4' by 8' Fastrack Plans

[thor CNJ]

Just posted a handful of 4' by 8' plans - 5' by 7' might be done late tonight or early tomorrow. Enjoy!

http://www.thortrains.net/marx/48fastrack1.html

http://www.thortrains.net/marx/48fastrack2.html

[Anonymous]

Thor I like your website and you offer alot of good advice. Many of the layouts youve made are interesrting.

I do have a pet peeve about some of your point to point switching layouts. How come you have only a few that include passing tracks. It wouls seem to me that if you were switching a layout like this it would be easy to get stuck and have to wait until the car you were switching is "unloaded" because there is no way to escape or get behind it. I am sure that to some people they figure this out the hard way after they build it.

In the future could you consider building this feature into p. to p. switching layouts, they will be much more interesting to use.

[thor CNJ]

It's simple: if you find any of the track plans lacking or unsuitable, then adapt them yourself. It does not take much to revise a plan, and I have articles on the site explaining things like switch dynamics and ovalling to help you understand track work. At the price I am charging, this seems more than reasonable.

[Anonymous]

I understand that I could modify your trackplans. I was just thinking that a newcomer might not get that concept and just think a "by the book" method was the way to go for best results. It seems that you have positioned yourself for that role for the newcomer so it is only a suggestion.

FYI I do really like your site. Maybe you could come up with some plans for Rokenbok layouts. Follow the links at the bottom and you will find a just beginning group that is looking for some recognition as legitimate toy train folks. Yes they are monorail toys and rc constuction vehicles but isn't that just a different kind of train. They seem to be stigmatized in these circles because do not look like the toys others grew up on and no they do not advertise in toy train mags. But it seems like you have gone beyond all that in your website. This group is kind of where model railroading was in the 50's trying to find direction. Any attention would be much appreciated and I am sorry if I upset you. It was not my intention.

[thor CNJ]

Me? Upset? Only when I can't find my heart medication. [:O]

I can only draw layouts for systems that are included in the RR track libraries. I don't know if this Rokenbok system has a track geometry identical to any systems such as Lionel O or O27, Atlas HO, O or N,. etc. Right now I am in the middle of finishing a batch of 3' by 5' O-31 layouts, so I'll have to look at the Rokenbok later.

[Anonymous]

I am very impressed with the speed that you get these out. Speed and the quality remains high. Keep up the good work.

An interesting theme to take on may be a steel mill rr track plan. Several manufacturers make cars for it and there is the upcoming J&L steel set with the nice docksider. Think of it as lots of track switching and big building against the backdrop.

If you want Rokenbok track measurements I can get them for you. There are no provided templates but you could make a set of stamps in a CAD system. The tracks are acually beams.

The monorails take tight 6 inch radius turns, 4 curve tracks = a circle. They can go up very steep inclines. The switch geometry is such that If you take two incline tracks and lay them sideways going in opposite directions and two curve tracks at the end you have a reverse loop. Or you could put straights between a pair of switches and you have a trolly style passing track. There are also 90 degree crossings and grade crossings were a truck can pass through the monorail track like going through doors in a saloon.

All this and I have not mentioned the elevator. The elevator makes it so you can change levels with no helix. You drive the monorail on and up or down it goes. So there is the possibility of multi-level layouts in a small foot print.

You can probably see why some people are interested in this. Thank you for your consideration. Contact me if / when you want track sizes. I hope you will take on this challenge our group feels like Rokenbok needs a little more exposure like it would get from haveing plans on your site.