Layout advice for L shape layout

[Resqnu]

Got my foam sheets for my tables and hoping to get the tracks tomorrow.

 

[Bruette]

You are moving right along!

Thanks for keeping us posted.

 

[Iron Horseman]

but can you give me a list of tracks and any parts needed for this layout and I will place the order.

Ok so I didn't get to it Friday night....but here is the list of materials from the plan I posted earlier. The "elements required" are the real counts of the piece of track, the number in the "number" field is number of packages of that Atlas part number. So I think they include that so you know how many parts of that package will be left over.


Sectional vs Flex.
Sectional - easy to take apart and re-configure if something doesn't work. All needed shapes are not made. For example on this layout the 20" radius curves are made by using a combination of 18" and 22" curves. With flex track one could make a nice 20" or 19.5" radius curve, so one can say flex track is more "Flexable" in more ways than one. Flex track takes more skill / time to lay and since it is cut to fit it is pretty much a 1 time thing (except long straights of course). And of course nothing says that you cannot mix them. That might be the best deal here. Put the outside big curves in using 22" sectional track line up the straights for 2.25" or 2.5" centers and then put the inside curve with what ever radius that ends up being with flex track.

And by the way, that is one of my worries about this design. Having only a 2" center between curves of this small a radius can make longer equipment side swipe each other!

 

[Iron Horseman]

Well, I don't believe it. I had version 2 of your layout almost done (I mean really like 4 tracks to go) and of course I hadn't saved it, and BLAM! Lost everything.


So sorry, too late to try again tonight.

 

[photoman475]

I would like to add one suggestion for consideration, if it's possible to do so at this late stage.

I would add at least one more siding off of the main line, with the siding terminating at the edge of the layout. Here's why: Your layout is a walk-around and fully accessible from all sides. Your son won't be playing with Matchbox cars forever, so, why not allow for the possibilities of future expansion now? It will be a lot easier on you later if you build in the possibility now. Even if future expansion does not happen, you have another industry to switch now!

 

[Resqnu]

Ok so I didn't get to it Friday night....but here is the list of materials from the plan I posted earlier. The "elements required" are the real counts of the piece of track, the number in the "number" field is number of packages of that Atlas part number. So I think they include that so you know how many parts of that package will be left over.
View attachment 45590

Sectional vs Flex.
Sectional - easy to take apart and re-configure if something doesn't work. All needed shapes are not made. For example on this layout the 20" radius curves are made by using a combination of 18" and 22" curves. With flex track one could make a nice 20" or 19.5" radius curve, so one can say flex track is more "Flexable" in more ways than one. Flex track takes more skill / time to lay and since it is cut to fit it is pretty much a 1 time thing (except long straights of course). And of course nothing says that you cannot mix them. That might be the best deal here. Put the outside big curves in using 22" sectional track line up the straights for 2.25" or 2.5" centers and then put the inside curve with what ever radius that ends up being with flex track.

And by the way, that is one of my worries about this design. Having only a 2" center between curves of this small a radius can make longer equipment side swipe each other!

Man, you rock! No worries on timing. I understand you have better things to do, than plan my layout. But I really appreciate to taking the time to do this. I am up for laying out as you recommend. I'm new to this hobby and you are experienced. So what you recommend goes along way with me. My hopes are either track won't interfere with the other. So if I need to do the outer track with sectional and inner with flex, I can do that.
I have 10 new flex tracks that my friend gave me along with the foam boards. The foam boards had his layout already marked with the grass paper and some messy roads, so I tried my hand and laying the flex track for his layout to get experience until I heard from you. Laying the flex track takes 3 hands....LOL. It was a little demanding, but all worked out and running good. I have confidence in laying flex track now. Some of his turns are too tight for the long cars (probably 16" turns). Believe me, I like the layouts you are working on for me WAY better!! And plan on building the one you are helping me with. Again, I really appreciate your time and help. I'll go in any direction you recommend with layout and tracks.

