season. So for now here's that old pic as my contribution from a fellow planner-in-chief:
This set up was showing Winterthur station on the left, and Granogue on the right.
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And here was the next stage of planning. Winterthur on the left with elevated grade, coal drop and two underpasses. Although an interesting scene, I realized that a loop with just two stub sidings was not going to provide enough operating interest, so the Winterthur scene will be replaced with the Montchanin station complex, which features a neat little double-ended ladder yard.

Thanks, Barry, Bill and Robin.. I have wondered about the sectional track in Code 83 and will give it a whirl.. The little (3" and smaller) "fitter" pieces in code 83 from Atlas make a lot nicer looking trackwork between turnouts I've noticed, as well...didn't know they made 24".. sounds good... I do have around-the-room L-girders secured into the wall studs in my train room-that's the nasty part-the outer curves and tangents are against the wall-that's why the provision for access hatches for "just in case"-with a pair of code 83 re-railers on each tangent..I just sold a ton of old parts and half done projects on Ebay so I can pick up the rest of the 1x3's.. The only killer is the price up here in Maine for the foam insulation board.. 2" thick 4x8 goes for about $30!!!! I do want to go the foam insulation route as it makes for nice "Pennsylvania" style topography above and below grade and, on top of lauan type underlayment will be light weight as well...need to get it done before Memorial Day as the new and improved vegetable garden will be getting underway. It's a short season up here!