22" track plans

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O

Orange Irish

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I've been searching online for track plans with at least 22" radius curves, but every plan I found so far includes at least a few 18" sections. So now I plan on choosing any plan that I like, and simply expanding it to accomodate 22" curves. I'll be adding to a 6x10 table to make it 8x14 (maybe larger), so room shouldn't be an issue. I'm sort of new to the hobby (after 20 years off) so I wonder if there are any issues I'm not thinking about. I'll change from #4 turnouts to #6 or higher, but otherwise is there anything I'm missing? Is it as simple as taking a plan with 18" radius and expanding it to 22" with all wiring the same, as long as I get the dimensions right?
 
I think you're limiting yourself with 22" radius curves. With an 8x14 table it's time to give flex track a try and go with wider radius. Like 24 minimum and up to 30. The trains will look better and run better as well.
 
I'll go as high a radius as possible, depending on the layout, with a bare minimum 22" only on the inner most sections, unless I can get them a touch wider.
 


Definitely go with flex track. You might try and post a drawing of your available space, benchwork (tables) already built. in a diagram. Include doors, windows, etc.

And give more info like what scale, railroad and era, and things you want on your layout. A yard, a mountain, etc.

Plan for scenery, you don't want just a huge pile of track going everywhere.
 
I have a layout on a 8x10 table that uses nothing but 22" curves. Its not limiting at all. You just have to work with it to get what you want.

Here is my layout (so far)
Layout_22curves.png
 
Motley, it will be HO. I have plenty of room in a basement over 1000 sq ft, but with a stairwell in the center and a few utilities I have to avoid. 8x14 won't be a problem at all. I have two 2-axle diesels and one 3-axle diesel that are 70s-80s era. I have two 40s-50s steamers, a C&O 2-6-6-2 articulated that has no trouble on my current 18", and a 4-8-4 Reading T-1 that is my whole reason for expanding. As far as mountains, tunnels, etc...I'm not picky about any of that aside from having a coal mine theme since both steamers are coal draggers. So in the middle somewhere I'll plan on a coal mine and maybe a freight station as well, with a cutout to get in and reach stuff. The rest would just be natural scenery if/where it fits in.
 
Not bad for a railfanning layout. Are you interested in switching operations, industries, etc., or do you like to see trains traversing the landscape. Or both?

Just keep in mind, that the roundy round thing can get boring. But you can combine that with operations, and switching industries.

Do you have access to all sides of this table? What about access to the middle?

What is your actual available space for the layout? If you have an 8x14 table, and you have at least 2' access on all sides, then you have like 10x16 area?

If this is true, think about a layout that you can operate from the middle. Have a walk in access, drop down bridge. This will give you more room for wider curves, and more space for industries and scenery.

Maybe you could modify the popular HOG layout design (Heart of Georgia) to fit your space. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HOGRR/

Oh and definitely go with 24" curves. What if you decide you want to run a passenger train with 85' coaches. Trust me go as big as you possible can. I have a few 24" radius curves, and I wish I'd gone with 30".
 
Motley said:
Not bad for a railfanning layout. Are you interested in switching operations, industries, etc., or do you like to see trains traversing the landscape. Or both?

Just keep in mind, that the roundy round thing can get boring. But you can combine that with operations, and switching industries.

Do you have access to all sides of this table? What about access to the middle?

What is your actual available space for the layout? If you have an 8x14 table, and you have at least 2' access on all sides, then you have like 10x16 area?

If this is true, think about a layout that you can operate from the middle. Have a walk in access, drop down bridge. This will give you more room for wider curves, and more space for industries and scenery.

Maybe you could modify the popular HOG layout design (Heart of Georgia) to fit your space. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HOGRR/

Oh and definitely go with 24" curves. What if you decide you want to run a passenger train with 85' coaches. Trust me go as big as you possible can. I have a few 24" radius curves, and I wish I'd gone with 30".
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If your asking me, I have access to the front of the table and the center so I can reach the track at any point. the reason for the "roundy round thing" is Some times I like to just turn them on and let them run. But I have the switches set up so I can run operations if I want. I am not really into that much though. The layout will run the Southern Crescent passenger train from the 50's - 70's as well as some freight.



