Yes I know about cat hair  .My last track was where their was no door.Now I have a door and the cats only go in when I go in sometimes.I had a hairball derail my train once  .They do love to sit on the stools and watch the trains.They just are amazed by them.I think I will be getting the Digitrax zepher system to operate the layout later.Will use DC for now while laying and testing track.Anyone use digitrax.Thanks Bob

Hi all.I took some pics of the layout.My plan is from 3 different plans I put togeather.Right now it wll be point to point.But it will one day connect to make a huge square.Here is a link to my album.My other hobby is astrophotgraphy.Their are like 33 pages of my pics toys and family.I have decided on a Digitrax syytem for control.All mainline switches will be controlled and others will be manual.Comments welcome.THANKS BOB

http://tinyurl.com/33wpqng

Well this layout call for 2 turntables at each end of the route.But one can allways use reverse.I have 1 table from my last layout that I will use.

Well that is a good question.On my new layout I am making as I have posted earlier it will be a working railroad.I want the kids to learn what a real rail road does.Transport goods and deliver them to industry.I want them to have to learn how to pick up a car and take it to a certain industry'drop it off using magnet couplers.That is the main reason I want to use point to point than where they just watch the train just go around in circle's.

I am close to picking my plan.The track will be point to point.I am going with 30in wide shelf 18ft long legs U shape.That will leave plent of room for spurs here and their.Then later I could allways connect the loop to make a complete loop.

My last layout was a mountain layout.So as I mention earlier this will more  urban.I notice all the straights'looks kind of like a slot car track.I will more than likely do a point to point with alot of switching.Some small rolling hills in a few places.

Thanks that looks like a fun track.I will take it into consideration.

Thanks yes by all means.I am Bob.Glad to meet you

Yes I have thought about that.Yes I have room to make the turns to come back.I look at your pics on your post.Very nice work.I might use some of your plan to make the ends larger so I can make a complete loop.It is nice to just let the trains run while just sitting back and injoying a pint of Ale .

That looks like a nice layout.I misspoke about the radius.I am looking at a point to point layout that uses 24 radius.It is a U shape plan that will run up against the walls  all way around my room leaving a nice area in the center.The plan is out of a old 101 track plans by Linn Westcott of the Iron ridge & Mayville.It would give me nice background of drywall to use for sky and hills and such to paint.It is a good size point to point.I have tons of atlas code 100 nickle silver flex allready.But I am still debating.I know some like to watch trains go around in circles but I really love point tp point.It will be 50ft run from the furthest  town to the other town track wise.But I have a few weeks before i get the room ready for bench work.

Thanks guys for all your help.Lots of good ideas.I think I will go dual cab for now.But use larger wire for the runs so it could easy be used for DCC later.I just have to many nice Engine that I want to use that are DC.I allready have a control panel that can be used for any lay out.I made one on my last lay out with all the turnout switches running across the top and all the block controls running down one side.I just replace the black tape of the track design and use Number decals for where the turnouts and block are.But I will get a DCC down the road.Now just getting stared and picking a layout plan.My room is 25 long by 13.I was thinking of a 20 by 7 table in the middle but now looking at a U shape layout 40in wide on each leg of U 15ft long and top of U 40in.I will have to stick with 18in radius turns.But I do not use large trains like passengers cars.Mostly coal ' Tankers 'Box.I have done mountain layouts withs lots of hydrocal but will mostly use a midwest theme.Thanks BOB

The grandkids want to help with a new layout.I have tons of stuff from older layout's I have done over the years.All were dual cab controlled not digital.I have many older engine's.I like the dual cab type layouts and have all the controllers parts ect.Would you start a new layout not going with the new Digital control.The layout will be 20 ft by 7 ft area.It seems most are going digital now.But having so many older DC engines that I would love to use.I know they can be converted but that is quite a of work.I was going to keep the layout simple for the kids to run.2 mains and a few branches and a yard.Also where is a good place to get wire online for the layout.Well I look forward to coming aboard and thanks for any help.