Im not giving up on my plans for outside just trying to plan ahead for somewhere to run my trains inside after I start laying track outside soon. At the moment I have a oval of track with a siding in my living room on the floor using R3 curves & switch, all of this track is going to be used outside so once I start laying track I wont be able to run my trains inside as I dont want to rebuild an oval in the living room and keep running them on the floor because im getting tired of tweezing dog hair out of the siderods lol so I came up with this!
I did this using MS Paint so its not 100% accurate but you should be able to get an idea, each square is saposed to be 1 foot
I plan on getting two sheets of 4x8 plywood and cutting one up to make one 6'x10' (power tool's i got for christmas will finally get some use!) The project is still a couple weeks away from getting started as I still need to finish cleaning out the room its going in and get all the lumber together and cut up. The track plan is pretty much a copy of an LGB layout from a Hobby Shop I used to visit as a kid. The curves are R1 and R2 the switches are all R1 most of which I already have except one left switch so im going to try out one from aristocraft.
The wiring is going to be a headach, Im going to wire it so I can turn off power to sections of track like the sidings and the inside loop just leaving the mainline powered so it would be possable to run 1 train and store 3 more on the layout giving me a more enjoyable way of storing my loco's and a few car's
I know the curves are tight but im only planning on running my bachmann 4-6-0's or an Aristo C16 with a couple car's. I need to try and figure out what to use for grass & roadbed
I've been forced indoors for health reasons.
Might I suggest, since you're already inside, to put the track on a raised platform? Make it as high as you like, as wide, and put access hatches where needed. You'd get two benefits: trying out motive & rolling stock, and not feeling pressured to get outside. Once up 'n running, if you elected to stay indoors, any modifications you'd care to make are doable. Might I also suggest, instead of 4x8 ply, using open frame benchwork? More work initially, but much more flexible after. Just a thought. At my Friendly Hdwe Store, they will cut ply into whatever widths one wants. I'm going for 3-1/2 inches wide because it's a standard size, on 16" centers. That's as far as my thinking has gone.
Les W.
Mr_Ash wrote: Im not giving up on my plans for outside just trying to plan ahead for somewhere to run my trains inside after I start laying track outside soon. At the moment I have a oval of track with a siding in my living room on the floor using R3 curves & switch, all of this track is going to be used outside so once I start laying track I wont be able to run my trains inside as I dont want to rebuild an oval in the living room and keep running them on the floor because im getting tired of tweezing dog hair out of the siderods lol so I came up with this! I did this using MS Paint so its not 100% accurate but you should be able to get an idea, each square is saposed to be 1 footI plan on getting two sheets of 4x8 plywood and cutting one up to make one 6'x10' (power tool's i got for christmas will finally get some use!) The project is still a couple weeks away from getting started as I still need to finish cleaning out the room its going in and get all the lumber together and cut up. The track plan is pretty much a copy of an LGB layout from a Hobby Shop I used to visit as a kid. The curves are R1 and R2 the switches are all R1 most of which I already have except one left switch so im going to try out one from aristocraft.The wiring is going to be a headach, Im going to wire it so I can turn off power to sections of track like the sidings and the inside loop just leaving the mainline powered so it would be possable to run 1 train and store 3 more on the layout giving me a more enjoyable way of storing my loco's and a few car'sI know the curves are tight but im only planning on running my bachmann 4-6-0's or an Aristo C16 with a couple car's. I need to try and figure out what to use for grass & roadbed
Been there, done that
Some pointers:
Use 1x4s for framing under the plywood, I used sawhorses for legs. Bolt a couple of handles on each side to help moving it when needed.
Wiring is a breeze compared to outdoors. You can use inexpensive Atlas Controllers for track block power control and switch controls.
Better yet use manual switches, much simpler - no wiring!
I used sheet rolls of cork for roadbed. Ballast is kitty sand.
Grass and plantings is the same stuff used in HO by Woodland Scenics
Scenery like hills can be foam, I just tried it and was amazed how fast it went.
Look forward to seeing progress, Later, Vic
Have fun with your trains
Lots of potential: a little license on my part, just for ideas mind you
I did a quick layout for track using the program I did my layouts on, you can get an accurate track count and see how it will layout out on the plywood:
Lenth looks fine but you might consider adding a couple inches to the width as the track ends up pretty close to the edges. I suppose you could just eliminate the small 1 3/4" long make-up piece (not called out) thats on the lower R2 transition track back to the R1 oval and just scoot that "yard" track in a little, if so it should layout OK with any widening needed.
wow
I could just get rid of that lower siding that would save a little room... The top and right side will be agenst walls so i was thinking about doing a mountian/tunnel in the top right corner to sort of hide that curve I like your mod to the track plan, gives me ideas! I would love to add a siding for a lone cattle car with some livestock pens (cow or sheep)
My two-cent's how about around the wall, say 2foot deep with a duck under/removalable bridge at the entry point, give's room for sidings and other things. plus is can store stuff under the layout.
Dave
The head is gray, hands don't work , back is weak, legs give out, eyes are gone, money go's and my wife still love's Me.
That wouldnt work in this room the two walls that the layout arnt touching... 1/2 the left wall is a closet with floor to ceiling mirror sliding doors and the other 1/2 is my rolling stock storage cabnet / work bench with 4 shelfs above that going up to the ceiling where I store my 4-6-0's all set into the wall. The botom wall is all doors, the entrance to the room, utility closet and then bathroom.... Right now the way im planning to set this up leave open access to all of those plus I will have lots of room under the table to store my engine boxes and other misc stuff. Im also planning on building a unit of shelfs between the legs on the left side
Mr_Ash wrote: wow I could just get rid of that lower siding that would save a little room... The top and right side will be agenst walls so i was thinking about doing a mountian/tunnel in the top right corner to sort of hide that curve I like your mod to the track plan, gives me ideas! I would love to add a siding for a lone cattle car with some livestock pens (cow or sheep)
So maybe something like this?
Get the Garden Railways newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month