8x8 layout advice

[vbkostur]

i am revisiting the train hobby now that i am a father an have found my 1 yr old son will watch a train go in circles for over an hour!

so, i built an 8x8 table for an O gauge layout. i have a box of about 40-50 37" flexible gargraves track pieces and 3 pairs(6 total) of gargraves switches and motors. just need some advice and suggestions. looking to run more than one train at at a time. i would like to run 3-4 trains at once. i planned on keeping my curves between 54" and 42" radius.

i wasn't sure if adding hieght would be possible on and 8x8 size table or not(possibly get one line to go over another?). i am willing to purchase more track or turnouts if needed. i would rather go slow and do it right and be happy with it than rush to get it done and then want to undo over and over again. then again, i am building for my son(at least that is how i justify it to my wife!) thanks for the advice. 

 -mike

[csxt30]

to the forum Mike !! You should get lots of good help here. I use Gargraves track also. I like to keep my inclines at about a 2 % grade which is 1/4th. inch rise per foot. You wouldn't want much over 3 % grade if possible. Make sure you're able to reach all of your layout either with duckunders or removeable sections. Most of the guys use a foam subsurface today, & I still use homosote, which is nice & quiet with Gargraves track.

Thanks, John

[lionel2]

Hello....if your layout is only 8x8 you might wanna go with some lionel 0 guage track and use the regular diameter curves....i have a layout 12x8 and i have to use 0 guage track with regular curves because i too wanna run 3 to 4 trains at 1 time...you just cannot make that many loops with wide radius tracking....with wide radius track you will be lucky to get 2 loops on that 8x8 layout....just a suggestion....cause its not like the trains will fly off the table if you have 031 radius curves...i put 5 inch high panels all around the perimeter so no trains could ever leave the table...thanks

[fifedog]

mike - it sounds like you have plenty of good track, bud.  I hope you have a good transformer along the lines of a Z4000 to handle your loops and accessories.  I wouldn't worry about building a higher tier at this time, just leave a "footprint" for that possibilty in the future.  That youngling will want to push buttons, so accommodate his urges by starting him a collection of animations.  You can get a string of K-Line accessories at a modest price, and perhaps color code the accessories for him.  You may want to put two passing sidings on two lines.  That way you can keep 4 trains on the layout at once, running two at a time.