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Looking for HO sectional track plan ideas

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Posted by Pennsy_I1 on Thursday, November 5, 2020 9:24 AM

Sorry it took so long to get back to the forum. Lots going on. 

Anyway, one of the ideas of this layout is to use track I have that would not be compatible with my main layout. Code 100 rails, which can be hidden in street running or obscured in ballast.

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Posted by Outsailing86 on Thursday, September 3, 2020 6:52 PM

Check out Bob Sprague's website, the plan called BNSF Marshall Sub 

 

https://www.bobstrackplans.com/single-post/2013/12/08/John-Rogers-BNSF-Marshall-Sub-Scout-Version

 

one thing to consider is operating the layout from the outside at train shows. On another forum a fellow made a NKP layout in N scale to take to shows. 

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Posted by Pennsy_I1 on Thursday, August 20, 2020 9:30 PM

davidmurray

If you are going to take the layout to shows often, especially if alone, then the first concern is size of each piece, and ease of connection.

When younger I was with a club that used 2'x4' sections.  I could carry one that was built on 1"x4' with 1/2" plywood, and little on top.  The built up and down sections required two of us.  

Might I suggest check out modular club standards and methods for ideas.

The club I am in now uses smaller sections designed to fit top to top with plywood ends holding them.  Plastic drain pipes for legs, with slip in fittings, and door hinges to join sections.  Problem is it still needs at least three people for set up.

So think T-trak or similar, where it sits on tables.

 

 

The idea is that each section is 2x6.

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Posted by davidmurray on Thursday, August 20, 2020 9:14 PM

If you are going to take the layout to shows often, especially if alone, then the first concern is size of each piece, and ease of connection.

When younger I was with a club that used 2'x4' sections.  I could carry one that was built on 1"x4' with 1/2" plywood, and little on top.  The built up and down sections required two of us.  

Might I suggest check out modular club standards and methods for ideas.

The club I am in now uses smaller sections designed to fit top to top with plywood ends holding them.  Plastic drain pipes for legs, with slip in fittings, and door hinges to join sections.  Problem is it still needs at least three people for set up.

So think T-trak or similar, where it sits on tables.

 

David Murray from Oshawa, Ontario Canada
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Posted by snjroy on Thursday, August 20, 2020 4:13 PM

The plan is nice, but a 2 feet wide duckunder requires gymnastic skills that I don't have, especially when carrying things.

Simon

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Posted by Pennsy_I1 on Thursday, August 20, 2020 12:01 AM

cuyama

your plan for others to see

 

thank you, I wasn't sure how to directly display the image.

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Posted by cuyama on Wednesday, August 19, 2020 9:26 PM

your plan for others to see

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Posted by Pennsy_I1 on Wednesday, August 19, 2020 9:05 PM

Update!

I put together a track plan. I dropped the passenger operations because of a lack of space for anything more than about a 2 car passenger train. The plan is 8x8 feet plus staging in standard configuration, operated from the center, made up of four 2x6 modules. Similar concept to MR's Beer Line. 

Here it is:

https://ibb.co/fHrYQF9

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Posted by snjroy on Tuesday, August 18, 2020 12:10 PM

There is also the "Track plans for sectional" classic book by Westcott. There are 144 plans in there. I saw some used for sale on the Internet... Four axle diesels should run fine on these plans.

Simon

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Monday, August 17, 2020 9:17 PM

Pennsy_I1
another is that I'd like to take it to shows at some point.

I have been involved in the construction of one layout similar to what you mention.

The idea was it would fit in a spare bedroom, say about 10 by 10, and be able to be taken to shows.

The layout had two sections that would not leave the room, and when set up for a show it was linear about 16 feet long with one special show section.

The big unforseen problem was that at shows you had visibility different from when it was in the bedroom, and lots of areas that could not be reached during construction looked terrible when the sections were off the layout.

So... if you do this... my best advice is to beuild the sections in the garage or other large area where you can look at them like a train show attendee would see them.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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Posted by Pennsy_I1 on Monday, August 17, 2020 8:43 PM

I don't have my tape measure, but 10x15 feet would be a good estimate. The room is mostly open, with stairs on part of one wall, patio door on the next, closet opposite the patio door, and opposite the stairs is the open entrance to the laundry room. The door to the garage is on the same wall as the closet. I apologize for any confusion.  There are a few reasons to build a segmented layout, one is the fact that the space it will be built in needs to be used to get to the laundry room, another is that I'd like to take it to shows at some point. Also, I'm not sure if I'm going to be moving soon, so I'm not going to build anything permanant. As for operations, four-axle diesels or smaller steamers would be in use, except for possibly on passenger trains. In the normal configuration, the layout would be operated from the center. The basic idea for the layout is one where no equipment would look out of place. 

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Posted by dknelson on Monday, August 17, 2020 10:35 AM

I think David Barrow has used the word "segmental" to describe layouts and layout plans that utilize his "domino" approach.  I agree that "sectional" when used with "track plan" is confusing.

So I would look at the old Model Railroad Planning issues that had articles by David Barrow and Linda Sand and others that focused on yard throats (Barrow) and small industries for switching (Sand) that could be the basis for a segmental layout track plan.

But since just about any linear layout track plan lends itself to segmental benchwork, for that reason I don't know how many track plans exist specifically for segmental layout construction.  I'd focus the search on linear, around the walls, and shelf type layouts and let the segmental part take care of itself during construction.

Dave Nelson

Dave Nelson

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Posted by cuyama on Monday, August 17, 2020 10:00 AM

It would help others help you to know the dimensions of the available space, along with the location of room entrance(s) and any obstructions.

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Monday, August 17, 2020 7:23 AM

You should change the title a bit, it sounds like you are looking for track plans that can be built with sectional track.

Many layout plans can be built as sectional layouts. Just built it so it can be disassembled at joints every so many feet. It does not need to be drawn as a sectional layout.

Why do you want to build a sectional layout?

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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Posted by nealknows on Monday, August 17, 2020 7:04 AM

The MR track plan database here on this site can be a big help to you. I linked the shelf layout types of track plan in HO scale for you to look at. They have other track plans as well...

https://mrr.trains.com/how-to/track-plan-database?size=&scale=ho+scale&type=shelf&q=

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Posted by Pennsy_I1 on Sunday, August 16, 2020 10:53 PM

What I mean by sectional is the layout itself, rather than the track.

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Posted by SpaceMouse on Sunday, August 16, 2020 9:23 PM

I googled "atlas sectional track plans" and got a lot of hits, Notably, check out Google Images.

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

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Looking for HO sectional track plan ideas
Posted by Pennsy_I1 on Sunday, August 16, 2020 8:06 PM

Hello,

I am looking for some ideas for a sectional track plan, with the option of continuous running. Here are my specs.

Min. radius: 24"

Min. switch: No. 6 main, no. 5 elsewhere

Era: 1940s-modern

Industries (these are ideas, not all need to be there): Passenger terminal (through), REA/mail, warehousing, construction, oil/coal distributor, steam/diesel engine service, interchange, team track, cold storage, lumber distribution, chemical, minor intermodal terminal, something automotive, something having to do with the steel industry, etc.

Region: Somewhere in the rust belt

RR: any

Thanks in advance.

 

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