Help! Just Starting Out

[tex702]

I have just started to collect the O scale trains. This has been a life long dream of mine and I have just strated out. I have two 4x8 sheets of plywood put together in an L Shape table. I have an oval track sitting on top of the table. I have decided to use fast track system because it has the track and the bed together in one piece. I have a huge concrete and block bacement with almost unlimited expansion space. I prefer to set up a train yard rather than a senic scene. Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated.

[mitchelr]

tex702,

You may want to check out this website for some ideas.

http://www.thortrains.net/

Welcome to the forum.

Mitch[:D]

[Roger Bielen]

Welcome to the forum tex. [#welcome][#welcome]

One thing to consider if setting up a yard, I'm assuming a switch yard, is that it'll take a good number of switches, i.e. $'s. Using Fastrack I think that the spacing from the switches will be a limiting factor in the number of tracks that can be fit in a given area. Another caviat is that it appears that the availability of some Fastrack items is sometimes limited due to its popularity.

[HopperSJ]

Hey text, Welcome!

I'm pretty new to this, too. I started out following my son's Christmas present of a Lionel from his grandparents. It's a blast. You've also found one of the best places for information (especially about Lionel O gauge).

I am stetting up a layout using fastrack as well. Roger is correct about the spacing between fastrack turnouts. yard lines cannot be spaced as close together as with other track styles. For this reason you may want to look into using some of the larger radius switches, like Fastrack O72 or O60. I believe they will allow you to place your yard lines much closer than the standard O36. They are a bit more expensive than the O36, but you may like the spacing better. Also, I have found a number of places online (some of which advertise here on CTT) which sell Fastrack at about 60% of list. I would really prefer to support my local hobby store, but I need to feed my children, too. I just can't afford to pay $75-$80 a switch like they charge. Poke around and you can find them for $45-$50.[:0]

Enjoy

[laz 57]

Welcome TEX702,
I would say do what ever is pleasing to you, do it.
One suggestion is your power supply. Get the biggest and best that you can afford.
Also consider if you are going to use conventional operation or TMCC or DCS then this too will also decide what transformer you will use. The TMCC will work with most transformers but the DCS needs a pure seine wave to operate properly.
Just my 2 cents.
Han\ve a blast.
laz57

[Anonymous]

tex702--Welcome!
In creating a yard, as Roger said, "it will take a good number of switches" and if interested, you need to look ahead to the vast acreage that an Engine House/Backshop and and/or Roundhouse and Turntable requires. I guarantee that as you advance with O-gauging you will expand your "druthers" and with a yard objective these items are in the forefront..

[Birds]

If you don't do a switch yard make sure to include a dead end spur or a siding that is as long as your longest train. This will give you a place to "park" a train when you get multiple engines.

I would also recommend two reversing loops if you can squeeze them in.

Depending on the layout design, certain switches may only be accessible from one direction (clockwise or counter clockwise). A train may get it's direction reversed through the use of the switches. If a second reversing loop isn't built in to "undo" the first reverse, the only way to get your trains going back in the original direction is to back them up through all the switches.

Reversing loops do take up space, but they make changing directions eaiser and provide alternate routes for running trains.

[kpolak]

Thanks for the tip on all gauge trains...What a wonderful site! It really has everything.
Thank you again,
Kurt