flex track curve ?

[Anonymous]

I am considering a shelf layout, as room is limited, it can be about 12' long and about 16" wide. At one end I have access to about 42", Would this be enough space to construct a loop with flex track? I have smaller locomotives and cars. This is a HO scale layout and will be my first. Can anyone recommend any books or articles dealing with HO shelf layouts?

[cp1057]

oooohh, just made it. 42 inches allows a radius of 18" plus 3" clearance either side. It could be done, but you will always have to use short-wheelbase locomotives and typically 40' rolling stock.

There are other options to explore, like making a 'sector plate' that pivots to allow access to several staging tracks.

Model Railroader is peppered with shelf layout articles, see if you can find some in back issues. There was also some Model Railroad Planning annuals recently that dealt with shelf layouts.

It sounds like with a 12' length you have enough room to build a rather nice switching layout. These days the focus of many magazine articles is how to do more with less space.

Charles
Hillsburgh Ontario

[Anonymous]

Yup, that's a nice spot for an 18" reversing loop or a turntable and roundhouse setup, which works great for storing engines not in use.

QUOTE: Originally posted by cp1057
These days the focus of many magazine articles is how to do more with less space.

Bah I want less with more, since I model a very early period, less is better. it looks silly to have 6-8 lines near each other when you're modeling the mid to late 1800's, since there weren't many lines to begin with. unless you're modeling a major city.

Jay

[IRONROOSTER]

Frankly , if I were going to do an 18" radius curve I would use sectional track and solder it together. Flex track will work but you will be sliding the inside rail quite a bit. Make sure you pick a brand that flexs and slides the rail easily.

I don't know of any book devoted to shelf layouts, but most of the trackplan books have a few shelf layouts. My favorite shelf layout is in 101 Track Plans by Linn Westcott, but it is 16' long.
Enjoy
Paul

[Jetrock]

If you can find a copy of Model Railroad Planning 2003, it has some good ideas for shelf layouts. Many of the ones in 101 Track Plans can be adapted as well.

If you're modeling an era where things can tolerate an 18" curve, that 42" wide space should be sufficient, but a yard and engine terminal with roundhouse would also be dandy in that space. It would also satisfy your "more operation in less space" requirement--an engine terminal and yard would have lots of action, whereas that curve would probably just be a simple loop of track.

Of course, if your layout can handle the change in elevation, you could have a hidden reversing loop UNDER an engine terminal--that might open up even more possibilities in a limited space.