layouts for two individual trains

[pylgrym]

I can't say enough about THORTRAINS. Uncle Thor is a wealth of knowledge. He also hosts a YAHOO! group, 'armymencrew' dedicated to playing with army men - it is a LOT of fun.

'

pylgrym

[Sturgeon-Phish]

Doug,

Yes it is indoor outdoor grass.  All I did was staple it on the underside pulling it about 4" and saple away with 3/8 staples.  Again, touble free, almost industricible and works.

Jim

[challenger3980]

If I may make a couple of suggestions, make this layout very kid friendly.  You will get more fun and less frustration that way.  There was an article maybe a year ago on tips for a kid friendly layout that was excellent.  Maybe someone can find it and post the month and list the tips.  But, I can tell you my grandkids have a lot of fun playing with "their" layout.  It is simple simple simple.  Here is a pic

Manual switches, at a low height, and nothing to break! 

Jim

  Hi Sturgeon-Phish,

     Is that the plastic indoor-outdoor grass carpet on their layout? I have long thought that that is a Great idea for a Toy Train layout, it is much more durable than the sawdust/paper "grass" , and a LOT less messy too.

                                                        Doug

[challenger3980]

Jim,

Thanks for the advise. I can not wait to post a picture of my boys with there trains.

Was the article published in Classic toy trains?

 This would have been Jumijo's layout, who was a frequent poster here in the past. It was basically two roughly "L" shaped ovals that did not interconnect, and had only one spur, it used Lionel Fast Track. It was a very simple layout design, but the IMPRESSIVE scenery they did, worked wonders at hiding the simple track plan. It was featured in the February 2008 edition of CTT.

                                            Doug

[lionelsoni]

I think that Jim meant "crossings" when he wrote "crossovers" (perhaps following Lionel's erroneous terminology), and you seem to have understood it that way too.  If he was talking about crossings of one loop over the other, then you were right in thinking that the two loops would be connected together electrically.  However, if you are willing to make a simple modification to the crossing sections (there will always be an even number of them), you can isolate the center rails for the two directions from each other and then operate the two loops from separate transformers.  The outside rails can stay connected together without any harm.

[wsdimenna]

I did the same thing to start. Later a piece of 4 by 4  was cut in diagonal and added to inside of L.   That space is wasted otherwise.  IT nice because it allows for larger curves on inside leg of L

 It was changed 5 times over 5 yrs. With two 6 yr olds it will most likely change even more frequently at your place :)

 PS: don't forget the slot cars

[challenger3980]

 

   The book "Easy Lionel Layouts You Can Build" by Peter H. Riddle, would probably be very helpful to You. It shows many different layouts from small to large, explains ways to modify them. Shows layouts built on hollow core doors, that can be used modularly, in single,2, 3 or 4 modules. It will also explain how to modify a crossing (which Lionel incorrectly refers to as cross overs) so that they are independent electrically, pgs 34+35. www.amazon.com lists 12 copies available. I would recommend this book Highly.

                                                             Doug

[Twinboys]

Thanks for the response. I was under the assumtion if the tracks crossed you can not use two transformers, (because they would be one current through the tracks).

In regards to space, I was planning on butting 2 4x8 piece of plywood in an L-shape.

[jimhaleyscomet]

One other thing....if you want to not have switches then you are always in an "oval" mode. The good news is it is easy to disguise the oval by adding track to bend it 90 degrees or add curving S sections or adding crossovers.

Jim Haley

[jimhaleyscomet]

How much space do you have? How much are you willing to spend? What track will you be using.

If you purchased two sets (for two transformers) then the oval will be a start. Then they can either run the sets separate or combine them for a larger set (this can start to take a lot of space!). Perhaps add two crossover tracks so the ovals can cross each other (this saves space). Crossovers adds interesting required intervention and more fun. I am assuming these are "starter" loco's not $1000 engines so a mishap is not a tragedy.

If space is at a premium and you do not want crossovers then consider putting the ovals on different levels at 90 degrees to each other. This really changes things.

Next I would consider a figure eight to the inner loop (and the outer loop if two sets are on different levels). If you use switches (two or four per oval) to create the figure eight then you can add interesting switching and reversing operations. When the two sets are combined you would have TONS of switching opportunities with four switches.

Next I would add operating accessories like an icehouse/UPS package loader, gateman.

Jim Haley

[wsdimenna]

If your boys can operate a remote on a TV, then I would suggest lionel legacy with extra remote.

two engines, and some rolling stock. 

"I also do not want it to be too simple (i.e. two ovals or an oval with a figure eight inside"

I think your kids are probably brighter then you give them credit for and manually operated switches will add a lot of fun. 

quite a few simple layouts can be found http://www.thortrains.net/
 

 

 

 

 

[J. Daddy]

Boy I tell you what, I would put up a 4X8 plywood table, paint it green, secure it on two saw horses, hand them the track and switches in a box and let them design their tracks and go...I received my first 027 train when I was six, did not have a table but my Dad only had to help me only one time to set up the first one and by then I was already starting to modify it by the second set up. That was half the fun was putting the puzzle pieces together to form your "empire". Then run the trains for a few hours, if you were board the next day you could take it all down and do something even better.... great for the imagination, just make sure the floor has carpet in case an engine or car heads for the floor...hours of enjoyment!

[Twinboys]

Jess,

Thanks for the advise. Let me clarify what I am looking for. I want to find a layout where I can run two trains at the same time using 2 transformers. I do not want it to be too complicated with switches, the boys are only 6. I also do not want it to be too simple (i.e. two ovals or an oval with a figure eight inside).

 

[Twinboys]

Jim,

Thanks for the advise. I can not wait to post a picture of my boys with there trains.

Was the article published in Classic toy trains?

[J. Daddy]

If I may make a couple of suggestions, make this layout very kid friendly.  You will get more fun and less frustration that way.  There was an article maybe a year ago on tips for a kid friendly layout that was excellent.  Maybe someone can find it and post the month and list the tips.  But, I can tell you my grandkids have a lot of fun playing with "their" layout.  It is simple simple simple.  Here is a pic

Manual switches, at a low height, and nothing to break! 

Jim

Jim,

I see you have plenty of new recruits! I like the use of the re-railer, very important for young people to minimize electrical shorts, and not be frustrated by putting on new cars.

boy this is a master card commercial.... Transformer 20 dollars, layout table with scenery 120 bucks, American flyer General 250 dollars, young kids playing with and enjoying post war trains.... PRICELESS!!!!!!!!

[Red Horse]

Jim, awesome pics of real kids enjoying the hobby, just looking at their faces tells the whole story.

It is good to share this hobby with the next generations and I can see this hobby surviving far into the future.

Thanks for posting some great pics.

[Sturgeon-Phish]

If I may make a couple of suggestions, make this layout very kid friendly.  You will get more fun and less frustration that way.  There was an article maybe a year ago on tips for a kid friendly layout that was excellent.  Maybe someone can find it and post the month and list the tips.  But, I can tell you my grandkids have a lot of fun playing with "their" layout.  It is simple simple simple.  Here is a pic

Manual switches, at a low height, and nothing to break! 

Jim

[dougdagrump]

Here is a site that will give you some ideas for a possible layout to meet your needs. They have everything from large and complex to small and simple, it's just a matter of finding the one that fits your needs or can be modified to meet your needs. As far as the trains themselves I would suggest just a couple of basic starter sets with transformer controlled operation, no need to invest in costly sets and control systems until it is determined whether this is going to be a long term hobby interest or not.

www.thortrains.net 

Forgot to say, aboard. There are a lot of very knowledgable folks here who are willing to help with questions and problems you will invariably encounter.

[Red Horse]

It is always good to hear that the next generation is finding interest in this hobby.

I don't know what you mean by "Finding" two individual layouts but you can Assemble two for the boys.

I wanted to run two different trains at the same time and a lot of folks at this site said that I would have to convert from DC to DCC and with my limited budget that wasn't possible at this time so what I've been doing is building a layout and having a 2nd track set up to run in a big hoop around the 1st layout, this way I can have one train running through my little town and have a 2nd one on the out skirts of the town running on its own track for when friends stop by and would like to run their own train.

It isn't hard and if you wanted something simple, set up a large oval and then a smaller one inside of that for train #2, it will be two separate tracks with their own transformer and their own controls and 2 different trains.

What ever you decide have fun with it and know that you are doing a great thing by passing this hobby down to the future model rail road builders of the next generation.

Great luck and happy Rails.

Jess Red Horse of the Blackfeet Nation.

[Twinboys]

I have six year old twin boys who are getting interested in o guage trains. I am looking for a layout that I can set-up so they can individualy control the trains at the same time. My local hoppy shop mentioned I would have to set-up two individual tracks. Any suggestion where I can find 2 train layouts.