O 31 Layout

[Anonymous]

Hello
I'm appealing to all you train hobbyist who know more then I do about layouts. That means theres a lot of you out there.I just had a layout built,measurements are 8 feet wide and 12 feet long.Hers are my plans for building my layout,but I want you guys and gals to let me know what you think.This would be my first,and I am just starting into trains. On the outside track I was going with a O 72 curve,all lionel track.Inside this track I was going to use an O 54 gauge with remote switches that goes into an O 46 gauge. in the center of my lionel a O 31 layout with two cross-overs for my Trolleys or my Subway set and other smaller trains. OK now tell me where I'm wrong before I start this layout. Your help will be much appreciated.
Danny

[csxt30]

Hi Danny ! Not that you made any mistakes, it's been my experience with layouts to plan how to reach things. With an 8 foot wide layout, are you planning to use heavy plywood for the top, to support a persons weight. The reason is, you always have to reach things on the layout & that reach will be 4 feet from both sides, if it isn't up against a wall. That is kind of hard, so you may have to have some hatches or duckunders, or get up on the layout each time & that will wear you down after a while, maybe. Hope this helps a little.
Thanks, John

[overall]

You might consider getting a mechanic's creeper. You can lay on your back and roll around under the layout to work on it. Those are very handy for wiring.

George

[Anonymous]

Thanks John & George,I made my table so I can walk around it and reach it pretty good.I am going to run Lionel and MTH trains with the mth DCS system.I bought the adapter so I can run the command trains from Lionel. I'm so excited about this project, hope all goes well. I'm open foe any advice or knowledge when it comes to railroading
Later Danny

[Birds]

I'm just learning all this too so I can't critique your thoughts.

But I did find this site recommended by a forum member, and provided at the link provided below, helpful as I was thinking about layouts. It opened my eyes to what can be done in a small space. Having a good amount of switches (turnouts) seems to be a key part of having a fun and interesting layout.

http://www.thortrains.net/marx/drlaydex.html

Enjoy,
Birds

[Anonymous]

I to have a small lay out its 8x 9 so you go up

[phillyreading]

From my experiance I would use 054 curves instead of 072, and 042 curves & 031 curves as you will have more room for the trains with a smaller size curve unless you are running a four track main I would stay away from 072 curves because of space & price. I have an 8ft by 11ft layout in my house that I am still working on, hurricane repair delays.
Do you want a more realistic track? Try GarGraves track, black inside rail, stainless steel available, many size switches, 027 compatable without shims to raise the track level. Only draw back is no plastic insulating pins made by GarGraves or Ross Custom Switches.
Lee in West Palm Beach FL

[jimhaleyscomet]

Whatever you decide to do, I would layout the track along with buildings and accessories and run it for a while before making things permanent.

Good luck.

Jim H

[fwright]

Danny

John is right about planning for access. Climbing on top to get at things in the middle will get very old, especially once you get track laid near the outside. If it's not too late, I would suggest a donut shape for the benchwork with one end of the center pit accessible by a narrow (2 or 3 track wide) swinging or lift-up "gate" or bridge. The center pit needs to be at least 2ft in the smaller dimension, and 30 inches is better. With a donut shape and easy center access, any side of the donut (except for the bridge or gate) can be up to 60 inches wide. If a donut side if up against the wall, I recommend a maximum width of 30 inches.

Another thought is that the operating accessories often need "fiddling" from the hand of God (you). Resetting dump cars, ice cubes, putting cows back upright, etc. I find putting the operating accessories closer to the table edge than the main running tracks to be very beneficial. Of course, a donut shape gives you 2 edges for more accessories! If you can't tell, the operating accessories and cars are my favorite part and my main reason for doing 3 rail O.

Hope this helps
Fred

[wrmcclellan]

tpd,

My layout is also 8 x 12. I have an 072 loop around the outside and an 054 loop next. There is a pair of back to back 022 swtiches to provide a crossover (I am thinking about making a change to 072 switches here). I do not have the next smaller loops as I placed a reverse loop and some sidings on the inside.

I completely agree with your decision to have 072 on the outside. This way you can run the larger locos (scale, etc.). Your 054 loop also allows you some latitude for larger locos. Traditional equipment looks really good on these outer loops.

So I think you will be happy with your decision.

I suggest you initially lay all your track and not tie it down and play with it a bit to insure your are pleased with the way it operates.

Regards,
Roy

[Buckeye Riveter]

QUOTE: Originally posted by wrmcclellan

tpd,
I suggest you initially lay all your track and not tie it down and play with it a bit to insure your are pleased with the way it operates.
Regards,
Roy

In addition to what Roy said, I would suggest you might want to use 3M Company's two sided tape just to keep the track from sliding during your temporary running period. I would hate to read a post one day where you are lamenting the fact that the track separated and your new Big Boy engine hit the concrete floor below.

[Anonymous]

my layout is 7x8 . the problem is that i dont have acess to the back side only way is to
climb up on the table. i use MTH Real Track. nice stuff but the next layout i build will be lionel fast track. i like the switches any the curves will be O48 and O36. on the inside i have a reverse loop and a three track yard.