I ran a temporary layout with a 45 degree crossover for a while. I was constantly starting and stopping trains so they wouldn't crash. I changed the plan because I was always watching that one spot rather than enjoying the whole layout.
If you are going to use crossovers run two trains from different throttles you will have to isolate the center rails of each leg of the crossovers. You can do that by de-soldering the center cross piece underneath and putting some rubber material or cardboard between the two metal strips.
lionelsoni wrote:You've got crossovers in both layouts. So I think you all must mean "crossings" when talking about the difficulty of the second layout.
Yep I'm still not thinking straight after me druged the other day so they could do my heart cath lol
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
I like the first one.
2-independant loops, plus a lot of opportunities for interesting switching inside.
Kurt
Bob Nelson
Well, I got the photos posted somewhere else and they seem to be working.
rtraincollector -I thought my 10 year old son would be old enough to handle the crossovers, but you raise a good point. He is a kid and they they aren't always paying attention to what they're doing!!Good feedback!
First thing I would remove if you plan on your son and you running at the same time is the crossovers yes there fun to see the train do it but one or both will be breaking every time you turn around ( if I followed the loops right) even in command you will be needing to hit the brake button. In conventional I would think you would have to wire in blocks to prevent crashes. you could put switches in there to do it if you wish but to let you normally run straight loops keeping one on inside the other on outside.
TMCC to get going isn't really that expensive if you buy the pieces off ebay in fact I know where to get the ( used but in very good condition as owner switched to odessy ) controllr and the base for about $95.00 plus shipping but then you still would need 2 powermasters which you can get from charles ro for about $60.00 each. (one for each track line) unless you plan to buy a Command Control engine or 2. I presently have 3 but started with none and running my postwar with a powermaster and was about to buy another when I got some good deals for the 3 I know have but I still have the powermaster wired in so I can still run the other engines. Not sure what your looking for in price to move to Command Control but you can get an engine for about $250 or less if you want. I have gotten a NYC (doesn't have Coil couplers or talking but has rail sounds and tmcc I picked up for a little less than $200.00 with shipping included. I also got super lucky as a freind that has a hobby shop had a demo engine ( norfolk southern sd-80mac) with command, crew talk, rail sounds, coil couplers ect. and gave it to me for basicly half the original price. With that being said I would goto a hobby shop if you have one near buy and measure hight on tracks and for curves. excetra.
Planning for what you don't have, don't want, or may never want......not necessarily realistic. Minds and interests change, at least mine do.
Pics are not working.
Jack
IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.
OK, it's time for a change. I finished about 85% of my first layout a year ago. Then life got in the way. A part of that "life" was the realization that I made some major mistakes on the layout. For example: When my wife finally bought me my high-cube METS boxcar I'd been waiting for, I realized my tunnel wasn't quite tall enough in one unaccessible spot. Then, When I bought my Hogwarts explress last fall and brought home my first passenger cars, I realized my portals weren't wide enough to handle the long cars on a turn! Lastly, my whole priority was to run two trains (with my kids) at the same time, but since the folded dogbone shared a length of track in the middle, there was no way two trains could opperate together, without sacrifiing fun. Bummer.
Chaulk it up as a learning experience. Anyway, I love the creating, designing and building phases (I just may not be very good at it!)
Well, here are two of my new attempts. I am lengthening and narrowing my layout which will not only make longer runs, but also should make the rest of the room more usable. Please look them over and give comments. If I'm WAY off base on somethin, let me know. Even if you just have a small tweak that might bring more fun, speak up. Lastly, If you have any other entirely layout plans or ideas that might be worth pursuing, send 'em on over! My space is 11.5' x 5'.
Here ya go:
Overhead Layout 1
3D Layout 1
Overhead Layout 2
3D Layout 2
Lastly, I am debating between TMCC and conventional. I have been conventional, but would love to go TMCC. If money permits, I will. I think layout 2 w/ double crossovers on the main lines would be a pain to opperate in converntional mode; just too many blocks to switch back and forth! But I'll wait to here what you all think.
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