Plan of Layout

Here is a very rough sketch of what I ended up with and I am very happy with it.
As I was saying previously, I now can enjoy a nice long mainline run and also do some shunting.  The major breakthroughs were 1.  Reducing the height of the layout 2.  Incorporating the concept of the line bending back onto itself, 3.  Convex and Concave curves rather than a layout doing laps 4.  Departing from a strictly prototypical VR plan 5 Investing in a JizSaw to get away from the flat look and 6, Placing Staging under the bench-work.

This has resulted in a layout which is both scenic and operational.

Unfortunately I couldn't incorporate a reverse loop as it was just not possible, however I have staging underneath and could only have three tracks which are easy to get too - at arms length.

How do I intend to operate the layout?

Since 99% of the time, I will be working the layout, I intend to run a train from staging, to the main station, then break up the train, shunt the required industries, replace engines, make up a new train and then depart back to staging.  This could take up to 45 mins.  All train lengths are a maximum of 13 wagons (Bogie wagons are calculated as two wagons) plus the guards van at the rear.   Some wagons are purposely left in the yard as Melbourne Yard have not called for them as yet.  Priority traffic gets made up on the train (max 13 wagons as mentioned).  Some wagons sitting in the yard get going on the next service.

 Since I have three trains ready at staging, the industries don't always get worked every-time.  I do have an extra which is the wheat train which is currently using the track marked in Blue - this allows me to have a continuous run if I feel like it, however most of the time I intend to operate point to point.

I even managed to shoe-horn a turntable which I really wanted so I can turn such locos like the S Class or even a X.

I enjoyed a session this afternoon, and having a seat whilst shunting makes for a really relaxing and a very enjoyable experience.  Note the operators chair on the diagram.  Not only can i reach most things, some of the view points I get from that angle makes for some very delightful rail-fanning!

Increasing Mainline Run

Over the last few weeks I have been busy laying out a few ideas and concepts.  Lowering the height of the layout has been very positive as I can now sit down and enjoy the trains roll by.
I have also worked on getting away from the round and round feel which I had previously and caused me no end of grief no matter how much I changed the schematic - the round and round feel killed the enthusiasm after a short well.  

To increase the length of the mainline, I have now a glorified loop of track which actually goes into a lower level with a few twists and turns.   Basically the main line comes back onto itself.  I have also moved staging to a lower level.  Currently as things sit, I have one stub ended staging and still need to work on the other side.  Both will be lower level and out the way so to speak.

Unfortunately this involves quite some steep inclines and declines to get to the lower levels given the space. So far, all locos have been able to negotiate the incline, but I am not sure how well a steam loco will go, not that I have any, but have to think about the future just in case.

Currently, I basically have a small station with three roads, Road 3 having a Goods Shed and a Silo, with the possibility of a small .  The intention is to have some crosses or meets here, with the occasional RoadSide goods doing a shunt.   It is also possible to have a list of trains that will run on a given day and have some of them cross and/or meet.  This will be good when I have running sessions.

With this layout, I get maximum mainline run, can have some scenery, and can run a variety of locomotives.  The question remains however, how will I handle the issues faced with stud-ended staging now underneath.

X Class Shots

I put together some shots of the X Class I bought recently.  Running on DC.

Auscision X Class

Gave my X Class from Auscision a spin.

A very beautiful and detailed model, however the drivers need some clothes and I think the side handrails are plastic.  Now I need to get a DCC Decoder.

Too High, Too Wide and Too Flat

Layout had now been completely dismantled.  I had it too high, it was too flat and too wide.  I have started building some benchwork at a height of 1050mm and can take it higher if I like by using additional material.

I think I will take a break from the model railway scene for a little while as my interest has really nose-dived.  I will wander out to the shed when I feel like it and do some odd jobs every now and again.  

Multi-Level

Here is a plan that includes multiple levels.

It consist of three levels, with staging on either side.  It's not continuous run I know, however the nature of the long main-line run may be enough to see some action.  It has a station and its a through run rather than a terminus.  I can shunt and make up trains at either staging end  (active staging) - with the idea being that this will be where operators will be placed to make up and break up trains during op sessions.  The emphasis is on these areas rather than at the main station area.

Industrial Shunting or Branch Line?

Yesterday Craig gave up his Sunday morning to assist me in drawing up some ideas given my druthers.
The best idea Craig suggested was to draw up a scale grid say 2cm=1 and then use a compass to draw the curves.  I found this to be the break-through I was looking for.  In the afternoon I drew up the plan we discussed in the morning and it was plain to see that it would not work.  Un-phased and with my new knowledge to use a compass to draw accurate curves I pressed ahead making up some further plans.
Eventually I came up with these two. (Both have an oval of track only for those occasions when I like to see trains running round)
One is an industrial shunting layout with industries based in Western Melbourne such as Sunshine and Brooklyn, whilst the other is more of a branch line run, from staging.
I am not sure which one I like better although I like both of them.  The branch line run gives me some nice main line run with scenery, where-as the industrial shunting schematic probably gives me more engagement time.
The branch line probably utilises better use of the space, and I could run a variety of engines and trains, e.g. railmotor, X class, T and Y, where as the industrial shunting layout I would be left with a Y or T Class as motive power.  Hard choice!

Industrial:

BranchLine: