4 x 8 track plan

[Anonymous]

I got 101 track plans, but I found that it was impossible to read. I couldn't tell if the turnouts were snap or #4, what the minimum and maximum radiuses were and just what part numbers were used. I'm trying to design my own...

Thanks so far, I know I'm a pain in the ***,

Spit

[ramoutandabout]

This web page has lots of small plans.  There are a few I really like in here.  Take a look and see what ya think.(They are n scale but you could make them HO.  I like the ones  for the doors.) http://www.naisp.net/mfischer/m_train2.htm

Ray

 

 

[cnrail]

Spit take a look at www.gatewaynmra.org  and you will see a 4 x 8 called red wing.  I am considering building this layout myself.    It offers a four track stub ended yard, a little switching and of course continuous running.  Nothing wrong with 4 x 8 layouts.  Not everyone has space for basement filling layouts.  Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

Kirk

[Anonymous]

Hey guys,

I redesigned my trackplan. The biggest change was reducing the mountain. I then changed all the switches to #4s, and added a passing siding, connected to a runaround. I know the siding isn't nessessary with the runaround, but I felt it added some origonality. I changed the positions of the industrial area, leaving for a nice "town" area. I also changed the yard entrance so that it only used one part of the mainline to switch in, and not 3 parts. I also added a small bit of N track protruding from the mountain, which will be where coal is delivered from inside the mountain. I don't have enough room for a circle, but I thought it would be cool to have a sort of power relay, where when it got to a certain point, it would go the other way. BTW, I removed the part descriptions so it's easier to see, but have left the ones for the industries, so you know which siding delivers to what. Where the black arrow is, I plan to add a 2' x 4' section for a yard and possibly engine servicing area. I might even add another one, for even more engine servicing. I have also color coded everything, so that it is easier to recognise. I believe that you should know which each one is, so I won't put the codes, as I have already described everything.

http://jarolimekrailways.tripod.com/railroad_pictures/index.album?i=0&s=1

I hope you all like it,

Todd(Spit)

[fwright]

Spit

I reviewed the latest track plan.  I think it's a huge improvement over the previous efforts.  It has a nice balance between track and scenery - at least to my eye.  I see 2 things which may cause unanticpated operational difficulties:

1) I would reorient the cross-over in the bottom left to lead from the inner curved track in a counter-clockwise direction to the outer straight track.  This will not affect the use of the straight portion of the passing track as a run-around, but will allow a train running continuously to use the left end passing track without interfering with a train servicing the spurs.

2) If I read the diagram correctly, the switchback tail leading to the mine is only 18" long.  At best, this a locomotive and 2 cars - not very many for a mine with 2 tipples and spurs.  And if you are using longer locomotives or hoppers, it may only be one hopper and engine.  Furthermore, the tail track also serves an industry, which means a car will often be spotted there when you go to access the mine tracks.  Meanwhile the parallel spur beside the switchback tail serves no useful purpose other than to store cars.  The situation has all the makings of a classic switching puzzle, which is fine if that is your intention.  However, it's an unlikely prototype situation, and will be a time consuming operations hurdle if you don't like puzzles.

for spacemouse:  I know you like to tout Armstrong's plan for a good 4x8 design for operations.  But the more I look at it, the more I see the impossibility of implementing it in 4x8 with any available commercial turnouts.  And even if one cuts the turnouts back enough to make it fit a 4x8, the capacity of the spurs and sidings is going to be very, very small.  Making it look respectable scenically would be nearly impossible.  About the best 4x8 I've seen actually built so far is Harold's Pacific Coast Air Line Railway, (http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/) and I'm not sure that would work at all for more modern and bigger equipment.

my thoughts, your choices

Fred W

[Anonymous]

Allright, Thanks.

Okay, I think I understand your reasoning on the runaround. I redid that and the Mining Industry. For the record, Both spurs were at least 27", one was 30". I redid it, but the maximum length I could get on it was 18". It has more spurs, and it's in a better position, it's just not very long. I could always back into one spur, unload some cars, back into the other and unload some, and back into another and unload some. Just tell me what you think.

http://jarolimekrailways.tripod.com/railroad_pictures/index.album?i=1&s=1

Thanks,
Spit

[Anonymous]

I redid it again, allowing more town space and mine space. Using Wye Turnouts, I was able to get a total of 72" of rolling stock area.

http://jarolimekrailways.tripod.com/railroad_pictures/index.album?i=3&s=1

[BigRusty]

Why fixate on a 4 x 8 hunk of plywood? If that's all the room you have, fine. But with one 4 x 8 piece of plywood ripped into 8 feet by 1 1/2 inch strips you can build open benchwork for at least a 5 x 10 foot layout and maybe even bigger. You get better curve radii, better operation., bigger yard, an engine terminal and so much more instead of a toy train around the Christmas Tree set that you soon become bored with. BEEN there, done that. Don't do it! Think outside the BOX. In this case a hunk of flat plywood that is the world's most unnatural terrain.

