My current layout (under construction), has one main line and one secondary, which both start at the main station in the middle of the layout at plane 1. There are four levels or planes in total, numbered 0-3 where 0 is below the main plane, containing a hidden yard. The main line has catenary, but not the secondary.
The main line can be run in a "circle", it is mangaged by autamtatic block control which allows for three trains. The trains may be a mix of digital with power from the track, and the two conventional which take the power from the catenary. The blocks are controlled by signals, and optional, by a connected computer. The conventional locos and any manual controlled loco are stopped by the signal, and computer controlled trains are stopped smothly by the computer. The main line passes the main station which is a through station. In one end it takes a double track down to the hidden yard, via a "Paradestrecke" right in front. The hidden yard consists of only three tracks, due to space limitations (I even had to use radii below 360 mm, the 5120, so I'll have to drive carefully), and makes it possible to change trains and let another train come up from the tunnel than entered the moment before. The other end of the main stations has two single tracks; the first leading the main line to a simple loop which lets the trains come back again, the other is the secondary line.
The secondary line leads along my wall to a small station with shunting possibilites, and back again, a long climbing line up to the mountain station. This one is a dead end, it contains a turntable for the steam locos, and a few tracks. Let me try to give you an impression with a scetch of it. The visible parts are coloured, the background colors (green - brown - white) indicating the plane I-V. Violet and red are used for main line and secondary line.
Here is a bridge which takes the main line (single line now) to a small hidden loop, and the secondary one from the main station over to the visible yard below, and back again up to the higher levels.
I use a mix of conventional AC and digital; digital is used in all tracks, and for a few important switching points, plus two relais controlling the mode of operation for the hidden yard. The rest, catenanary, the rest of points, signals, lights, turntable etc is fed with AC. This means that I currently don't need any booster!
It's also my intention that the layout should be possible to be run in different ways. It may be run manually without the computer one; the only automatic part will be the block control of the main line. It may also be run with the computer on, in a kind of semi automatic mode. I will always have to manually turn the locos at the mountain station, to shunt the train consist when I want, but the computer will avoid collitions, and make the trains behave whith smoth start and stop, waiting times at stations etc. The future will know if my intentions will be fulfilled.
Here are two pictures, one of the main board and one of the secondary line goods yard. More pictures at "The landscape takes form".
