How much room needed for Williams Passenger train?

[SleeperN06]

My Williams Amtrak train arrived today and I was very surprised at how big it is. It has A & A(dummy) with 4 cars. I wanted to test it out on my Christmas layout, but there is no way. It hits the wall and everything else on the way and that’s just with one loco. I can’t even get the passenger cars on, so I’m going to have to set up something temporary for a test run.

I have enough 0-36 fastrack to make a small oval, but I don’t know that that is even big enough Anyway what track size and clearances would you suggest that I need for a temporary layout until I get something built permanently? Would I be able to do something on a 4x8 sheet of plywood?

I told my wife that I would probably have to build a shelf all the way around the family room above the doors and windows. She just looked at me like I was crazy and left the room without acknowledging me. Do you think that was a yes or a no?

 

[Seayakbill]

Most Williams trains should operate on 036 curves, the overhang could look a little wierd. Some of large steamers and scale GG-1 probably would need the larger radius curves.

[SleeperN06]

I’m still in the planning stages of my layout and I was hoping I could use up some of this tubular track I have stored up. I don’t know exactly what curves I have yet and I’m going to have to pull it all out to see. I’m glad this came up before I got too far along. I was originally going for 42” and then I saw a 52” helix that I was real excited about, but I can see right now that’s not even going to work. It looks I may have to go with a simple dog bone shape.

I need to keep the layout width to a minimum and focus more on long straight runs to save space. My only other option is to build removable bridge openings so that I can still use my patio for other stuff when not running trains.  Maybe I can build a bridge long enough to hold a complete passenger train (4 cars & 2 Locos) that rises up into a box for storage. Then when I want to use it, the bottom of the box swings open and the bridge with train drops down into place. I’m going to start searching around for some ideas.

 

[rtraincollector]

SleeperN06

I’m still in the planning stages of my layout and I was hoping I could use up some of this tubular track I have stored up. I don’t know exactly what curves I have yet and I’m going to have to pull it all out to see. I’m glad this came up before I got too far along. I was originally going for 42” and then I saw a 52” helix that I was real excited about, but I can see right now that’s not even going to work. It looks I may have to go with a simple dog bone shape.

I need to keep the layout width to a minimum and focus more on long straight runs to save space. My only other option is to build removable bridge openings so that I can still use my patio for other stuff when not running trains.  Maybe I can build a bridge long enough to hold a complete passenger train (4 cars & 2 Locos) that rises up into a box for storage. Then when I want to use it, the bottom of the box swings open and the bridge with train drops down into place. I’m going to start searching around for some ideas.

 

I beleive my scale GG-1 from williams requires min of O-42 track and you may be running into this with that amtract set the best way to see is goto http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/index.php and then look up your train. If you have the 72'  cars they require O-42

[SleeperN06]

rtraincollector

[I beleive my scale GG-1 from williams requires min of O-42 track and you may be running into this with that amtract set the best way to see is goto http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/index.php and then look up your train. If you have the 72'  cars they require O-42

Thanks RT, the cars say it operates on ‘0-31’ gauge track, but it doesn’t look right on the 0-36 Fastrack.  I haven’t actually run it yet, because I need to set it up outside on the patio right now for lack of room and it a little cold out there, plus it still dark. The neighbors might not be so happy about it either since its Saturday morning.   I was just doing some preliminary measurements and I figure I would need an 8’ bridge. If I did a dog bone, I could make it a double bridge and with two 52” turns then I would need approximately 5’ x 23’ minimum layout.  It would be great if I can get double tracks with the 52” as my outside main. I guess I need to draw it out in XtrkCad to see what it would be with double tracks.

 

[sir james I]

If it say's 031 it will run on it. But as you have noticed it does not look good. You know what it will run on but only you can decide how much space you want to use. Anything wider than 031 will look better of course.

[Ole Timer]

 Sleeper .... that's odd ... that's about the same reaction I got when I told my wife I wanted to do that to our living room ....   ..... but she paused on the way out and added " I DARE YOU ! " with that evil eye only a woman can give ....

[David Barker]

I run a Williams Passenger Train in my office and clearance of the wall on the curves is the only problem.  By the way it is on O27 track.

[lionelsoni]

David, paradoxically, you can get much closer to the wall by using some longer-radius curves.  I recommend spirals for your corners.  Start with, for example O72, then O27, then O72 again.  The entire curve will not be much farther from the corner than with two O27 sections; but the O72 will ease the train away from the wall, so that, when you enter the O27 section, the swing-out will not hit the wall.

With this approach, you can put the tangents very close to the wall.