where do you start?

[Duce]

Hello guys,
I just started my r/r i have the bench work almost all done. Im doing a rap around layout the whole thing is 3 1/2 ft wide and goes around all four walls in a 12x9 ft room.

My question is should I have all the track layed out (not tacked down) before I start putting in my grades or should I pick a spot and just start building? I started the yard already. Its finish except for the details ( rock, Grass, ect) Should I just go with it and knock out a section at a time or wait and get all the track layed down?

Thanks for you help

Cary

[babefluff]

Welcome Cary
Speaking from experience, before starting any scenery. Your track should all be laid and then fine tuned for operation. You should run trains for awhile to see if the track plan lives up to your expectations. I know it is tempting to dive right in but I made the mistake of that and ended up having to change a lot of completly scenicked areas! Is this your first attempt at a model railroad? If so you should try to keep it on one level. The scenery can still go below track level and give the illusion of grades. If you tackle the grades then keep them to no more than 3 percent incline. You also mention that it goes around all four walls at 3 1/2 feet wide if you do the math that only leaves a 2 foot wide aisle down the middle of your room, not a lot of space to manouver about in. You will also have a long stretch in to the corners if problems arise there. I would go no more than 2 feet out from the walls, this will give you plentyof room to work in. You do not mention what scale you are in either. Hope this helps.

Scott

[Duce]

Thanks for you help scott.

My mistake the room is 12x11. This is my first railroad. I plan on useing premade risers for the grade. I had already figured on the 3% grade they sale them that way. Im trying to keep it as easy as posible. lololol
Also Im doing HO scale.

[Anonymous]

Duce, you're way ahead by going around the walls. You've figured out you have much more railroad in your room than you would have with a 4 by 8 sheet of plywood. But 3 1/2 feet deep is way too much. You really can't reach more than 2 1/2, and that's a stretch. 2 feet will give you plenty of room for a double track mainline, and lots of scenery and buildings, etc, along with right of way. As for the grades, it's really not very hard to make your own risers, and it's cheaper and very satisfying to do that, and you'll find most locos will have much better pulling power on a maximum grade of 2 percent. To make a smooth 2 percent grade, just raise the track only an 8th of an inch in the first foot of the grade, and a quarter inch in every foot after that. At the top end, the final foot should rise only an 8th of an inch again, instead of 1/4 inch. That makes nice transitions so your couplers are not pulled out of line. You'll need to make the clearance between upper and lower tracks about 3 1/2 inches, or tall enough for your tallest car to fit. At 2 percent, that's a grade about 16 feet long. Also, listen to everyone on this fantastic forum, and read a lot of the fun books about model railroading. Good luck and welcome to the world's greatest hobby!

[SpaceMouse]

Do you have aplan you can show us?

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Duce
My question is should I have all the track layed out (not tacked down) before I start putting in my grades or should I pick a spot and just start building?

The grades will change the horizontal distances slightly. I don't know if enough to make a difference with your plan or not.

QUOTE: I started the yard already. Its finish except for the details ( rock, Grass, ect) Should I just go with it and knock out a section at a time or wait and get all the track layed down?

You want the track layed far enough ahead of scenery so that you won't be 1. Making it hard to lay more track and 2. destroying scenery by laying more track. Other than that you should be able to work on whatever you desire. Working totally on one thing or another for long periods of time can take the fun and interest out of things.

[Duce]

okay,
I went ahead and cut 3 of the 4 sides down to 2 ft wide. I have a plan that Im kinda using as a guide. I will scan it and put it up monday night. I had to leave one at 3 ft because I have track already layed on that side. I have had to make a couple changes already so Im learning as I go.

[Duce]

Geo how do you make your own risers and what do you make them out of?