Hi All,

After quite a bit of thinking, I've finally started planning my layout using WinTrack. I've attached a photo of my first attempt (sorry, I couldn't get a proper screenshot yet—I took this photo directly off my screen, but I'll upload a better image once I have PC access again!).

I'm currently planning a single-layer layout but realized that I don't want to cut my table for the turntable, so I'm considering adding a second level on the upper side of the layout. My idea is to connect this upper level with ramps in both corners at the ends of the layout.

At the bottom, I'm envisioning a station with three platforms and an additional track dedicated for express trains. Will platforms models from Faller, Koch etc. fit between the tracks? On the upper side, the layout will primarily serve as a maintenance area. Between the lower station and upper level, I'd like to create a street scene with apartments, shops, and more, bringing a lively urban feel to the layout.

I also want to incorporate my 4MFOR models into a small military base area, complete with its own track for military transport.

I'd greatly appreciate your feedback on the layout design, track geometry, and any other suggestions you might have to improve or enhance my plans.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

Thank you very much for the reply Brian!

I will look into this, would you happen to have any advice on what track I should use to avoid such a problem? will a 224 do the jo or maybe something else?

While planning it I had a lot of problems with those sections as I feel I couldn't get the geometry right. I want R5 and R4 turns for longer trains but those turnouts don't like that a lot

Hi Jean,

Thank you very much. No offense taken. I am actually glad that you guys are helping me out.

My problem is with turns. I don't really like them since when turning most trains tend to have an unrealistic angle between cars so it somewhat kills the immersion for me.

What can I do to prevent the said issue. How can I achieve the correct geometry while keeping the functionality of coming into the station from the outer track?

I would like to involve some freight too but how can it be integrated while having all of the other scenery parts?

I am willing to start from scratch. The table is 390cm to 175cm just to let you know.

Thank you very much for the reply.

Yes the outer track radius is R5 and the inner one is R4. I think the problem is most likely to be caused by the turnouts or their placement. I will try to see if I can solve it somehow. If you have any advice on how to I would appreciate it!

Then post #2 in below thread might serve as inspiration:

https://www.marklin-user...ut--Any-Ideas#post547317

Thank you everyone for your inputs so far.

I made a revised version that I am attaching so you can see.

I need somehelp with the roundhouse placement and which C track to use for it.

Waiting to hear from your feedback!

Thank you very much!

Layout.pdf (124kb) downloaded 49 time(s).

Hi Jean,

Thank you very much, I’m also pleased with how this one turned out.

I have a question though, I want to have access to from the outer track to the turntable area via turnouts to first the inner track and then inside for turning the locos or shunting etc. how can I make this happen with the current layout?

I will try to add another access to the turntable as well

Thank you very much!

Hi Omer

Sorry not to answer directly but in the real world of trains, you would NEVER have a direct access to the steam depot EXCEPT if you have an underpass to reach it.
The reason is NEVER block the mainline circulations with side movements (locos going to or coming from the depot.
In my favourite railway station Paris Saint Lazare, there were two underpass accesses (under a 10 track mainline) and two turntables
This station at the time was Paris' largest

Cheers
Jean

Hi everyone,

Thanks so much for all your input—really appreciate the help!

After considering your suggestions, I've decided to leave the mainline access as-is since, as a few of you pointed out, it's actually quite realistic.

Regarding the turntable, I’m going to keep it at the top edge of the layout. I don’t want to shift it inward because there’s going to be a street running down that side. Rather than cutting into the baseboard, I’m planning to add a second layer on that top side for the turntable and roundhouse area. I’ll connect it with gradual ramps from both ends of the table. The main station will stay on the original level.

If you have anymore suggestions regarding the layout I am all ears.

Now I’m turning my attention to signaling. Since I’m modeling Epoch III/IV, what types of signals would be appropriate? And where should I be placing them for a realistic setup?

Looking forward to your thoughts!

Like I said before: there is a lot of "spaghetti" in connection with the turntable, and lots of track leading into and away from it. I'm no expert but I would imagine that in many cases there would be just a single line of track leading to a turntable? You have to think about and imagine what kind of action you want to be able to perform in the top part of the layout. Access to industry, places to park freight and passenger cars, a fiddle yard, a return loop etc. No criticism. Just things to consider.

Good idea to place the turntable on another level. But in that case you'll need to remove it from the current plan and put it on a new plan in the layout program and you'll need to add a line of tracks going from level one to level two (the ascent must not be too steep). And then you'll need to find out how much track you want on the upper level.
About the city: most model railroaders just want the "illusion" of a city. A train station, a main street and a line of houses and then some houses in small groups in some places connected with narrow roads and also some groups of trees and other landscape things etc. The main thing is usually having interesting train driving possibilities and lots of tracks... Main stations, secondary stations, staging yards, industrial yards take up a lot of space both in real life and in a model train setting.

Funny you should ask about uncoupling tracks. I've just installed one in my layout. It's operated by my CS3 via an m83 decoder. (The m83 can handle four turnouts with its four terminals but each terminal can handle two uncoupler tracks).
I will mainly use the uncoupler for pre-uncoupling: backing the locomotive into position, uncouple and then back the line of cars/wagons into a free area in my staging yard and then go forward because the cars are no longer attached to the coupler of the locomotive.
The uncoupling (both forward and in reverse) isn't without potential problems. If the locomotive has a skirt or a plow it can be hard or impossible to make the uncoupler work (because it hits the skirt or plow and can't lift the coupling all the way needed). Some cars and wagons also have hooks or other elements fitted that can hinder uncoupling. So these hooks might need to be removed. You most likely also have to have the same type of coupler between the locomotive and cars to make it work best.
It will take some consideration and planning to find the best place for one or more uncoupling tracks. Should it be placed where an uncoupled line of wagons can be reached from both ends and then be pushed (or pulled) from both ends by the same or another locomotive? It can also be used to separate single or more cars from a consist of course.
Also notice that the uncoupler needs to be placed on a straight piece of track, so that the two items to be uncoupled are facing each other in a straight line... and also in a position where you can see what's going on.

... a small update on uncoupling engines (locomotives) with plows or skirts. I found on an engine like the marklin 39675, a Nohab My 1132 from the Danish State Railways, that has a snow plow quite close to the coupler, that if the uncoupler is activated several times while the engine moves forward it will uncouple. To avoid the engine and cars connect again when backing up it's necessary to have the mechanism activated repeatedly again, and so the shunting can continue. The uncoupler has a thermal protection that will make it pause if it overheats due to prolonged activation.

Later edit: backing through curves with pre uncoupled non Marklin equipment may result in derailments because the buffers can get entangled. :-)

Edited by user 10 April 2025 16:53:15(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified