In my daydreaming at work I’ve been thinking about this layout plan some more (nothing new there ) Being a more permanent type of layout I hope to last me a long time, I want to make the most of the space I’m going be using.

So I’ve been thinking about that staging level. First I would extend the whole the level to be 15″ deep (same as the main). then I would take outter-most mainline and turn it into a 2nd main level with scenery and a backdrop about 5″ from the edge. Behind the backdrop would remain the staging tracks.

Not only does these extend my mainline run, it still gives me ample staging tracks. Seems like a waste to have that *entire* second level be nothing but hidden staging you know.

Of course, I would have to figure out a way to still give me some kind of access back to the staging tracks if a derail occurs. hmm.

I’ll play around with the track planning software tonight (of course I didn’t my laptop to work today, doh!) and see what I can come up with.

Shaun Previous Layout

Here’s a rough sketch of how I’m thinking the layout will go.

1/2 playwood will be secured directly to brackets at 16″ spacing. This should provide adequate support and prevent and sagging from occurring. At most, only 4″of plywood will overhang a bracket, so that shouldn’t pose a problem either.

Staging got dropped a lot, giving me about 7-9″ of clearance under the main level. I’m not sure how long the front valance will be either, but I drew it in as 12″. this would probably be secured using glue and “L” brackets attached to the underside of the mainlevel.

Shaun Previous Layout

Or rather, longer standards.

After playing around with design methods for the benchwork, and to give adequate clearance between the main level and the staging, as well as a decent viewing size for the main level I’ve decided I need longer standards. So 25 more 16.5″ standards and joiners will be ordered soon. This will give me 33″ of standard to play with. More than enough to make everything happy.

Shaun Previous Layout

Revised the staging yard a bit. Extended it from to 5 to 10″ and basically made 3 really long staging tracks on each leg of the run-around.

I’m debating on adding some switches in there to help shuffle trains around. I’ll see what I can fit once construction begins on it. I do plan on breaking each staging track into 2, maybe 3, staging blocks to help with parking trains without visually seeing the tracks.

Shaun Previous Layout