[Anonymous]

I am so deprived for space that my 4x8 is outside...thanks for the concern, but thats all I can make. Believe me, If I could do around the walls layout, I would.

[Anonymous]

I came up with a brand new track plan. It utilizes the rural/industrial thing I wanted, while adding a mountain and a backdrop down the "middle". On the "indurtrial" area, There are 3 idustries(Warehouse, PowerPlant, Cement) and a passenger station, along with a watertank in the back. On the "rural" side, there is only one, along with a "desert" sort of mountain. THe kit will sit on the moutain, having it cut out.The switch on the rural goes to an east departure and possibly an addition. On the indurtrial, I'm going to have a switch from the curve, and go west.

http://jarolimekrailways.tripod.com/railroad_pictures/index.album?i=4&s=1

 

BTW, depending upon the rules in the new layout contest, I might enter this, just for the hell of it.

THanks,
Spit

[CrossTrack Trains]

Here's my favorite 4 x8 (other than my own):



And here is a discussion by Byron Henderson on how to operate it.

http://home.earthlink.net/~mrsvc/id39.html

The plan is by John Armstrong and is quite sophisticated. You can go a long way without outgrowing it. And it has a mountain and tunnel. If you want someone to design a layout for you you can't get better than this one from the master.

Very cool track plan for HO, however be aware of the Reverse Loop on this track plan, that will cause a short circuit, there is ways around this, just do a search and you find other posts how to make the Reverse Loop work.

[K5KNT]

I am so deprived for space that my 4x8 is outside...thanks for the concern, but thats all I can make. Believe me, If I could do around the walls layout, I would.

Would you mind elaborating on your layout being outside? I may find myself in the same situation, but I'm wondering how to deal with the elements.

Kent.

[Anonymous]

No, I would not mind. I would to tell you how I'm holding out.

First things first, use SCREWS, NOT nails. Nails are find for indoors, where wood will not expand. Outdoors, since you're battling the elements, you need something to hold the wood togther strongly. For my framework, I used 1/4" x 3" fine threaded screws, coated with woodglue to assure that they would not move. I also pre-drilled 1/8" pilot holes. I did the same for the tabletop, but used 1/8" x 1 1/4" and drilled pilotholes.
Secondly, before I stated the FRAMEWORK, I sealed the wood with Thompsons WaterSeal. Once I put the tabletop on, I sealed it with the waterseal, because it was stretched out and unwarped on the framework.

I have measured and re-measured the table everday while it being outside. Using the above precautions and techniques, I've seen that the table has only expanded 1/8". BTW, that is in Florida conditions, in hurricane season.

[Anonymous]

AMEN!

[K5KNT]

Thanks, I would not have thought about using screws or the waterseal. I'm in West Texas, so I don't have the humidity to deal with. Are you going to use foam? When finished, how do you plan to cover it?

One thing I am considering now on my layout is building it modular/sectional and moving it out of the gararge when we need to put the car inside during severe weather. That is really the only time the car is in the gararge anyway.

[Anonymous]

Alright. I'm not using the foam scenery technique. I don't feel that it will stand up to the elements, even when it's painted and such. I'm going to use the Woodland Scenics( http://www.woodlandscenics.com/index.htm )Subterrain system. I don't plan to use everything, since it's so expensive. I'm going to use substitue some items. It you want my full technique and my substitutions, email meat [e-mail] .
I don't have anything against the modular, but it would be some extra wood and nuts and bolts. If you need some ideas, email me. My table is pretty portable. The legs are detachable and the table is semi-light.

Thanks,
Spit

[Hoople]

Hey! Thats the layout I'm building!

 

It was just perfect for me. Scenic and switching.

[Hoople]

Hey! Thats the layout I'm building!

 

It was just perfect for me. Scenic and switching.

[Anonymous]

which one are you talking about? There are so many on here it's not funny!!!

[Hoople]

which one are you talking about? There are so many on here it's not funny!!!

[subman]

Spacemouse I`m a 69 year old newbie who has been armchairing it for 59 years and just now am getting around to building a layout inspite of the fact that I have had 6 dedicated train rooms in new homes iv`e  had built in my lifetime. I am now retired and l;iving in Fl. and have been relegated to a small peice of the garage. I like your 4x8 layout but could not see the path of all your track in your photo, so could you please post a line drawing of your layout .Thank you in advance.

[train lover12]

Is this clear enough? See that turnout under the second level on the right. While working on the layout or during a climate change or something it started derailing an engine about once every ten laps. It worked perfectly before I covered it. It is hard to work on and impossible to see why it is derailing. Again--you've been warned. As for me--never again.

nice over all layout, can i see a track plan?

[SpaceMouse]

It started as a Hogwart's layout.

See more at Hogwart's Layout

It morphed into the Rock Ridge and Train City. Keep an eye out, I'm building a tribute to the layout and it will be announced in a couple days.