Altenstadt
Hello, Don't know if these images will appear or not-I'll post the links after if not! I've laid the track for my layout 'Altenstadt'. I will admit it is by no means prototypical, the main idea of it is for something to 'play' with, so I want to have lots of scope of shunting etc, though constrained by the size of the garage! As I intend it to be there for some time, then I have tried to maximise the storage space so I can keep buying and running models! I wanted to run at least 4 coach trains (plus room to release the engine) so have come up with a fiddle yard to station plan. Unfortunately this means little room for a 'scenic' section which would have been nice. It comprises two routes coming into a small urbanish station with 3 platforms (2 main plus a branch bay), the branch will be non-electrified, the main line and most of the sidings will. I'd have liked the main line to go off scene as a double track route but space just hasn't allowed that. In the front of the 'fiddle yard' area (the fiddle yard will be all tracks to the rear and including where the 143 and trucks are parked) there will be three sidings and a roadway, two acting as a small container terminal, the other basically a headshunt/exchange siding for a line to a chemical/oil works, which curves off board across the road. The backscene running between here and the fiddle yard will then cut across just behind where the two loco sidings with buffers are and will carry a road across the railway at this point to provide the scenic break. Having loads of track left over from my last british layout I didn't think I could justify buying all new so have stuck with Peco code 100 rail, though wish I'd gone for the code 75 as I've ended up buying mostly new points anyway. http://www.everythingelse.fotopic.net/p37728521.html http://www.everythingelse.fotopic.net/p37728520.html This is the homepage http://www.everythingelse.fotopic.net/c1173386.html Any comments of course welcome. Mark

Mark, Nice Pictures, it is looking good so far. Normaly to add pictures to view in forums you would the following then insert picture url here > To get you picture url, right click the picture and then go to properties and copy and paste the url into the center. Hope this works, and good luck with the rest of the layout.

Nice Pictures, it is looking good so far. Normaly to add pictures to view in forums you would the following To obtain your picture url, right click the picture and then go to properties and copy and paste the url into the center. I reinserted the URL because the picture is too large for the forum. See : http://germanrail.8.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=971

Thanks Tim, though the images I originally tried to link to were only 600px across (in a different album). I'm going wrong somewhere but I'll get it eventually! Mark

Mark, It is an interesting idea to concentrate on the arrivals and departures of the station and some goods sidings within a confined space. It certainly will be enjoyable to operate. I was wondering how the fiddle yard will be invisible and yet accessible for uncoupling etc.

It is an interesting idea to concentrate on the arrivals and departures of the station and some goods sidings within a confined space. It certainly will be enjoyable to operate. I was wondering how the fiddle yard will be invisible and yet accessible for uncoupling etc. I've just finished the basics for the area above my fiddle yard. http://www.everythingelse.fotopic.net/p41380567.html should give an idea of my solution to the problem you mentioned. The area will have a road (and tramway-probably non-operational unfortunately!) coming from the station, up a 'hill' and onto the area above the fiddle yard. It will then run the length of the area at the front. Behind this there are two 'cut-outs' in the right places for access for uncoupling the loco's-when stood up these are of course visible and accessible, but when sat down controlling the trains they are only just visible and once buildings/scenery is in place on the top area should be even less so. It's a shame I have to resort to this, but compromise is needed in 15ft of space! Mark