Help me fill 28 by 11 ft. with a track plan

[cnw1995]

The radon guys are gone and the crawlspace has its carpet - now to lay track. I've never really followed a plan - just grew an oval on the former layout so I'm staring at a blank canvas. Now's your chance to give me much-needed advice. I've got all 027 track; with five trolleys and an 027 freight and 027 passenger train. About the only given is a preference to run two engines at the same time using separate controllers so with the old layout, that mean electrically separated loops.

[cnw1995]

Right now, in preparation of doodling through a long meeting, I'm drawing an oval around the perimeter and a large figure 8 in the middle with a link in the corners, and a few sidings along the front of the 'oval'.

[thor]

There are so many ways to do this! One way might be to find three small layouts you like and try and fit them all onto one big board. The reason I say this is because often a lot of thought goes into putting as much action as possible into those limited space layouts and thus by combining them you can have the best of both worlds.

Try and escape from symetrical thinking! In other words rather than go for a great big oval, perhaps consider making it swerve a bit, or use an oval offset catty corner to the rectangular baseboard.

Think in three dimensions, not one. With all that real estate you can afford to have at least one overhead section be it only a trolley or subway loop. I'd definitely think of having one fully automated loop, perhaps for the trolleys, doing the same stops and going round and round or back and forth with everything done auomatically.

To my way of thinking IF I had the luxury of all that space to play with, the best layouts are those that can show a lot of action like two mainlines plus a shunting yard so that you can always sit back and enjoy just watching the trains plus playing with whichever section(s) take your fancy whilst the rest run by themselves.

I wouldnt dare suggest any actual track formations though, thats up to you!

[dwiemer]

Doug, taking up after thor, I would try to have a trolley line amble up and down along your layout. Just a little separate loop that winds amoung the rest of the layout to add animation. Also, because we know your love of the trolley. I know this would require a third power source, but hey, you can make it work with a cheap 1033.
Good Luck,
Dennis

[johnandjulie13]

Hello Doug:

Instead of a trolley, why not use the new White Sox CTA cars? Can you have a little section of your layout for an L train? At 28' x 11', that will be a huge outer loop, can you wrap that over/around the inner figure 8?

Regards,

John O

[phillyreading]

Some think ahead planning is to make sure that you can get access to everything on the layout should you have a derailment, an example is to put an access hole in the center or two access holes so that you don't end up having to walk across the top of your layout. You can make an access hole that is covered with some scenery or just an open space, just remember most people don't have six foot long arms.
Lee Fritz

[Anonymous]

Hey doug Would you consider making a U type layout with each width 3 or 4 ft wide? seperated by a space depending on what size your radius are. You can make it with one loop on a different level or you can make it a 2 track main line. I was able to put 0-42 on the out side and a 0-31 onthe inside on my layout. Do you think you can lean over 48 inches over the table? Two 28 ft runs could handle 2 0r 3 sets of trains if you go in command. You might even be able to squezze 0-27 radius's in there. I' ll look for some track plans and if i find some thing I'll send them to you on you email. Felix

[pbjwilson]

Hey Doug,
Glad you are back in the basement. I mean that in a good way. I tend to spend to much time in my basement too. Anyway, My suggestion would be like a folded dogbone with a reverse loop at either end. Or another one I like is a loop inside a loop with 2 switches wired so that the train automaticly switches from inside loop to outside loop via the non-derailing mechnanism.

Sometimes when I run trains on the floor I have several small ovals with short trains or motorized units on them. For instance handcars or maintenance cars or Tie-ejector. Adds alot of motion with little power from a small transformer. Add a Marx tunnel or a structure or two to hide the fact that it's simply an oval. An oval like this can be elevated on trestles easily as the weight of these trains are minimal.

Just a couple ideas for you to ponder - Good-luck.

[spankybird]

Doug,

see what you think of this



click on pic to enlarge.

tom

[mitchelr]

QUOTE: Originally posted by spankybird

Doug,

see what you think of this

tom

Tom,

I am impressed with the track plan. It is complex enough to be interesting, but offers neat possibilities for operating the trolleys along some of the interior lines. You really ought to consider the custom layouts as a secondary or full-time career.

