The Lionel train book

[stuartmit]

If General design was for O27, then even worse than I thought in terms of grades, and curves robbing locomotives of performance. And my comment about 773 is completely off-base!

Although I do know that my 773 will tolerate an o27 switch because I did it a couple of times, it's not an ideal peace to use on O27.

[ADCX Rob]

Here is Lionel's treatment of the Four Seasons layout.

[stuartmit]

Thanks for excellent and complete comment. It looks like there is about 15 ft to work out 7" grade seperation to accomodate portal. That makes grade about 31/2pct, which i think   is problematic--especially with 180 degree curve on the way up   Only way to know for sure is to build it

[ADCX Rob]

stuartmit

In 1986 Schleicher published the above titled book.  On about page 98 is a rendering an L-shaped layout...

The book was published by Lionel, written by Robert Schleicher.

That layout on page 92 is the MPC "Four Seasons" and is all O-27.  The right L is 4x8, the left L is 4x9.  Tom Sheil (Thor Trains) had drawn out the track plan in O27, "O", and FasTrack HERE.

[stuartmit]

thanks for your comment.

I Was hoping to hear something like that, but after doing some close inspection and Imagineering, I think it would be very difficult to get trains into that space, or to run on this track plan with the grades I'll come up with.

I have used 3% as a standard, but I find it frequently even 3% can be a challenge for many locomotives, especially steamers which have to lug a whistle carrying tender behind them.

Please try to follow the following! I'm assuming this is all a gauge trackage  with O 31 curves And traditional sectional track. I must comment that a 773 probably would not perform well, and would not look great on this track plan. And owning one, I would like to be able to run it!

 

If you begin with the position of the tender of the train which is visible and set that at 0 inches of elevation, working to the right I believe you have one curve and three straights, approximately 41 inches,  and then another curve (switch outlet) and two straights another 31 inches. Remember that 31".  We are now at 72 inches total until reaching the curve which climbs into the mountains.

add 3 straights, 4 curves, 2 straights (into tunnel at right foreground, and 1 curve. That's 110" more. So 141"' total from switch to straighten out inside mountain.

notice that we have passed through that switch which leads into the mountain, and underneath a track that's elevated. Typically, tunnel portals are approximately 7 inches outside height. So from that curve coming toward the lower foreground of the drawing and up around through the mountain to where the track now passes over the outlet of the switch just described we need to gain approximately 7 inches of separation. A 3% grade Demands 240 inches approximately of horizontal travel to conquer 7 inches of height.

So far we have 141" of travel horizontally from that switch. we are shy 8'3" of horizontal travel. Further, to come down and around to where the train is parked as depicted in the upper area of the drawing, we would require another 240 inches of downward travel which by inspection we do not seem to have.

this is an interesting looking track plan, but I think it takes probably more than 2 4x8's of plywood which adds up to an 8' x 12' long space along the back of the table.

 

happy to hear I'm wrong. 

[pennytrains]

I know the one you mean, it's most likely two 4 by 8 sheets of plywood.

[stuartmit]

In 1986 Schleicher published the above titled book.  On about page 98 is a rendering an L-shaped layout, but it is not easy to determine the overall dimensions. Has anyone ever attempted to put this into a design program, and knows therefore what the dimensions are? Thanks for a response if you have.