New layout

[Neopuron]

Ok so, son got to play on the dual oval on the 4x8 for a few weeks now. I had fun building it, and got my feet wet enough to dive in and take it to the next level. I mentioned the words bigger and hes all about it!

So am I! I expanded the table from 4'x8' to 6' 1"x8' (73"x96")

Anyway using the AnyRail (trail version) I managed to put something together. So far its a draft that gives me at least double the mainline run I had. Went with a pretzel looking design as it seemed to fit into my table top area. Also I managed to fit in a little split yard. One side for storing cars and engines, other side to store the switcher(s) used to build the trains and bring them out to the main line. With a little more room to add.

Also left some room to focus on a little scenery. Actually looking at it I think I might have a few options so I am still tossing some ideas around. Hence why I am going to call it a draft. Maybe get some feedback from anyone willing to examine the madness!

First off, the orange area is a cutout area I use to man the table. I have the power pack station and off table storage there now (all below out of sight). Including the captains chair and booster stool...Gives me the ability to reach everything either by being inside or outside of the table. On the main line all the curves are at a 30" radius. Switching area is at 22" I do have a single #4 turnout just cause I have one and wanted to use it. All the rest of them are #6. Lots of flex track used here that are bigger then the standard 36" length, but that is just to cover the 50 piece track limit I am limited too.

I started my first draft with 24" curves and found that following the same base plan I had a few tiny S curves and the yard area was harder to fill. I think with the 30's in there I can pretty much run 75% of the stuff out there and not have to worry about tight turns. Following the advice I have heard "If you can do it, do it"

I seem to be stuck with the track layout in a 2D thinking approach. I think if I had just a little more room I would move into a 3d thought and build up, but the idea behind that is to just gain more mainline track path down. I think with the limited space I have this will fill my need for now. Hope so at least!!!

Anyway feel free to let me know what you think. Benchwork is already done as shown in the draft. I am still tossing around the idea of introducing foam or just sticking with the roadbed and table top. Lowes only carriers the green foam, and I was picking at it the other day and it didn't seem to have the texture of the pink stuff I have seen in the youtube vids. Anyone else had any luck with the green stuff?

Anyway enough babble for now. Ill get some pictures up in a few days. Atleast the benchwork so there is a visual starting point.

Derek

 

[Beachbum]

There was a somewhat similar plan in MR awhile ago. The crossing is nice b/c you can use it to model a junction on basically a big oval run.

What is the purpose of the spur tracks? They are very long with no runarounds or escape tracks and you have to see-saw to get into them.

A 2X4 operating pit is going to be tight IMO. 3 feet to reach the bottom of the plan from the pit is a long reach for most people.

I'd enlarge the pit, rework the spurs and add some staging.

 

[Neopuron]

What I cant reach from inside the pit, I can get too on the outside. As that area is where I have the space to come into the room. So basically I can stay within a 24" reach almost everywhere. I also have to crawl under to get to the pit, so again other then getting too old to be crawling around on my hands and knees its do able. For the little boy its only a duck under LOL.

I worked the track a little to try to build a run around, but realized that to do so I may need some more turnouts. Was only working with the track pieces I have now. After thinking about it some more, I was thinking these areas will only we used to store the rolling stock that isn't in use. With the switcher and engine being on the other side.

Ill play with it some more and see if I can come up with something. May just have to grab another turnout or two in the near future.

Thanks for the input so far.

Derek

 

[Trussrod]

Hi Derek,
I'll have to agree with Beach that it would be best to change the pit area around.
I'd suggest making it at least 1' wider than it is so it's a 4x3 as that way you'll be able to reach the back middle area easily which you couldn't get to at all before from the inside or outside. Also you can center it as you see fit and even have 45* corners to give you more area along the tracks in the corner areas of the pit and they dont have to be a half foot 45* section either.

Also, depending on the height of your table can as you say create a problem if it's too low although I realize your son may have a problem easily seeing the trains on a higher table you can always get a step stool he can climb up on.

What your doing is the start or the thinking of an around the room or wall type of shelf layout and the reason most have wound up going in that direction is due to the reach-over proiblem. But as I told another fellow yesterday even though I planed my layout with a 30" depth to make it easier to reach the far side it all depends on the track elevations and I also had to purchase a substantial step stool with a handle, a Cosco brand at WM and it sure is comming in handy and will be the only way I can easily and comfortably put in my upper line. My layout is still under construction and that where I'm headed now.

Hope this has helped?

 

[Selector]

If you would like to keep this general bench construction, and I would agree with centering the operating pit, but by enlarging it at least one more foot 'south (it isn't big enough!!!), I would like to suggest something:

As you look at the top third, you have two 'lobes' of track crossing at a level crossing. Each comprises a substantial and generous curve. I would strongly suggest you take the left one, say, and continue its curvature, with slight adjustments tigher as necessary, such that it goes toward the center, and places several parallel track close to the south edge of your enlarged operating pit. That becomes storage and a yard facility...front and center.

Now we need to think in 3D. Will you accept other level crossings to get across the tracks running on the left side, or would you rather run under them? If so, two things must happen: the lobe track must sink a bit and/or the left side mains must rise a bit. You'll need an honest to goodness 2.5" of clearance as a rock bottom, horribly unrealistic passage between them. With a bridge of some kind for the top tracks, now you're adding another .7" to the clearance requirement. What I am trying to tell you is that you will need grades, and they may reach 3% which is substantial, but not really unrealistic.

If you would like to curve that track under the left side tracks, then any downgrade must start well back, say 6', and the left side tracks would have to begin their rise up their grade about the same distance...you are splitting the task of achieving the necessary clearance so that one track doesn't have to rise or fall at 6%!

I hope I'm not confusing you, but you can make a folded loop main track, or you can leave it all level...but those two large lobe curves at the top of the diagram offer you an opportunity to curve toward the south pit edge and afford you several storage and classification tracks right where you would want them.

-Crandell

 

[Larry Launstein Jr]

How about raising the outside track (in your picture, it is at the very bottom) somewhat higher than the other tracks just above it? And how about a slight grade from those inside tracks down to your lines (you have 3 of them on the right-hand side of your picture). That should help you get a bit of a 3-d effect without having to do a whole lot. What I'm picturing is a slight elevation for your mainline, track level with roadbed for the inside tracks, and right on the board for your siding tracks. That may be one place where you could add some 3-d and not have to do a whole lot in grades (unless you want to, but based on the plan you have shown us, there isn't much room between your mainline and the inside tracks, or the edge of the table. You could get around that problem by putting a backdrop there. If you want to keep the pit, you can get rid of the most innermost spur so you would have plenty of room to expand your pit and center it a bit more. That way, you'd have more room for scenery around the pit.