Share your track plans

Discussion in 'General' started by Iantha_Branch, Jun 29, 2021.

  1. Iantha_Branch

    Iantha_Branch Member

    Something I enjoy doing with my free time is create track plans with AnyRail, even if they are plans I don't intend to use in the future, it can still be a good way to pass the time after a long day at work. I thought it might be fun to share some of the plans I come up with, and I think it would be fun for others to share their plans. Some basic information such as dimensions, scale, location(s), and era would all be useful.

    If you're using AnyRail, the best way to share track plans is to export as a PDF. Make sure to select the "fit to page" option and increase the DPI to at least 600 for clarity, see attached image. I find that a PDF will come out cleaner than a picture file, and there are size limitations on the picture files too.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Jun 29, 2021
  2. Iantha_Branch

    Iantha_Branch Member

    The first plan I will share is one I drew up to represent the wheat terminal that is Enid, OK. The layout size is 24' x 18' in HO scale. The intended era was the late 70's, but it would work anytime between the early 50's and the early 80's. This layout is kind of focused on the Frisco, although the Rock and Santa Fe both have a place on this layout. At what would be the "east" end of town the main line is designed to climb up to reach staging for Tulsa (not pictured).
     

    Attached Files:

  3. rjthomas909

    rjthomas909 Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Here is my 2021 entry for the Model Rail Radio "5 Turnout" contest. A small switching layout based upon the town of Cherokee, KS. If I ever build it, I might make more like 2 x 10 ft vs the 2 x 8 ft shown.

    Cherokee Interchange - 2020-02-01-5Turnout.jpg
     
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  4. Iantha_Branch

    Iantha_Branch Member

    That would make an excellent diorama to take to shows. Where do you find all these contests to enter?
     
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  5. Joe Lovett

    Joe Lovett Member

    This is my N scale layout plan for a 10x11 footprint, it is 12 inches wide and 11 modules that goes around the room. Time era is 1948 to 52 set in northwest Arkansas between Ft. Smith and Winslow. Almost all of the industries are scratch built.

    The plans were done using Excel.

    Joe

    19-11-10-Joe-L-1 (1).jpg
     
  6. Iantha_Branch

    Iantha_Branch Member

    I don't think I've seen a track plan made using excel before. How exactly does that process work?
     
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  7. Joe Lovett

    Joe Lovett Member

    First I adjusted the rows and columns to make squares then used drawing features to make straight lines. After that made circle of required radius and placed it on drawing, then using another feature to draw curves. When finished removed circle and made final adjustments to make straight lines meet curves.

    The software is 2007 Teacher and Student by Microsoft, the newer Excel version isn't very good for drawing because there's to many buttons to push just to make a straight line.

    It's a lot of fun to do.

    Joe
     
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  8. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member Staff Member

    Feel free to come here and make a track plan for me! I cant seem to do anything to make a plan. It comes down to pencil, paper, protractor and straight edge, and that doesn't work sometimes.
     
  9. Coonskin

    Coonskin Member

    I think I've already posted my track plan in my "Thrill of Victory/Agony of Defeat" thread in the Off Topic section.
     