To the OP, I am sorry, I did not mean to thread jack your topic. Just wanted to show you a layout with 22" and 24 " curves.
 
I could have an unobstructed space of up to 24x10, and angle another 10x12 area off of that, but I'd have to sacrifice a poker table and a weight bench. The weight bench isn't a problem, but the poker table...NOOOOO!!!! LOL. I would have one side up against a wall, but have one or two cutout areas to crawl under and get to in order to reach things. I'm perfectly open to a walk-in layout also, I just have to see as many examples as I can to form a solid opinion.

I like lanscape, but I'd try to fit in a railyard or possibly a roundhouse too. I'm about positive that I'll never want to run passenger trains, but if I can make 24" curves work I'll do it just to be as safe and prototypical as possible.

Forgive me, but what does "railfanning" mean? Will #6 turnouts be sufficient, or should I go with #8s? I've never used either before.
 


Mr. D...not at all. I appreciate the layout ideas.

In fact, I could simply add four feet to one end of that plan and probably incorporate everything else I'd want into my layout.
 
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Orange Irish said:
...Forgive me, but what does "railfanning" mean? Will #6 turnouts be sufficient, or should I go with #8s? I've never used either before.
Click to expand...


"railfanning" used for model railroading is when your trains just go round and round and no real action. you just watch them like you would in RL.

Some modelers like to run operations and make their railroads do things, like deliveries, passenger pick up, ect. they run on a modified time table ect.
 
Thanks. That might be a bit much for me (at least for now). The most action I'm looking for is to just switch rail cars around in a yard, but obviously nothing too complex with a 8x14 area.

Really, I'd be happy just have four spurs that will fit all my locos and rolling stock. Right now I'm using the Atlas up-and-over dogbone http://www.atlasrr.com/Code100web/pages/10012.htm, but I added another spur.
 
Orange Irish said:
Thanks. That might be a bit much for me (at least for now). The most action I'm looking for is to just switch rail cars around in a yard, but obviously nothing too complex with a 8x14 area.

Really, I'd be happy just have four spurs that will fit all my locos and rolling stock. Right now I'm using the Atlas up-and-over dogbone http://www.atlasrr.com/Code100web/pages/10012.htm, but I added another spur.
Click to expand...


I'm the same way. don't what to have to "work" too much while playing :)
 
I like railfanning too. I have 3 seperate loops that I can run 3 different trains at the same time. But I also incorporated a couple of large industries, and a yard for switching operations.

What I'm saying is, what if you get it all built, and then you find there's nothing interesting to do. Keep you options at least open to some switching.

If you like to see the train running through the landscape, then do what they call a "twice around". I really like those alot. Basically you have a mainline that goes in one loop, crosses over and twists into a second loop (near the main loop), and it takes the train around the layout twice.

Let me find some examples...
 


Orange Irish said:
http://www.all-model-railroading.co.uk/amr/plans.htm

The second plan down looks pretty good to me. I could fit this plan in if I bend the lower half down to form a sideways L shape table. I could then modify it for both a "twice around" and also for a reverse loop, with plenty of room for both a railyard and landscape. Wiring it though...that's a whole other issue.
Click to expand...

Ding ding ding, I think we have a winner! I really like that Raton #2 plan! Definitely do the mods to make it twice around and reverse loop.

Wiring is easy. Do you plan to go with DCC? I was a complete newbie just a year ago, new to DCC, new to everything. I found wiring the reverse loop was fairly easy. I did get some help here on the forum, on where to place the gaps.

Have you decided what track/switches you plan to purchase?

I have all Peco code 83 Insulfrog switches, and all with Peco switch motors. Very easy to wire with DCC. I have 24 of them and they all work flawlessly. I have an NCE Pro with wireless for my DCC system, and it's very user friendly, and easy to use. I control all my switches with the throttle. And the NCE throttle is the best, in my opinion, after evaluating others like the Digitrax system. The digitrax is pretty old, they haven't changed their design in 10 years.

You'll have plenty of help on here, just ask if you need help.
 
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