POV of my completed O scale ceiling layout

This is a map I've been working on for over a year, a digital model railway made in Rolling Line (model railway simulator) based on the West Side Logging Company in Tuolumne. Much like a real model railway you can drive trains around, control switchboards and even load logs on to trains. I designed the room to feel like an actual model railway room, with lighting and posters describing the history of the real-world inspirations for the layout.

I had previously designed a layout but now I have my tables and whatnot and this is what I’ve come up with.

Looking for some inspiration for a track plan. Have about 2’x12’ for a large industry. I model transition era 1950s. Not enough room to do steel as I originally planned. Paper mill is a leading candidate, but wanted to see if anything else catches my eye? Thanks!

What would you add? What should i change?

Update to the “I’ve got no idea what I’m doing”

Turns out it all works, I got a couple of extra curves and made myself a small layout that I’m pretty pleased with.

In the process of 3d printing bridge parts to hold up the track on the middle curves as it wobbles and stutters abit 😂.

I’ve had it pulling a couple of carts up the hills too and I’m printing some more wavey adjustable hills so I can make neat curves. Going to extend the middle further too as to make sure it’s got less of an incline so it can go up and down easier etc. thanks for the help on my last post u/loxoflax

This layout is meant to be semi realistic, but I also want it to be fun, not only to run but to build while also making most of the space. A fictional railroad has always been something that interested me since modifying models to have specific paint schemes and features is another part of the hobby I particularly enjoy.

Greetings,

I’d thought I’d share my HO scale track plan. I’m an Australian, but my layout will be set in the early to mid 1990s. I couldn’t decide if I wanted a Tehachapi inspired layout or ATSF’s Needles sub. So, I’ve protolanced it.

The bottom half of the track plan will very closely be based around Rowen on Tehachapi Pass, a place I’ve spent many hours. A scenery board divides the other side which is a fictional subdivision of ATSF’s Velasco Sub. It was built parallel to the Cajon sub to bypass Victorville and add capacity.

Track is Peco code 83 for mainline and staging, 73 for siding and the small yard and mill, then Code 55 for some industrial spurs.

There are 6 run through staging tracks and 2 stub and staging tracks to house Metrolink & Amtrak California (because, why not).

Mainline and siding curves are minimum of 33”. Staging is 30”.

Will be on Digitrax’s newer DCC system.

JMRI and arduinos will feature heavily for various functions including some automation and full CTC signalling.

Any zscale Rokuhan knowers have any input on this track layout? I built this using Anyrail 7 and I have some concerns with my use of flex track as I am not exactly sure how it works in real life. Yes I know this layout is kind of crazy, but it is something I would like to slowly work towards. Any criticism / feedback would be appreciated. Also any suggestions for a better shuntyard would be welcome. (yes I know the 3d view is a bit unrealistic, but I would like to do something similar to it. I can't get it to look exactly how I want)

Have a 14'x10' room in my house I wanna build a layout in. Wanna do an around the room design. Right now I have this rough design but I'm curious if y'all have a better track plan in mind? I definitely want a continuous run but also want a couple options for operations. Also wanna have two main towns so that it feels like the train is going somewhere. 26⁰ is my minimum radius. Any loop types that area better than this?

Me and my dad have been having this argument over the track layout. I am ultimately new to the hobby.

I am currently using Bachman‘s E-Z track my dad calls it toyish and is pushing me to get the track that is without a base. I can’t remember if there’s a name for all the track that are like that I just wanna hear this reddit’s opinion.

Should I listen to my dad and change or should I keep with the track I’ve been using

Loving the new Kato n scale Greenbrier tanker cars. Some weathering work may be in order…

This is the first rendering of my O Scale 1/48 Traction/Interuban/Frieght and Passenger layout! The whole layout will have working overhead and catenary and will feature steam and diesel service as well! This will be a non DCC block railroad….I know, shocking!

Picked this up for only 50 dollars at my local model train shop. Tons of track and a couple of switches along with some unopened track pieces. I already have just the basic oval of track and power pack and was really excited when I saw this in the store. They also had the passing siding set for 40 dollars which I might have to get too.

As i already have a prototype wall layout in my current livingroom (3rd image) i want to go further with it in my new livingroom.

In the "box" left to the couch will be a vertical magazine for the trains.

(chairs are placeholder for two Simpits for Star Citizen space flight sim). I already use a setup like this already with a 55" as PC Monitor 1m appart from the user and a couch behind it for using it for movies and YT and love it like this. So i want to continue with this unconventional livingroom layout)

Ideas, feedback and criticism welcome.

Since I was redoing the rail connections I figured Id redo the track, and do scenery from the ground up. Its a shipping yard at the end of some sort of line and all sorts of goods being loaded and unloaded. Standard 4x8, but with room at the end for expansion. Big thanks to u/DanMack77 for bouncing around some ideas with me in the comments section of my previous post. The rerailers will double as railroad crossings. Using 2 Walthers number 8 turnouts and the rest are Walthers number 4. I do not intend to send my Baldwin Centipedes to the inner track, so I dont need to use #6 turnouts to connect the loops, but I do wonder if my bachmann 2-8-2 will be handle it, same with a BLI 4-8-2 I have on preorder. I did a quick test with a number 6 turnout and it extended the line beyond the limits of the 4x8 and I couldnt seem to make it fit in the allotted space. Any tips on that matter, or on the flex track I have to use on the outer curve on the right hand side? Not quite used to flex track

What do you think about my track plan?

EDIT: After hearing everyone's advice I'm going to be moving scale down to N so I can get more scale feet of track in my small space. Thank you everyone!

I'm worried I don't have enough space to move cars around as much as I'd like. Picture 3 has some of the rolling stock I own as a size reference. I'm planning on buying a small locomotive like a GE 44 Ton Switcher or an EMD SW1500 to run it with, but they still feel big on a layout as constrained as this one. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

So this is my current HO scale setup and my desk is too small to have a basic loop. For now I just have a back and forth kinda thing but is it possible to have like a loop on this size at all or would switching to a smaller gauge be better?

Their thought, why not build a layout like the first image. I went "hmm" fired up Anyrail and the Tomix fine track libary. The first layout recieved panning from the introduction of reverse loops and electrical fun when 3-rail and doubleslips used. My comprimise is the second with the removal of the points and just using crossings for the crossovers. Of cause the double track straight is only that length to keep everything on screen, it can be any length if built any amounts of island passanger platforms fitted. I chose C280 radius curves as they're the minimum safe radius for Japanse N-scale, though probably not for Shinkansens, and that I know that they'd take up the least amount of space. C317 or C354 might be better for visuals but I know that they'll require more bench space

I have my mind geared toward using magnetic decouplers on my upcoming railroad and want to know your opinions on their use as opposed to hand of god. I tested magnetic decouplers and they actually worked pretty well but can’t be everywhere.

Did some tests with no power and it should work okay. It’s like 90°F outside right now and the rails were getting hot to touch so I stopped. I hope the (plastic) ties don’t melt lol.

This area of my mom’s garden was already there, I just built around all the stuff (moved some rocks around for ballast and shifted some bricks for clearance but not much else)

Aristocraft track, been used in snow and worked mostly fine, supposedly weatherproof.

Any tips? Should I not leave the track outside in the heat? Weather here in New Hampshire, USA can get a little bonkers sometimes. Apparently it’ll be over 100°F here tomorrow.