FYI, as you can see in the pics, the flex track layout I used of his. I had to follow his layout, because he had the track laid out with glue on his track. The glue lines had ballast mixed in so removing the ballast didn't work out well, so I just followed his lines. As you can see, his track lines weren't straight and curves weren't as well. Just tried my hand at it to get experience for my final layout from you. This layout won't be around long, but gives my sone something to play on until laying out the final. The train runs, but don't like the layout much.

 

[Resqnu]

Well, I don't believe it. I had version 2 of your layout almost done (I mean really like 4 tracks to go) and of course I hadn't saved it, and BLAM! Lost everything.
View attachment 45591

So sorry, to late to try again tonight.

That sucks!. Sorry to hear that. I appreciate to taking the time to do this for me. I'm very interested to see what you came up with. Again, I respect your recommendations and look forward to seeing. Your time will not be wasted as your layout is the one I'm building.

 

[Resqnu]

I would like to add one suggestion for consideration, if it's possible to do so at this late stage.

I would add at least one more siding off of the main line, with the siding terminating at the edge of the layout. Here's why: Your layout is a walk-around and fully accessible from all sides. Your son won't be playing with Matchbox cars forever, so, why not allow for the possibilities of future expansion now? It will be a lot easier on you later if you build in the possibility now. Even if future expansion does not happen, you have another industry to switch now!

Thanks, Photoman475
That is a good idea for future expansion.

 

[Iron Horseman]

Here is version #2 using sectional track. It is better in several ways. First and most importantly is that I moved the track centers to be wider than 2" (notice the straight tracks between the crossover turnouts). I used more larger curves where possible. It is still not ideal as there are still a couple of turnouts directly off a curved section of track. I don't like doing that, but there is only so much space to work with.

I added two more industrial sidings and associated buildings. I think that will make operation more interesting and on the right makes use of that huge empty space there. Amazingly that did not change the automobile road structure by too much. Using the Right Track tool to add buildings (structures) put them in with just black outlines instead of the heavy green squares I used earlier so it looks a bit different.


Here is the parts list for it:


And yes. All the places where I had to use many small curves and short pieces of track to make it fit would be wonderful places to use flex track. The inside curves where I used pieces of 18 and 22 together to make 20" radius would be a good candidate for flex (in fact I had done that with the plan that the system ate). The long sweeping curve on the inside track on the back would be another good place to use flex track.

 

[Iron Horseman]

I would add at least one more siding off of the main line, with the siding terminating at the edge of the layout. Here's why: Your layout is a walk-around and fully accessible from all sides. Your son won't be playing with Matchbox cars forever, so, why not allow for the possibilities of future expansion now? It will be a lot easier on you later if you build in the possibility now. Even if future expansion does not happen, you have another industry to switch now!

Excellent idea, and one I was considering adding. Personally I always hate leaving all those corners empty. In this case I choose not to because I envisioned the curves might be consumed with Hot Wheels road going through them . I see from the recently posted pictures that my vision was not that far off.

However with the track as designed with 22" outside curves it should not be that hard to fit a turnout into one of those curves going out into the corner areas, as so:

 

[Brato]

View attachment 45603

I really like this layout. I'd like to use it a base for the N-scale layout I'm working on, if you don't mind.

 

[Resqnu]

Here is version #2 using sectional track. It is better in several ways. First and most importantly is that I moved the track centers to be wider than 2" (notice the straight tracks between the crossover turnouts). I used more larger curves where possible. It is still not ideal as there are still a couple of turnouts directly off a curved section of track. I don't like doing that, but there is only so much space to work with.

