New layout plans - what do you think?

[Brutus]

Outer loop would be O gauge and inner stuff O27... 

 

 

 

I think I'll be able to reach to the middle area on each of these and on the 6x6 versions I would put a lake or something there...  On the 4th one, I could have a couple small bridges on the left side with a river underneath and/or a road with double crossings.  Also, could put a mountain in the upper left corner?  Maybe have a lake as a cover for a small access hatch on the last 6x6?

[darianj]

Nice Plans!  I would enjoy having any of them as my layout.

[Blueberryhill RR]

Jim....They are all good plans. If I had to choose one, I would pick # 2.

That's just my opinion. Good luck.

Chuck

[Anonymous]

Nice Plans!  I would enjoy having any of them as my layout.

i liked the last one....good job jim

 

 what program did you use to design them? im using pencil and paper but i like the pc method actually...

[Frank53]

Jim:

I think you would regret having only one reversing loop, as you will need to back into it to change direction once you make the first direction change.

[laz 57]

NICE JIMBO, try it out first about a week or two  before making anything permanent.  Thats what I did and changed things about three times till I like it.

laz57

[dbaker48]

Jim:

I think you would regret having only one reversing loop, as you will need to back into it to change direction once you make the first direction change.

I agree, having the ability to reverse both directions gives for longer runs, and sessions.  You might be able to incorporate a Y using the outer O track, also being able to have that added versatility will certainly be rewarding.

What space constraints do you have?

I found it very beneficial to make a listing of goals, I wanted to achieve;

- Running 2 trains simultaneously

- Reverse mainline train in both directions

- Incorporate Saw Mill, Log loader, on dedicated siding, etc.

Hope you don't mind my opinions, the 4 designs you  show are full of fun, but one of the craxy things about this hobby is you never get it perfect.  You will always find ways of improving something.  Try not to get stuck in "analysis paralysis".  (You know all this already

  

[fifedog]

Fortner - I'ma big fan of passing/industrial sidings, so I like what's behind CURTAIN #3.

[kpolak]

I like the main and branch combination, No. 1.

Kurt

[Brutus]

 what program did you use to design them? im using pencil and paper but i like the pc method actually...

Zeke - it's RR Track.  I bought the version with all the Lionel and MTH track and accessories as well as Gargraves (just in case I change to flex track in the future).  http://www.rrtrack.com/

Thanks for any ideas guys.  I'm basically looking at 6x6 max I think.  I might be able to incorporate a fold-down extension/wing or two, for reverse loops, will have to look into it.  If I do, I can guarantee I'll wire it to only allow access if the wing is in the locked and upright position!

Right now I have some hobo stuff I can put in the corner/s and also some two sawmills and a barn with cows.  I also have a mining set and I'm thinking of having a lower level that would reveal the mining handcars moving through some kind of crevasse or tunnel(s)?  I can't go too low, as Chewy would be delighted to play with my toys while I'm away! 

[mickey4479]

I like #3 because it has space for buildings on the topside as pictured.  Because of the switch machines it may not be possible to do but in one of the layouts it appears that one of the switches for the outside loop might fit on the left side as depicted so it would provide a longer siding.  Just a thought.  Good luck and please report back. 

[jefelectric]

Jim,

I like #1 best because I am not a fan of single reversing loops.  I do like the passing siding in #2.  Keep us posted on what you decide.

[Brutus]

Okay, here I've tried to incorporate some of the points above - connected interior and exterior tracks (mainline and industrial) and a double reversing loop and a long area for buildings with a (hidden?) siding.

I was showing to Char and she indicated she thinks 6x6 is too big, so more negotiating is requird....

Thanks for any ideas guys!

[thatboy37]

i like all of them but if i had to pick it would be 3.

[Birds]

Jim,

The plans all look very nice with quite a bit of running options for the space!

One thought came to me.

In plans 2, 3, 4, instead of using a reversing loop with a siding off of it, what about using a wye that ends in a siding?

Chris

[dbaker48]

Jim - I like it !!!

[csxt30]

  

I like it too !! 

Thanks, John 

[Blueberryhill RR]

  

I like it too !! 

Thanks, John 

Very good, Jim.  Lots of play value.

[jefelectric]

  

I like it too !! 

Thanks, John 

Very good, Jim.  Lots of play value.

And don't go less than 6 X 6.

[Brutus]

Thanks guys!  We're negotiating - apparently 6x6 requires new furniture in the living room???

Jim,

The plans all look very nice with quite a bit of running options for the space!

One thought came to me.

In plans 2, 3, 4, instead of using a reversing loop with a siding off of it, what about using a wye that ends in a siding?

