My feeling upon seeing the layout is that you're a bit overwhelmed with the number of track - doesn't exactly leave you with much space for anything else. Is that your intention? I always think a train is action is most wonderful when it has a backdrop to play against!

miksterr, when using a reverse loop, you will have to take care that you have at least two reverse loops. In your plan, you can drive the reverse loop, get out in a clockwise direction. But now you can't change your driving direction - there is no loop available to reverse again. You end up driving clockwise for ever.

Sander

Hi Mike,

Looks busy, but very nice for the young boys I think.
About the reverse loop, I think you should take care of the short circuit in some way to make it enjoyable for the kids. Maybe this thread can help:

http://www.anyrail.com/forum_en/general_discussion/dog_bone_auto_reverser-t81.0.html

David.

Looks good Mike. Indeed, you don't want to go through the trouble of having to operate this manually, especially not with kids!
Hope you get lots of fun out of this!

David.

Mike,

I don't know if you've built your Mark I and are now ready for Mark II or not, but since you invited comment ("I would be very open to ANY and all suggestions for the layout as the middle looks a bit tricky"), I thought I'd try my hand at it. The modified plan I show is suited for a 'generous' 4 x 8 [more like 4.5 x 8 and a smidge]. I tried to do something using the pieces you had, but quickly realized that it really required flex-track. Sadly, I couldn't get anything resonable that would allow 3 trains to operate at the same time, just 2. One train runs around the outside loop and the other runs around a 'folded dogbone' on the inside.

Now let me detail what I did:

The track at Point A is at 3-4 inches, since it crosses the two mainline tracks under it. That elevation continues through Point C and only starts coming down as you get to Point B. Also, you'll find that the grades are slightly scary. That's a result of this being a lot of track on a small table. That said, I think I've managed to fit in everything else your original layout had and a bit more, since it has two reversing loops and they are both accessible by either train.

There are sidings for industries and both trains can reach them. There is actually room for another siding or two, if you really want them. There are also a few spots you could insert small passenger destinations.

I hope this layout is worth something, either as Mark II or one containing ideas that could be used in a future layout.

I would guess at between 4 and 5 percent grade. I set it at 4%, but I can't guarantee it stuck to that. When you're working with a 4 x 8 sheet of plywood, you can't afford to be too picky. Still, in that space, you're not going to have long trains, so given the power of model locos, you've got a chance to have it work.