I added two more industrial sidings and associated buildings. I think that will make operation more interesting and on the right makes use of that huge empty space there. Amazingly that did not change the automobile road structure by too much. Using the Right Track tool to add buildings (structures) put them in with just black outlines instead of the heavy green squares I used earlier so it looks a bit different.
View attachment 45603

Here is the parts list for it:
View attachment 45604

And yes. All the places where I had to use many small curves and short pieces of track to make it fit would be wonderful places to use flex track. The inside curves where I used pieces of 18 and 22 together to make 20" radius would be a good candidate for flex (in fact I had done that with the plan that the system ate). The long sweeping curve on the inside track on the back would be another good place to use flex track.

Thank you. That layout is AWESOME!! Me and my son love it. He said "That's what I've be wanting". I like the more room between the tracks. I will order the tracks tonight and start laying track. Just have a few questions.
1. On the parts list you have the amount for 20- 22" radius & 3- 22" radius 6pk. Do I need to order both of these?
2. On the inner and outer curves, where do the full length 18", 22", 24" curved pieces go? Or is it like putting a puzzle together?
3. For the inner curves, would you recommend the sectional or flex? If flex, any idea what you would omit? If not, I can order and return/keep what's not used.
4. Should I purchase any retailers for the straight track sections?
5. I think from the pic I can figure out where the shot pieces go.

Also, while looking up the parts for the order, I noticed the track is code 83. Do you recommend that vs code 100? I'm good with either, just assumed code 100


Also, sending you a pm on another subject.

 

[Resqnu]

I really like this layout. I'd like to use it a base for the N-scale layout I'm working on, if you don't mind.

I don't mind, but might want to ask Iron Horse


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[Johne230]

That is a real good looking layout have fun with it. Looking forward to the build.

 

[Iron Horseman]

I don't mind, but might want to ask Iron Horse

Anything I post is for public consumption. I have found very few model railroaders unwilling to share ideas, plans, concepts, or anything.

 

[Resqnu]

That is a real good looking layout have fun with it. Looking forward to the build.

Thanks, but the Thanks really goes to Iron Horse. I plan to start a build thread as soon as the parts arrive.

 

[Iron Horseman]

1. On the parts list you have the amount for 20- 22" radius & 3- 22" radius 6pk. Do I need to order both of these?

Hmmm, I did not write the parts list. The software generated it automatically, I just cut and pasted. I say Hmmm because I just counted 36 in the plan, so why it doesn't just say 6 - 6pks. ??!? Regardless the short answer looks like it is, yes.

2. On the inner and outer curves, where do the full length 18", 22", 24" curved pieces go? Or is it like putting a puzzle together?

No, puzzle they have to be in specific locations. Acutally I anticipated this question. So I made a diagram for the curves as below:

3. For the inner curves, would you recommend the sectional or flex? If flex, any idea what you would omit?

Yes, and looks like you could eliminate at least 10 (maybe 12) 22" full curves, and all the half 18". Guess it just depends how far you want to take the flex.

4. Should I purchase any retailers for the straight track sections?

I see you could use two for the road crossings in the left center top. I am ambivalent toward rerailer tracks.

Also, while looking up the parts for the order, I noticed the track is code 83. Do you recommend that vs code 100? I'm good with either, just assumed code 100

No, I was not recommending it. Not that code-83 is that much different - just more expensive. It was a mistake on my part. I just noticed that a bit ago, and was going to point it out. I assumed code-100 too but accidentally loaded the code-83 library. They are interchangeable, but there is 1 piece of track I used that is not available in code-100. That is the third 22" radius. You could substitute flex track or, what I always used to do, was take a full 22" and cut it into thirds. In fact looking at this specific plan that isn't too bad an idea. There are two places I used two 1/3s back to back, and two places with a single, so two full sections with one cut each and ta-da. Also with code-100 there are also bumper sections not available in code-83 that could be used at the end of the spur tracks.

 

[Resqnu]

I'm so thankful. I will order the track by tomorrow morning and let you know how it goes. Great info!
also, I replied to you pm, when you get a chance.

 

[Iron Horseman]

And finally the straight section legend.

 

[Resqnu]

Thank you


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