Ah. That would be bigger than the room! Total is 350 X 250 but has pesky door, window and radiator in the way.
But I might "borrow" the idea... :) If you don't mind.
Another plan with a similar shape also appealed to me (see attached)

You're brilliant, Ak. I wouldn't have thought of a shape like that. The door opens to the right, so there would have to be a bit of space to allow it to open fully. But the window opens outwards, so no issue there.
I will work on the idea and see what I can come up with.
Thank you!!

Some M-track ideas: For a single track R1 based return blob with a "defused" S-curve (i.e. a straight piece of track inserted to avoid derailing) the minimum space requirement behind the door is 155 cm. Reducing this to 150 cm would still allows for a horse shoe arrangement. See attachment. Either arrangement gains length for straight stretches along the longer room wall.

Further to this post:
https://www.marklin-user...rototype.aspx#post461316

Here is the C-track "translation" on 120 x 225 cm
:o)

Source: http://stummiforum.de/viewtopic.php?t=116789

The 'return blobs' could be a couple of turns helix to under layout schattenbahnhof, allowing more trains to come and go.

Improved version with curved layout on the lower left side "pulled" into the open. Same source as above.

M-track 100 cm x 100 cm, minimum radius R1.

Yep.
:o)

Well, define safely...
;o)

Only shorter wagons and locos. Coaches will "jump out" of the curve. I would not use 5120 to avoid frustration.

No running limitations on 5100 and 5200 though.

Same surface, similar "geometric" approach, but more action. Double track line reaches division station, where the former splits into two separate single track lines, requiring switching and loco changes. Sidings allow for passing of trains or run-arounds of locos for trains changing direction between upper blob and lower blob 2, etc. Alternatively, benefitting from sprung turnouts, a lazy spectator type operator lets train run for a long time (= 25 m) by following the sequence from lower blob 2 via station to lower blob 1 via station to upper blob via station to lower blob 2. Upper blob offers industrial or mining area tracks. Ramp now at 1.9%. Scenic highlights remain as described in preceding post.

"Double-oval" M-track layout on 1 x 1 m.
Source: http://www.stummiforum.de/viewtopic.php?t=42007

Track list:

7 | 24064
6 | 24077
6 | 24094
11 | 24107
18 | 24115
31 | 24130
12 | 24172
33 | 24188
10 | 24206
8 | 24207
7 | 24215
1 | 24224
30 | 24230
12 | 24330
9 | 24430
3 | 24530
2 | 24611
2 | 24612
6 | 24671
9 | 24672
26 | 24912
5 | 24977

Here a variation of the same theme with a - in my view - more elegant station trackage. The longest track could hold a steamer with two long or three short four-axle coaches.

And for this one I still have a parts list:
Count | Description
------+-------------
1 | 24064
1 | 24077
1 | 24094
1 | 24115
16 | 24130
3 | 24172
8 | 24188
2 | 24206
2 | 24207
1 | 24215
2 | 24224
9 | 24230
8 | 24330
3 | 24430
2 | 24530
1 | 24611
5 | 24612
1 | 24671
1 | 24672
8 | 24912
4 | 24977
------+-------------

Ever since I started building L-shape layouts (Slumburg-Alltoofar, Badland...), I am amazed how much more they offer than plain rectangular shapes. Artist´s perception:

Parts list:
Count | Description
------+-------------
1 | 24064
5 | 24071
3 | 24077
1 | 24094
1 | 24115
19 | 24130
1 | 24172
2 | 24206
3 | 24215
9 | 24230
3 | 24330
7 | 24530
2 | 24612
2 | 24671
1 | 24711
2 | 24712
18 | 24912
1 | 24977
------+-------------

Looks great for such a small layout!
As usual you seem able to squeeze all the juice from any given space.

Imagine somebody with an interest in US railroading and owning some emblematic equipment, say a California Zephyr set and some other diverse classic locos and rolling stock that used to operate in the Rocky Mountains wants to build a rather simple single-level layout, maybe even modular, that offers the right scenic flavor - mountain backdrop, river valley, diamond crossings - and some running of longer trains that change direction, disappear in the distance (aka simple shadow station) or change direction, like an eastbound train becoming a westbound train and vice versa, simulating interchanges between different railroads and even a little bit of shunting. No space for the Feather River Canyon or Salt Lake City? Inspired by my layout designer idol John Armstrong, and encouraged by the results of my most recent layout construction, the Blue River RR, I dreamt up this 400 x 122 cm design with an "operating bay" in the middle - see screenshot.


At Pepper Lake City four large Railroads meet, the Rio Grande (D&RGW) from the south, Union Pacific (UP) from the east, the Southern Pacific from the north, and the Western Pacific (WP) from the west (through the Plume River Canyon). Here the California Zephyr (CZ) streamlined passenger train changes motive power between WP and D&RGW; the curved connection between the WP and SP crossing the Plume River serves as turning wye for the WP ABB F-units which have only one cab unit and therefore need to be turned around after handing over the eastbound CZ to the D&RGW and before picking up the next westbound CZ for the trip back to Oakland. Then, freight trains require crew changes and swap locos and cabooses. Thus, idle locos and cabooses populate sidings and spurs. Further, freight trains passing through spot freight cars at local industries.