Chris

Does anyone make a O27 wye?  I know how to make one using 3 switches, but it seems like it would take up too much realestate.  I'll mess around with the idea, though, thanks!

[mickey4479]

IMHO I would not go for the double reversing loop for the size of layout that you are considering.  I think that one reversing loop can work but it involves working it, which is what real railroads did.  The double loop eats up so much space you have no room for structures and scenic opportunities.  The wye option in the real world worked because railroads could by enough real estate to put whole trains on it if they wanted.  In your situation, it would eat up valuable space.  A fella who had a pretty good size layout once told me that he ended up reducing his track plan on the same table by 1/2 because it looked like spaghetti and he was happier with a simpler plan that provided opportunites for structures.  But there is no right or wrong answer here, just opinion.  Whatever you do I hope it will work out for you.  I would like to see photos.   

[mitchelr]

Jim,

Neat plans.  I think I prefer # 3.

Mitch 

[Birds]

Does anyone make a O27 wye?  I know how to make one using 3 switches, but it seems like it would take up too much realestate.  I'll mess around with the idea, though, thanks!

I don't know of any pre-made O-27 wyes (wise?).

Here are a couple layouts I did using a wye.  I couldn't find the second operating accessory you have when looking through the list of accessories on RR-Track.

You came up with some great layouts!

Chris 

[Birds]

Here's one with a wye and reversing loop:

Can't wait to see what you finally come up with!

Chris 

[Brutus]

Cool, Chris!  Hey, that other structure is the AF Sawmill (MTH version).  The red one is a barn (object drawing). I'll work on this some more tonight and see what I can figure out, thx!

[Anonymous]

I like what you're doing here, but unless I'm missing something then you'll have to start the train in counter clockwise motion in order access the inner loops, the only problem is that once you're finally turned around and back on the outter main, you're now going the wrong direction and now the inner loops are inaccessible.  Personally, I'd want to be able to access the inner portion from either direction on the main.  And honestly, I'm not seeing this ability on any of the plans that you've laid out so far, but that's just my 2 cents.

[Brutus]

Gotcha - what I'm running into is trying to have basically two layouts in one.  My original idea was just to have two separate layouts, one for a switcher and stuff and then one outer loop layout. This sort of evolved to thinking that I would want to occasionally move the trains back and forth, at least those that would run on O27.  I think that I'm getting too complicated for such a small space.  Especially since I now have done some measurements and will have to have at least a couple feet of fold-down table.  This might work to my advantage, since I'll be able to fold down on 2 sides and this might allow a slightly bigger layout, but I'll be limited on scenery for the fold-down sections to mostly just track and grass I guess.  I'll definitely have to put an access hatch in the middle, so that will have to be scenery of some kind.  Basically, I'm going to take all this advice and alternate ideas and see what I can come up with.  Thanks man!

[Anonymous]

Gotcha - what I'm running into is trying to have basically two layouts in one.  My original idea was just to have two separate layouts, one for a switcher and stuff and then one outer loop layout. ...Basically, I'm going to take all this advice and alternate ideas and see what I can come up with.  Thanks man!

Yeah, I can see the two seperate lines working, for me its not the ideal because in my mind I like to have access to all of the track in a fluid manner, but with what you are planning to run, it may work out better while still leaving space for something other than track.

To be honest I probably wouldn't have caught the dilemma that I pointed out had I not been working on my son's $15 plastic Thomas Train set from Wal-Mart, which suffers from the same problem in that by track design once the train starts in one direction and turns around it can never reach a certain portion of the track again, which is kind of irritating to my 5 year old.  Frankly, I believe it was engineered this way to get me to purchase more track, but that's another issue.  As for your track I doubt you really want a layout where you have to literally pick up your train to turn it around in order to reach the middle space that would otherwise go unused, IMO that would get annoying really fast.

[Brutus]

Okay, If I move a little furniture, I think this will fit in the space I have.  What do you guys think?  I wish I had more room for sidings, but can't figure it out without losing most area for accessories and scenery....

[lionel2986]

Okay, If I move a little furniture, I think this will fit in the space I have.  What do you guys think?  I wish I had more room for sidings, but can't figure it out without losing most area for accessories and scenery....

 

Looks good. If you take out the siding with the saw mill, you could add two sidings off the inner oval from the top of the oval and the bottom (intersecting where the saw mill used to me). In other words, the sawmill siding goes right to left. You could remove that and add a siding that goes top to bottom and bottom to top using either two left hand switches, or two right hand switches.

By the way, looks like negotiations are going well :)