Small 027 layout suggestions/advise/ideas

[trains2353]

I recieved this small train table measuring 43.5" wide and 58.5 " long. I layed an 027 oval and am using it as a test track. Thinking I would like to create a small 027 layout on it. I have two 1122 switches that came with it and a bunch of track. Was thinking a large(as I could make it) outside oval and maybe some Plasticville and a trolley line inside the oval.

Ideas? Suggestions? Help?

http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL1001/4368153/24776054/413433030.jpg

http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL1001/4368153/24776054/413433031.jpg

http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL1001/4368153/24776054/413433032.jpg

http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL1001/4368153/24776054/413433033.jpg

 

 

 

[CB&Q]

I would add at top and bottom of long straight tracks a switch and make industrial tracks. the 3-4 outside open areas are perfect for water tower or small to medium type structures thats if you create a small pull out for transformer to sit on opening up the 4th corner!

or you can do 1 industrial track with a small town in the center area possibly with a small creek running inside somewhere?

or you could remove small straight track on curved track area and use both switches and create a small passenger area or a place to hold a second small freight train to change out with a second train running.

that would open up center area more somewhat allowing for a more sceniced town area or you could do an all industrial area with a freight station next to the mainline or even an operating log accessory or a coal dump area or??any of these ideas getting you eager to start? if you have some buildings set them up move them around until you feel a happy glow inside, you can even draw plans on paper see what that yeilds your own imagination can do wonders with the what ifs!!

you could even add a board across backside of table and put a scene of distant towns forests or industrial buildings or use mirrors and create the effect that layout is twice its real size!

[BigAl 956]

http://www.tandem-associates.com/lioneltrackplans.htm

[Penny Trains]

Holy cow!  I didn't realize that book https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0897785096?ie=UTF8&tag=lioneltrainsh-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0897785096 was so valuable!

Less than 4 by 5 is tricky to get much in O of any type.  You should get some ideas from the CTT track plan database: http://ctt.trains.com/how-to/track-plan-database#4.  An over-under figure eight with an industrial spur inside the lower oval and maybe one outside might fit.  Other than that, you may be limited to just a pair of spurs unless you want to have an independent circle or oval up top.

[trains2353]

[quote user="CB&Q"]

"I would add at top and bottom of long straight tracks a switch and make industrial tracks. the 3-4 outside open areas are perfect for water tower or small to medium type structures thats if you create a small pull out for transformer to sit on opening up the 4th corner!

or you can do 1 industrial track with a small town in the center area possibly with a small creek running inside somewhere?

or you could remove small straight track on curved track area and use both switches and create a small passenger area or a place to hold a second small freight train to change out with a second train running.

that would open up center area more somewhat allowing for a more sceniced town area or you could do an all industrial area with a freight station next to the mainline or even an operating log accessory or a coal dump area or??any of these ideas getting you eager to start? if you have some buildings set them up move them around until you feel a happy glow inside, you can even draw plans on paper see what that yeilds your own imagination can do wonders with the what ifs!!

you could even add a board across backside of table and put a scene of distant towns forests or industrial buildings or use mirrors and create the effect that layout is twice its real size!"

Lots of good ideas there! I'll start laying track in place and look for some glued Plasticville and small accessorys. And move the transformer.

[trains2353]

[quote user="BigAl 956"]

http://www.tandem-associates.com/lioneltrackplans.htm

 

Lots of good books for ideas. I like "Layout Plans for Toy Trains" and will think about getting that one.

Thanks for the link!

[trains2353]

[quote user="Penny Trains"]

Holy cow!  I didn't realize that book https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0897785096?ie=UTF8&tag=lioneltrainsh-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0897785096 was so valuable!

Less than 4 by 5 is tricky to get much in O of any type.  You should get some ideas from the CTT track plan database: http://ctt.trains.com/how-to/track-plan-database#4.  An over-under figure eight with an industrial spur inside the lower oval and maybe one outside might fit.  Other than that, you may be limited to just a pair of spurs unless you want to have an independent circle or oval up top.

 

Lots more ideas! Thanks!

The table is very well built, so I don't want to tear it up in any way. My current layout is a 2 rail wall setup running completely around(and through the washer/dryer room!), so I did think of adapting the small layout to that somehow. But also, we are planning a move to DE in a year, so best keep the small layout confined to its table for now. One is DE, I plan to have a whole room to work with and then I will incorperate it into the bigger area.

I will report what I will do after some more thought and laying of track.

Again thanks for all the responses!

[fifedog]

Got grandkids???  A theme park comes to mind, making the train part of the rides.  So many amazing carnival themed items from Lemax, Dept 56, as well as Lionel, are avialable.  Instead of a trolley, you could add a monorail overhead.

[trains2353]

[quote user="fifedog"]

Got grandkids???  A theme park comes to mind, making the train part of the rides.  So many amazing carnival themed items from Lemax, Dept 56, as well as Lionel, are avialable.  Instead of a trolley, you could add a monorail overhead.

More good ideas. I do have a grandkid, but, sadly, not nearby. That would look really neat though.

