I've been following a number of suggestions for developing a layout plan for a number of years. I have a 12x14 foot space with a closet and door. Attached is a PDF of the plan I've been working on. I call it the Kitchen Sink in that it includes "everything" but could be scaled back. The grid is 1' by 1'.

A major yard is on the left. Along the left edge is a facade between where the two north-south tracks are located. The facade is similar to that in the MMR issue of June 2023. The two gray areas represent passenger station platforms.

Near the top center is a gray rectangular area which represents a coaling station that is above the roundhouse.

On the diagonal are two areas divided by a wall (red line). The area on the right is a fiddle yard while the area on the left is a small industrial area with a meat processing, canning plant, etc. Again the long gray area is a passenger station.

A bridge for entering the control area is near the bottom of the diagram.

The two red rectangular areas in the lower right corner represent the area for a closet and a room door.

A diagonal line in the upper left hand corner measures the 1630 mm distance to the upper left hand corner of the room to the closest layout point for accessing that corner. That's a bit far so an access door may be needed but there is a bit of track in that far corner.

Suggestions would be appreciated.

Peter

Thank you John for your quick reply.

I viewed your layout and it is impressively automated!! Love the action around the turntable with the coal crane and watering system. It mentions that you use a piece of software called RocRail. How do you like it? Running 30 trains is impressive and I don't have much space in my layout for many operators.

With respect to my layout, it's basically flat. I do like what you did with the marshaling yard where the cars are uncoupled and move by gravity to one of three classification tracks.

I thought about putting in a spiral to create an additional level like you did. That would free up space and place the fiddle yard under the diagonal town area. If I do that, I might have to add a second spiral and where to place it? Lots to think about.

With regard to landscaping, the diagonal town area should provide some opportunities but it won't be like some of the layouts such as the one created by John Allen.

Hi Peter
Glad you like my layout.
Rocrail that I am using is just great and allows you to jump from loco's engineer to railroad empire top chief.
My layout is on 3 levels with some space for the landscape and the operating Faller Car system.

Rocrail is very inexpensive: I use my general purpose laptop with a CAT5 cable between the CS3 and the laptop.
Rocrail license is whatever you want (when you want and of the amount you want). New release every day so all new devices get accomodated quite immediately. Basically you pay when you are happy but beware, you will be happy!
The only thing is to do it step by step (don't start with a large test layout)

Here is the layout when I started testing (one year after T0:


Here is a combined operation with the Faller car System three years after T0


I am not trying to brag (nothing to brag about) but for a large layout like yours (much bigger than mine - L-shaped 3.5 x 4 m) to use Rocrail is a must I think.
Cheers
Jean

Hi Peter

Yes do give Rocrail a try (I have no connection with Rocrail but I believe the team is doing fantastic and deserves support)
- manuals and step by step https://wiki.rocrail.net/doku.php?id=stepbystep-en
- download (select your computer type: Windows, Raspberry, IOS,..) https://wiki.rocrail.net/rocrail-snapshot/
- support key: optional, can start evaluating without it, 99% of all fonctions are available without it but I strongly recommend to support if you like Rocrail
- forum: the English forum for you is a must to get help when starting
- interactive help: when using Rocrail, no matter which fonction you use, just press HELP and you get the documentation page related to your issue in YOUR language

Regarding the Faller Car System (FCS), I started with the standard Faller logic blocks but soon I had the need for regulation and interconnection with the rail part (e.g. do not send too much traffic when the level crossing is closed.
Here is a "Rollende Landstasse" (freeway thru rail) were there is an obvious connection between Rocrail and the FCS


Yes, it is a splendid idea to have a good sight of your steam depot by changing the roundhouse orientation.
Cheers
Jean

Magnorail is a quite different product, and I wouldn't use it for a car system. Its original use for push bikes is quite innovative, and while they show it also being used for cars, it doesn't look right.

Noch have produced two sets using Magnorail, one with sailboats on a lake, and one with skiers (or was it ice skaters).

Hello Jean,

I took a look at your "My Layout" video at: and I can easily see the plastic plates at the two crossing at about 7 seconds in. The lower one at the bottom left of center has the Marklin track studs poking through the plastic while the crossing left of center shows no track studs pointing through. I am assuming that NO Faller wire is conducting through this lower left plate.

At the other intersection, I can see a thin gap in the track in front of the bus between the rails. I assume that is where the Faller wire goes. I think I can see track studs in the middle of the white center line and at the periphery of the plastic plate. (At 5:24, I see three studs left, right and center of the center white line.) I do not see any studs where the bus wheels or slider will traverse in the travel lanes. My thought is that the studs at the center and periphery will keep the trains from stalling at the intersection of street and rail but prevent a short circuit from happening between the slider and any nearby track studs.

I think this is what you were trying to convey.

Thank you for your help!!

Peter