Last night I started doodling around with a track plan for the new layout.  I discovered that I can take my existing benchwork modules and arrange them to fit this exact plan.  So another “Yippie!” for this plan. I mainly started working on trying determine the needed radius on the track.  I have most everything situated excepted for the right  section, and the upper industry spur (near the orange car shop).  But so far it’s coming along nicely I think.

I’ve also been thinking about the layout’s location.  I do like the valley side with the tunnels, but would like it to be a little more green.  I couldn’t really move it to a real southern location because it’s pretty flat here with no tunnels, and keeping the tunnels might be a requirement as they act as a good scene divider on that side of the layout. The same goes for the industry side; something a little more urban/just-outside-of-town scene, rather than a rocky desert scene.

So I’m going to toss on my Freelance hat and call the layout the Union Pacific Elmwood Route and use some of the old layout info for it’s background.

Here’s a look at what the plan looks like so far:

Shaun Track plan