O-27 Plans request

[Anonymous]

I've decided to go with o-27 track due to a windfall of getting a bunch of it cheap, but I can't come up with a decent plan.  Can you please post a pic or diagram of yours?  I'd especially like to see 4x8 or 8x8 ones.  Any have ones with with elevation/trestles?

 

Thanks,

 

Dan 

[Frank53]

there are dozens of O and O27 track plans on this site:

http://www.thortrains.net/

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks,

I've seen the site and have it bookmarked--but none to my liking and most are too small or only one level.  I want some tunnels and trestles.  Thanks, though.  Thor has a great site none the less.

[pbjwilson]

Thors site has lots of great plans and ideas. Play around with using the plans you find there. Add what you like and  are interested in accomplishing.

For a 4x8 my idea would be a large O-42 oval on the perimeter of the layout. Inside that a figure 8 in O-27. On elevated trestles, a winding trolley line with bumpers on the ends. That way you have two independent train lines and a trolley line. Add a few operating accessories and some crossing gates, a rotary beacon and voila, toy train heaven.

Have fun and good-luck!

[Wes Whitmore]

I built this plan with MTH, and its 4x12 if you use lionel. I'm still working on the final touches, but because of the elevation of the turnaround, you are going to want to keep the length as long as possible.  I think I am around 3.5% now, which my MTH train can easily do.

I used lionel 027 for the pike,and 031 for the outer edge.

Wes

http://new.photos.yahoo.com/weswhitmore/photo/294928804223632238/0

 

[Anonymous]

PBJ, Wes,

 

Thanks for your responses.  Every plan helps me develop mine.  I appreciate the advice, links and photos.  I really wish there was a site that had a ton of layouts similar to the booklets of layout plans that lionel put out in the 50s. 

 

Again, I appreciate all the help.

 

Dan

[pbjwilson]

Track plans of the 50's and 60's? Check out e-bay for old paper from Lionel.

Heres one. Who knows, you might find just what you are looking for. And some good reading too.

http://cgi.ebay.com/2-LIONEL-TRAIN-LAYOUT-BOOKS-TRACK-PLANS-1950-60s_W0QQitemZ190081219339QQihZ009QQcategoryZ4146QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

 

[Frank53]

Thors site has lots of gre

For a 4x8 my idea would be a large O-42 oval on the perimeter of the layout. Inside that a figure 8 in O-27. On elevated trestles, a winding trolley line with bumpers on the ends. That way you have two independent train lines and a trolley line. Add a few operating accessories and some crossing gates, a rotary beacon and voila, toy train heaven.

If you play your cards right, I think you can squeeze in an o42 oval, an o31 oval, and o31 oval on trestles - you have to stagger it's spacing, and a trolley line on trestles - if your going fo rmaximum actino in 4x8:

[fwright]

My favorite 4x8 has an outer oval of half O31 and half O42 with a passing track, linked with O31 switches to an O27 figure 8 inside.  The link to the figure 8 forms the front reversing loop for the figure 8, and the back side of the figure 8 has a straight through for the other reversing connection.  The back half of the outer loop (the 027 height 042 curves rise up to go over my MPC-era draw bridge.  Finally, I have an elevated loop of HO track with 15" radius and one 9" straight in each leg in the back right corner.  Built for maximum fun with the kids.

Fred W

[Brutus]

 This is 8 ft by about 3.5 ft.  With another ft wider, I would add an outer loop that would be separate or rise up to another level:

I elevated that circle down at the end that is shown here around the sawmill at the end.  I'd post a new pic, but my camera is in the shop.  The circle was not attached to that spur - here's a different view:

I've lengthened the spur and I have it feeding that sawmill, which is now perpendicular to the long - length of the layout facing you...

I hope this helps - also hope to see some more examples here so I can get more ideas for myself!

[pbjwilson]

Thats a beaut Jim.

I'm still learning my railroad planning software. Heres my plan.

[Wes Whitmore]

That's awesome!

I'm trying to convince myself that I can go with a 4ft deep layout myself.  It really opens up what you can do.  Right now, I have a good pike design with a 3ft x 12ft.  If it's going against the wall anyhow, you might as well go as long as you can.  Depth is another issue.

Wes

[JimM]

 This is 8 ft by about 3.5 ft.  With another ft wider, I would add an outer loop that would be separate or rise up to another level:

 

I elevated that circle down at the end that is shown here around the sawmill at the end.  I'd post a new pic, but my camera is in the shop.  The circle was not attached to that spur - here's a different view:

 

I've lengthened the spur and I have it feeding that sawmill, which is now perpendicular to the long - length of the layout facing you...

I hope this helps - also hope to see some more examples here so I can get more ideas for myself!

 

Jim, I really do like your efficient layout. It gives me hope for my 4X8 layout...(soon...)

Jim

[Brutus]

Thanks - Hey, Paul - maybe I should add another loop and put a passenger train on it, the Meatball Express?  I actually have the cirlce up a the "Busier" end, where the two loops come together so I can put my sawmills and stuff down at the "open-er" end.  I want to add some coal stuff too so I can have about as much animated action and trains running as possible in my little area.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the help...and the humor.  There are some good plans out there, and I just have to find the right one.  I really like lionellines.com.  They've got some old-time dealer displays that are classics.  I have a feeling I'm going to have a functional layout to scratch my itch and a future layout to adddress what I really want.

 

Dan