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  10. Iantha_Branch

    Iantha_Branch Member

    I would be happy to draw up some ideas for you. I'll send you a pm
     
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  11. Karl

    Karl 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

  12. Coonskin

    Coonskin Member

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  13. klrwhizkid

    klrwhizkid Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

  14. patrick flory

    patrick flory Member

  15. Iantha_Branch

    Iantha_Branch Member

    The past few months I've been looking to the future with my layout plans. At some point in the next few years my wife and I plan to build a house out in the country. We have an understanding that I will have a large layout space, but it will be in a detached building. To start exploring ideas, I started making 40' x 40' plans, but always came up a bit short of what I was wanting to design so I started making 40' x 60' plans. At this point I have a lot of ideas I've scrapped because they didn't turn out the way I had anticipated. Today I want to share a concept I've been working on lately. Instead of focusing on a sub division or maybe 2 sub divisions anchored by a terminal at each end, I put 3 of the biggest terminals the Frisco had on the layout with hidden staging to simulate movements between just about every point in the Frisco system. At the entrance of the Layout is Kansas City, which includes both 19th st and Rosedale yards as well as several interchange connections. In the middle of the layout is Springfield, behind that is staging to simulate Memphis, with Birmingham and the rest of the east coast, and St. Louis. Next to Springfield is Tulsa, which has staging to simulate end points for Dallas - Ft. Worth and the SP connection at Sherman, Oklahoma City and beyond, and Amarillo. I chose Amarillo as a point to simulate Santa Fe traffic coming and going through Avard.
    It turned out more crowded than anticipated, but it was an interesting idea to explore.
     

    Attached Files:

  16. patrick flory

    patrick flory Member

    15 years ago I created my track plan above on autocad at an office where I worked at the time. The files are gone now, I have no computer (glory hallelujah time) and no need to work in autocad (again, glory hallelujah time.)

    But while I had access to the technology, I scanned and reduced to scale Atlas template switches, radiused curves etc, and made a scale bloc of a 40’ car, a 50’ car, etc. I worked all of this into a scaled floor plan of my space and came up with my plan, which today I’ve become aware has many shortcomings. But, it is built, runs derailment free, and will be my layout until the next move comes forced by reduced mobility which I see coming eventually.

    Sorry about the crude freehand plans, its the best I can do presently. But, I’ve finally become FREE FROM COMPUTERS!!!!! YES!!!!! FREEDOM!!! I’ve always hated them! And now I’ll never have to deal with them again!!!!
     
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  17. patrick flory

    patrick flory Member

    Imagine plan A and D together in an L. That was my first real layout 60 years ago. That basically is all I ever had room for and was able to think about. For 42 years of model railroad drought with no space or money. Until 12 years ago, when I was able to build A and D again and put B and C in between, along with a 6” wide 8’ long section between B and C. Result: a 40’ main line! Verily, verily I say unto thee, O fancied and glorious dreams of far-flung empire! Realized! Finally!

    You guys with basements and huge outbuildings with 8 track 100 car yards don’t know how well you have it. I’d be perfectly happy with my little branch line layout as-is with 25 feet between towns, 15 car passing tracks, double ended yards, and a wye on each end.
     
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  18. patrick flory

    patrick flory Member

    I never could make a track plan until I realized two things: 1. Real railroads go from
    Point A to Point B because that’s how money is made and 2. I only had room for a point to point layout anyway .:ROFLMAO:
     
  19. Jacob Hughes

    Jacob Hughes Member

    Ok this is my layout plan for now it may change but this is what I’m planning on building, ok so what I’m planning is a switching layout running from Quanah to Altus. The railroad is going to be freelanced set in the 1990s and it’s 20’x20’. I’m going with the Quanah Acme & Pacific was not part of the merger with BN and leased the line from Quanah to Altus and interchanges with BN in Quanah and WTJ in Altus. I’m playing with the idea that QAP leased the line from Quanah to Oklahoma City and eventually buys the line, the only thing modeled would be Quanah to Altus part and the QAP buys the Orient Line from Chillicothe TX to Sweetwater TX.
     

    Attached Files:

    Iantha_Branch likes this.
  20. Iantha_Branch

    Iantha_Branch Member

    I like the concept that you've got going. You would have some flexibility with that to change years a bit and swap between BN and SLWC as an interchange partner. I'll have to look over your plan a bit more to come up with more specific recommendations.

    In the mean time, I would recommend looking through this thread: http://frisco.org/shipit/index.php?threads/rebuilding-the-iantha-branch-again.12577/
    I've been in an 18x24 building for 3+ years now, which is a similar size to what you're looking at. I tried to document as much as possible all of the ideas I tried, and the issues I ran into along the way. It took me a several tries just to figure out how to use the space properly.

    Lastly, I would recommend starting a new thread for your layout build when you get a chance. It's a good way to keep track of all your progress.

    Keep us updated!
     

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