New guy's (simple) layout....looking for some ideas.

[toe knee]

So after a few posts here I've been pretty busy marking my territory (searching for a place for a layout that won't tick off "the boss"), clearing my territory (cleaning out a place that won't tick off "the boss") and figuring out how much room I actually have (how much room "the boss" is allowing me to have).

I took everyone's advice in making sure the layout makes at least some sense. Meaning, I have a place for shipment to originate and place for shipments to be dropped off. I also figured out that I really like Bachmann's open excursion cars so I've added 2 stations that I can haul passengers to and from.

I was careful NOT to go with a 4x8 layout for my first run at this. I've read that there are so many areas that just aren't reachable unless you have full access around the layout. As you can see in the picture, my space is pretty limited.

I know that someone mentioned NOT going with a continuous loop and trying a shelf layout but I just wouldn't be happy with that my first time out. If this hobby sticks then a larger and more expensive layout will go elsewhere in the house and this smaller spot will house a more elaborate shelf set up.

Anyway, I am going to use EZ track my first time out. Only because I've got quite a bit of track and only need to purchase the turn outs. I'll be going with Bachmann DCC turn outs that I can use with my EZ command. I know there are better systems out there but I really like the EZ command for now. I'm new and don't see a huge need for something more complicated/expensive at this time.

Any ideas on track placement or anything else for that matter are all welcome.

Thanks,
Tony

 

[rdemattio91]

Just some food for thought, I know you said you wanna go ez track but I would suggest not. Now I personally havent laid a peice of track yet but from what I have read ez track turnouts are about as good as the cleveland browns (haha, go steelers!) So if you plan on making a huge layout then you should just start making the investment into atlas or one of the other tracks. Plus flex track makes your layout 10x more easy to work with.

 

[Rico]

Can't comment on the ez track, never seen it.
I'd try to work in a passing siding since you may want to "park" a passenger or freight train while another runs.
I also like a switch facing the opposite way, which would also call for a spassing siding to run around the cars.
Nothing elaborate just something to keep the operating interesting.
you're on the right track so to speak, easy simple to build is the way to go!

 

[toe knee]

I've read that the DCC EZ turn outs are supposedly better then older stuff. Just because I read it doesn't make is so however. I'm still up in the air on the ez track. Time will tell.

A passing area! That was something I forgot to ask in my original post. I have limited space from front to back (I REALLY want to keep at 3 1/2') but I guess I can work one in on the right side. I'll try to work one in Rico!

QUESTION: I know many say that a 15" radius is a no no but why can't I go with an inner 15" radius just break things up? I have no interest in the long passenger cars or locomotives. Will the diesel AND the smaller steam engines which are normally rated for 18" work ok on a 15" radius? Wouldn't it be nice to have 2 loco's continuously running at one time?

 

[D&J RailRoad]

Once you put down a 15" radius curve, you will probably want to tear it back out. Heck, slot cars have trouble making that kind of curve.

 

[rdemattio91]

yeah I'm still in the designing of my layout and im really scared to put down 18

 

[DougC]

toe knee:

Regarding tight radius curves:

D&J RailRoad may be right for some people.

However, I have a figure 8 loop with 85% of it hidden (unit trains look more interesting this way.) I run a 34-car ore train on it (old AHM shorty ore hoppers) with a normal caboose and pull the train with a single Atlas Trainman RS32 engine with no modifications at all except adding about 3 oz. of weight*. It's worked fine for years and the radius on all the curves on this loop are 11" (yes, eleven inches).

* I've been model railroading since 1961, and it's my experience that only about one out of 10 to 15 off-the-shelf diesel engine models can handle this kind of curve radius with no modifications. (As info the Atlas Trainman RS32 is not expensive.) Some other engines will handle the 11" radius (like Bachmann's GP 30s and 35s) but need the frame openings, where the trucks swivel, widened by grinding or filing. With some (or most?) engines, depending on how they are built (even though most all are similar), it is almost counter-productive to try and make them take this kind of radius.

Also, I think the only way to make 11" radius curves is with flex track - which is what I used.

Hope this is helpful.

DougC

 

[North Coast Railroad]

I like the simplicity of the layout for a 1st go at a layout...but I cant see passenger operations really 'working'. passenger trains can only originate at the lower left station. also, you will get forward moving trains stuck in that inner loop for your industrial shipping. Or am I nuts?

 

[choops]

add a passing siding.
do not using easy track.
use the 18" radius minimum.
There are thousands of 4X8 designs out there. You should be able to find one that does what you want.

Steve

 

[steinjr]

So after a few posts here I've been pretty busy marking my territory (searching for a place for a layout that won't tick off "the boss"), clearing my territory (cleaning out a place that won't tick off "the boss") and figuring out how much room I actually have (how much room "the boss" is allowing me to have).

I took everyone's advice in making sure the layout makes at least some sense. Meaning, I have a place for shipment to originate and place for shipments to be dropped off. I also figured out that I really like Bachmann's open excursion cars so I've added 2 stations that I can haul passengers to and from.

I was careful NOT to go with a 4x8 layout for my first run at this. I've read that there are so many areas that just aren't reachable unless you have full access around the layout. As you can see in the picture, my space is pretty limited.

I know that someone mentioned NOT going with a continuous loop and trying a shelf layout but I just wouldn't be happy with that my first time out. If this hobby sticks then a larger and more expensive layout will go elsewhere in the house and this smaller spot will house a more elaborate shelf set up.

Anyway, I am going to use EZ track my first time out. Only because I've got quite a bit of track and only need to purchase the turn outs. I'll be going with Bachmann DCC turn outs that I can use with my EZ command. I know there are better systems out there but I really like the EZ command for now. I'm new and don't see a huge need for something more complicated/expensive at this time.

Any ideas on track placement or anything else for that matter are all welcome.

Thanks,
Tony

Some points.
1) If you want to run passenger cars - switch to N scale. A passenger car is one foot long in H0 scale, and wants a curve radius of 24+" (and preferably 30" or more to look good). In N scale the same passenger car is 7" long, and can make do just fine with 16" radius curves.

2) Diameter = 2 x radius. So for a 180 degree turnback half circle on a table you need a table 5 feet deep (or more) for passenger cars in H0 scale, 32" deep or so in N scale.

3) Your can comfortably reach 20-24" into a layout at chest height - a little more at a layout at waist level. But at waist level things will look more toylike as you are seeing them from the "God perspective".

The two most obvious approaches in the space you have is

a) to switch to N scale and do a loop layout on a hollow core door (6 2/3rd foot - can be cut down to 6 feet x 32").

b) if you want to stay in H0 scale, make a high level (tracks at chest to chin level) doughnut shaped layout with 30" wide operator pit in the center of the space, and duck into the pit to run the trains.

That allows you to go 24" radius curves and have more room for scenery.

An example of a doughnut shaped layout in a room 6.5 feet wide by 11.5 feet long (ie about 4 feet longer than your space, but not really all the much wider):

Smile,
Stein