[trains2353]

Here's getting near the final track position. This came from one of the layout suggestion links from all the replys. Thanks again for all of them. It's actually not too much bigger then what I have to work with and it was in S guage, but I think it will work. I have to get one 1122 right hand switch and alot of track cleaning but there is no rush. I will be moving the transformer off the layout. Each corner will have something in it. The sidings will have some industry and a small town main street. I'll be using motorized units alot. They will fit fine there with a 3 car train.

Here's the link to where the plan came from:

http://ctt.trains.com/how-to/track-plan-database/2013/09/an-s-gauge-starter-set-oval-with-add-ons

I kinda turned it upside down to use the the turnouts I have.

The first pic was my first plan. Kinda boring. Needs more action. Gave up on the two train idea on such a small layout. More pics as it progresses.

http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL1001/4368153/24777125/413446957.jpg

http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL1001/4368153/24777125/413446958.jpg

http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL1001/4368153/24777125/413446960.jpg

http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL1001/4368153/24777125/413446961.jpg

http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL1001/4368153/24777125/413446963.jpg

[lionelsoni]

I'm sorry to be so late to this topic; but I just figured out how to do a folded dogbone in that space, if you don't mind a 3.5% grade with 5 inches of clearance.  There's also room for a siding or two on the lower level.  Any interest?

[trains2353]

[quote user="lionelsoni"]

I'm sorry to be so late to this topic; but I just figured out how to do a folded dogbone in that space, if you don't mind a 3.5% grade with 5 inches of clearance.  There's also room for a siding or two on the lower level.  Any interest?

Bob; I have already ordered two more right hand turnouts for my sidings and a switch controller. But, I would still like to see what you have, if possible.

Thanks;

Bob Moore

[lionelsoni]

I've got it as a .bmp file, which I could send to you by e-mail if you can send your address to me.

[trains2353]

[quote user="lionelsoni"]

I've got it as a .bmp file, which I could send to you by e-mail if you can send your address to me.

Here ya go:

[e-mail]

[lionelsoni]

 

I will be sending the picture by e-mail shortly.  Here is a verbal description:

Imagine that you are standing at the middle of a long side of the table, which is the table's southern border.

The lower level of the layout is a loop, mostly in the eastern half of the layout.  The track leaving the loop enters a tunnel into a mountain that occupies the northwestern corner of the layout.  Inside the tunnel the track turns and emerges from the tunnel going south along the western edge of the table and climbing.  It turns east at the southwest corner and continues to climb along the southern edge of the table.  It turns again at the southeast corner, still climbing along the table edge, then west and level across the northern table edge and, following a cut in the mountain, turns to the south to loop counter-clockwise back onto itself.  The last part of the loop is a trestle passing over the lower loop at two places.

The centerline of the track around the table is 2 inches from the edge, putting the ends of the ties 1 inch and the side of a full-O-scale car about 3/4 inch from the edge. The grade is about 3.5 percent for 5 inches of elevation.  (Since the trains will be short on this small layout, a slightly steeper grade may be practical.)

There are opportunities for a couple of sidings coming off the lower loop, each long enough to hold a train of several cars.  A locomotive traversing the lower loop in the counter-clockwise direction can drop one train and pick up the other before making the round-trip to the top and back.

For continuous running, the non-derailing feature of the loop turnouts will automatically alternate the directions around the loops for each trip.

[rrswede]

Bob, typo 5th line 3rd paragraph. Should read "turns east at the southwest corner".

swede 

[lionelsoni]

Thanks.  I corrected it.

[trains2353]

If I wasn't so far along with the current small layout, I would jump on that. Quite a nice design! I'm going to save that as I have a piece of plywood in the backyard shed that my be that size.

Thanks for the idea!

[trains2353]

Trains are very noisy running around on this layout as it is hollow underneath. I know I'll never get rid of all the noise, but would like to tone it down some. I found this online. Anyone ever use it? Looks good and easy to use:

"Woodland Scenics O Scale Road Bed Roll ST1476 WOOST1476"

[wrmcclellan]

Obviously late to this party. A regular poster many years ago was Thor Trains.

Go to his thortrains.net site and look for the small O Ga layouts links.

He designed dozens of small layouts that were really cool and clever.

Links for 4x6, 3x5, mini layouts, micro layouts, and small Fastrack layouts.

Many designs have 3D views with a buildings/accessory list.

 

[trains2353]

Thanks Roy; that was an excellent site!

http://thortrains.net/marx/35dex1.html

I picked the second of the 027 3x5 listings; second layout in that section. Made a few modifications. I picked that one because of my available track and switches. A very interesting site!

 

[trains2353]

I need two crossing lights. The postwar Lionel ones I have are just too big for the small layout. What do you guys recommend for some inexpensive scale(smaller) like ones? All I've found is some MTH ones that are 5" tall.

MTH 30-11014

[Major]

You could also consider the American Flyer crossing signal as they are much smaller than the Lionel ones.

 

[trains2353]

There was a article in the October '17 CTT showing the 582 AF crossing blinker stating it was 4 1/8" tall. Also reproduced by Lionel in 2007/8, part number 49832. Will have to check that out.