Nice Job.

Mitch[swg]

[cnw1995]

Wow, great ideas! Asymetrical is a good thing that I wasn't considering - I have been thinking everything had to 'balance' such as a loop to a loop; a switch facing another one. Of course I know it's all personal preference but I appreciate the advice. Tom, thank you. I am going to sketch that out on kraft paper to see if I have enough track.

[spankybird]

Doug,

e-mail me and I will send you the file

tom

[FJ and G]

Doug,

Before you do anything, consider the 7 main factors:

1. Accessibility/clearance; even at sacrifice of layout

2. Do you like to run trains, hands off or do you like switching. Many like both and design accordingly.

3. Do you want 2 track, 1, or 3 track mainline or single track with passing sidings. Hands-on operators like the latter b/c there are more challenges.

4. To get the longest running track, around the wall is better than island. To get even longer running track, consider multishelves

5. Are you OK with flourescent lighting? If so, full-spectrum is best.

6. Have you negotiated this space with your family and pet?

7. Do not rush into this. Think it all thru and let us do some thinking too to help

[cnw1995]

John, I didn't want to overlook your mention of the CWS CTA cars. They are unfortunately pretty darn rare - and out of my price range. Have you seen them?
David, this is a valuable overview. Let's see how I would answer these.
1) This means few if any switches beyond the front of the layout. For the time being, I am physically able to crawl up on the layout and move around to get at everything. The old layout had a 'path' that I would follow that mimiced a water-way since the colored sandpaper sheets were hard on the hands and knees.. This one I don't mind stepping over track because of the carpet.
2) I've found I prefer to run the trains. My sidings are mostly for storage.
3) In a change from the previous layout, which was all single track with separate loops, I'd like to consider a two-track mainline.
4) I'm going to stick with one level around the wall or rather the perimeter - as felix suggested - because the crawlspace is uneven, I'm unsure how I would do something elevated for now. and the backdrop is simply hanging curtain with 2 inches of fuzzy insulation and then concrete - nothing for me to hang something on without walling everything in - which I don't know how to do.
5) It's a dark space - only two outlets over the layout - with spiral flourescents bulbs - that gets me thinking I can put some lit buildings in the background where they'd look better. And the backdrop can be 'shadier' By full-spectrum, do you mean 'regular' lightbubs?
6) Good thinking. Yes, the crawl is my layout space - but the cats love to prowl it too. For now, I try to keep them out of the basement.

[FJ and G]

Doug,

1. Then an access hatch b/c switches at the far side will be the 1st to go. But since you appear to be young and in good health and don't mind leaping on the table, you could probably go with your idea if you dont plan on keeping the layout up for 20-30 years.

2. Excellent; you have your sights set (I'm of a similar mindset for the backyard layout)

3. Nothing beats watching 2 trains running neck n neck or passing

4. Fair enough. Glad to see you're using the perimeter. In that case you might even get away with eliminating all benchwork and using commercial brackets screwed to wall studs. If you go that route, suggest using the long upright mounts. That way, you can in the future add an extra shelf for trains or extra shelving for displays, tools, books, etc. If you do it nicely, you won't need a skirt, which I'm not a big fan of personally (sorry)

Oh, btw, something to add to #4. With a perimeter layout, you could build out a peninsula and create a nice wye for it and a return loop, or sidings on the peninsula for storing trains as a yard or engine house/maintenance facility

5. Full spectrum can be flourescent bulbs too. They're used to treat people who come down with SADD.

6. OK

** I'm sure you've seen my ole thin center-wire shelf layout that is now just a memory (been averaging one new layout every 18 months)

[Anonymous]

Doug, if you need more 0-27 track I have a good bit of Lionel and a pair of manual turnouts that I would be happy to donate to your restoration project. Drop me an email if you are interested.

[cnw1995]

Thanks, Dru. Email on the way.