Raised on the Erie Lackawanna Mainline- Supt. of the Black River Transfer & Terminal R.R.
Capt. Grimek wrote:I don't know if it'll help you any, but Linn Westcott's book "101" track plans for model railroaders has a double tracked oval on Pg. 31 (Plan #56) that has 32" and 30" radii curves with a yard, roundhouse (14", not sure if that's big enough for challengers, have to get out the calculator) and six sidings.I'm attracted to this plan as it's drawn to scale, will fit my 8'X16' space but the lack of grades bums me out.I'm considering extending the lower left stub track at "Eaton" so that it can go around one more time at grade or cross over to add visual appeal over a flat oval.It's a 6'X12' plan if that fits your needs.Another plan from the same book calls for convential curve radii (24" maybe some 22") but I'm wondering if it can't be made with 30" to 32" curves. Anyone with this book that can provide insight until I can get my future train room cleared out would be appreciated. It's Plan # 74 pg. 46 Ouachita and Ozark R.R.It has grades and quite a bit of operations potential. I'd have to move my yard inside the doughnut though.4-6-6-4 Challenger, if you don't have this book I recommend your buying or borrowing it as I think itmight fit your needs.Capt. G.
Capt. Grimek, Me and you have a lot of things that we both want on are layouts. If I had to do one layout It would have a good solid grade, a steam service area, and have a good size yard.
It seems to me that you want to have a good grade and a good size yard. I dont know what era you are modeling but we seem to want to put the same things into are layout.
Just a thought.
Capt. Grimek wrote:This is what I'm trying to accomplish in an 8X16 room. Is there a track plan for his layout anywhere?It wasn't posted on his pics/site.
No there is no track plan. That layout is exactly what I want to do also but he wont give me and 360 degree shots of the layout or a layout on paper. I am not trying to say he is stuborn but I just dont think he likes to tell people about his layout. He seems kind of quite about it.
His layout is amazing tho. I dont get how he runs large locos on that layout but they look great doing it.
This is what I'm working with right now, granted, it's N scale, but you might be able to use the idea of extending your main line run and opening up your radius by wrapping it around the room on a narrow shelf. The main body of the layout is where all the scenery and ops are, and the shelf provides access from the staging yard around to the visible part of the layout.
Lee
Route of the Alpha Jets www.wmrywesternlines.net
Faced with a somewhat similar problem, running an Allegheny (2-6-6-6), in a modest space (10 x 10), an around the room 'doughnut'-like design is probably the best approach. As an example this link http://www.bearweb.com/hawksnest/mainonly.jpg is for the 10 x 10 lower level portion of my railroad. The outer radii are a min 24 inches (only one - the others are 26 inches) and turnouts are #6 and this engine is restricted to this portion of the railroad (by design).
With the locos you want to run, I'd really suggest going to 30 in min radius and use at least # 7 turnouts. Watch track spacing too - these brutes will have a big overhang. With the large turnouts that will be needed, double tracking makes a lot of sense.
Charles
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
I need some ideas for a HO scale layout. I have 12ft by 8ft-10ft to work with. I need to have radius that are big enought to run big boys and challengers on. I am looking for some pic's of layout so I can get some ideas off of them on how to set up the track plan.
If you dont have pictures could you draw up a plan of your layout.
If you want to know my hole plan on what to run and what the era and things like that just send me a PM and ill fill you in on that.
Thanks in advance.