The lean and mean shadow station in the rear has two tracks, the longer one can hold a long freight train like a F7 ABBA consist with 15 or 16 tin plate 50 ft freight cars plus caboose, and the shorter one can hold a passenger train consisting of a F7 ABBA lash-up with eight coaches.

C track list:

Count | Description
------+-------------
1 | 24077
1 | 24094
10 | 24172
22 | 24188
5 | 24206
4 | 24207
1 | 24215
1 | 24230
2 | 24330
1 | 24430
1 | 24530
1 | 24671
2 | 24672
------+-------------

Edited by user 21 September 2015 20:46:42(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Thank you, but suspicious you are?

;o)

Indeed this was my first shot, but I believe you deserve better. The trackage looks right, but plausible operation requires mental manipulation:

While initially being fierce competitors, the railroads cooperate in the Pepper Lake City area. As WP and SP lines on the one side and UP and D&RGW lines on the other side parallel each other for the first miles, the respective railroads agreed to share the single track lines, thus having the effect of separately running paired tracks. E.g., this was done on Cajon Pass by the AT&SF and UP and south of St. Paul by the Milwaukee & Burlington. This explains why a D&RGW train disappears on own trackage but returns on the UP line, and why a WP train disappears on the SP line, but returns along the Plume River on own trackage. While this could lead to simple oval or figure-8 traffic, the depot location and spurs stemming from old times together with the need for crew changes lead to complicated runs across diamonds and bridges.

:o)

Edited by user 22 September 2015 10:40:46(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Connections, connections. D&RGW, WP, SP, ATSF, UP....all popular road names for Marklin. :)

D&RGW, known for being fiercely independent, would surely respect this

-Brandon

Inspired by deliberations in other threads, I made a quick sketch of a private shunting / switching heaven. The feasibility study is still "geometric" and serves for brainstorming only. The idea is to have a layout module based on one of the locally available thick 200 x 100 cm foam boards which could have a permanent or temporary connection to another MRR emporium. Cowling up trains and having tracks with double roles, as reverse loop, switching lead, temporary layover for breaking up or building trains should allow for versatility on limited space. The space is shared by a hump yard and loading tracks. Team tracks could be swapped for industrial spurs or even a port basin on the left hand side. Turnouts in front of classification tracks (below the hump) are designed in a way to have the identical retarder effect for cars rolling into either classification track. Probably track around the hump crests need to be broken down into quarter and half curve pieces (like 24107 and 24115) in order to form a perfect hump. Hump track length, incline and decline sections and grades are based on a similar Roco HO scale testbed described here: http://de.rec.modelle.ba...-h0-erste-testergebnisse

See screenshot.


Other threads:
https://www.marklin-user...Layout-design#post498513
https://www.marklin-user...Layout-design#post498513

http-/stummiforum.de/viewtopic.php?t=67301


http-/www.abload.de/img/stummi_125x108_351vw

Something out of the ordinary: Neither oval nor circle visible here, but they could be added at each end of this great module.

Photo source unknown.

An own brain child for a change. I got fascinated with a square layout shape, ideally a plexiglas-clad coffee table design which could sit in a "normal" environment to avoid isolation of the hobby from real life and/or allowing to pursue it under confined living conditions without "spoiling" the room. Therefore this feasibility study to determine minimum space requirements - here 160 x 160 cm - versus maximum mainline run potential - here ca. 12 m for a full dogbone round trip. The horseshoe ramp between the two levels has a 2.5% slope (height = 10 cm). Return blobs - to be camouflaged by landscape for completing the illusion of trains traveling between distant destinations - are stacked on top of each other to save space. R1 radius is tight, but that could be eased during further design refining.

That is quite a common feature of layouts on the UK exhibition circuit, except the tracks are not normally curved as much.

I'll have to take a photo of the one I have for an ex-club two rail layout, and post it.

Brainwashing, I mean brainstorming with, BrandonVA during the warming up phase for his new layout, I came up with this approach. Since he eventually made an U-turn to an U-shape, I allow myself to release this sketch to the interested general public.

For operating, the layout needs access from at least two sides (for maintenance from three). A double-faced central backdrop creates a diorama feeling and makes the mainline scenery appear longer than it actually is. The river serves as scenic divider visually separating the tracks on the different river banks. Meant for continuous running on a two track mainline with the odd station stops, meets and passes plus limited switching and shunting. Dimensions: ca. 190 x 250 cm, i.e. roughly the size of a large bed. The radius of curves around the castle rock - viewed from outside - is wider, while the radius of the curves in the bridge areas - viewed from inside - is tighter. All switches/turnouts/points are easy to reach. The station stubs could serve a small river port; ships sailing upstream pass under the taller bridge while the lower bridge next to the quay hinders them to continue their journey, leading to an exchange of goods between water and rail transport.