Looking To do Another 4x8

[Anonymous]

I Have done Multiple 4x8 Layouts in my short life. I am looking at a 4x8 for Under My Bed.(I am thinking rollers since the bed is against the wall.) Any Layouts you can give my will be great! (My Email Address is the same as my user, if they have to be emailed! Please Subject, "Train Layout") Thanks! I am thinking about ripping out the old wiring of another layout and put it in this one. Read my other Forum, DCC HELP!!!!!! PLEASE RESPOND SOON!

[e-mail]

[SpaceMouse]

IT would be tough without more information. What kinds of things do you look for in a layout? What is important and what is not important? What scale are you in? What era? Where should it be located? IF none of these things matter, then it doesn't matter how you build your layout.

[Anonymous]

It would most likely be in the 40's or 50's. I own a mix of steam and disel. It would be in H.O. scale. I would like to pack as much track into it as possible. It does not matter where the thing is located, besides under my bed. Thanks SpaceMouse (AKA Chip)

[e-mail]

[SpaceMouse]

Packing track into a 4x8 is not what is going to keep it interesting. What will keep it interesting is making it operate like a railroad. Consider two scenes in which you do industrial switching. Then divide it in the center with a back drop (that you could remove to slip it under your bed.) On one side, you break your train down, drop off and pick up cars as appropriate to your industries. Then run the train around to the other side and do it again. Know what each industry does and what kinds of goods it needs. And what kind of cars you'll need to make it operate.

What I am talking about is building a model railroad instead of a looped-de-loop toy train. You won't get bored so quickly.

Also, download XtraCAD and learn the program. IT has a great tutorial and will do just about anyuthing the higher priced layouot programs will do. It will help you design any thing from a topy looped-de-loop to a cool switching layout. Take time to learn and plan. The more time you take planning, the more likely you will get the layout you want.

Go to your local library and look for the book, Track Planning for Realistic Operation, by John Armstrong. IF the library doesn't have it, ask the librarian to get it on inter-library loan. I've been able to get all sorts rare books that way. Anyway, there area couple small layouts in there that he explains how to operate.

The more real you make the railroad, the more fun it will be.

Draw up a plan, post it here, and let the old-pros here make suggestions.

[Anonymous]

Thanks. I will do That. Can you Give me an XtraCAD Link Please. I will be In touch soon.

Connor

[SpaceMouse]

http://www.sillub.com/

IT is now open source so make sure you get the registration info when you download.

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by [e-mail]
I am looking at a 4x8 for Under My Bed.(I am thinking rollers since the bed is against the wall.)

What sort of bed do you have that you can fit a 4x8 under it? I do have one design that was made specifially to take the place of a mattris of a top bunk bed up against the wall. The same concept could be used.

[Anonymous]

The Bed is a Twin That is raised, But it is build into the wall, So the wood would be under it. it would be on rollers so it can be out by day, in by night. Since it is build into the wall, there is extra wasted space under the thing. Thanks
Connor

[Anonymous]

I Tried Downloading The Xtracab Software, But It won't Fire,(the computer is from 2001,so please bear with me) Sorry, But I have Atlas' software.

[SpaceMouse]

QUOTE: Originally posted by [e-mail]

I Tried Downloading The Xtracab Software, But It won't Fire,(the computer is from 2001,so please bear with me) Sorry, But I have Atlas' software.

IT ran just fine on my wife's laprtop running Windows 98--oh well. The Atlas is fine, it is just clunky.

[Anonymous]

Although I am relatively new to model railroading (5 years).
I found the website below along with alot of reading

Check out website http://www.thortrains.net/

This site has help me many 0-gauge and HO setups 4x8 -10 x5 (Indoor/out door), doorway and closet (Mini-Layouts).
Enjoy!

GrandmasterII

[Anonymous]

Thanks. I have actually perfected the art of making layouts W/ atlas software. Hopefully I will be posting the blueprints soon. I would like to slightly modify a track plan from, Atlas king sized plan book, Track Plan #HO 31. Thanks
Connor

[Anonymous]

I now have a Website Up and Running. It is:
www.geosites.com/darlenescruising/trains_are_cool.html

I will have a picture of the track plan I would like to make.

Connor

[Medina1128]

I've gotten pretty good with the Atlas program as well, once I mastered installing flex track and laying parallel tracks... The only problem I have with it is that the widest radius is 24".

[Anonymous]

I have a 4x4 layout, that I built to kep me interested while I planned greater aspirations, and I did what Spacemouse described in his second post. I had 2 industries, which were one either side of the layout. One side was a farm, the other a city. Since there was background down the middle, dividing the layout, it meant there was a period when you couldn't see the train, giving the illusion that the layout was much bigger than it actually was. I think it would definetely make the layout more interesting.

[Anonymous]

Thanks. I will put that into consideration. I want LOTS OF SWITCHING AND CONTINOUS RUNNING

[fwright]

Unless you have a very different twin bed, the best you can fit underneath is about 39 inches by 75 inches (size of a twin mattress), including any framework. This assumes footboard and headboard with nothing in between. Ask me how I know these dimensions - I like to learn lessons the hard way.

Second, in my older years the thought of getting up and down from my knees to construct and play with a very low layout has somehow grown much less appealing. So build it to fit on some sort of supports that put it at least 36in high when pulled out from under the bed.

Finally be aware that most beds have very limited vertical clearance underneath. Few I have measured (why do I always measure after the fact) have more than 12 inches between floor and bottom of be rail, some are even less.

The above opportunities for creativity (some might call them restrictions) led me to the following design critieria:

1) use a framed extruded foam design for benchwork and subroadbed. This minimizes overall vertical thickness leaving more room for taller structures.

2) The frame gives you a mounting point for casters and legs, although I would recommend ditching the casters in favor of replaceable felt pads. The felt pads reduce vertical thickness of your benchwork, the lightweight of framed foam should slide easily enough (of course I've always had hardwood floors - thick carpet may need a different solution), it protects the dining room table when you set your layout on it, and the places where the casters would mount can be used for legs for those occasions when the layout will be free-standing.

3) Incorporate places to hook removable track cartridges (U-shaped frame just wide enough to hold trains on track inside U, length to suit) at the edges of the layout. The cartridges serve as ways to add/remove/store rolling stock without always resorting to 0-5-0 handling and the associated damage to your fine modeling details.

4) Multiple track levels are going to very difficult to achieve, and won't look good anyway given the limited vertical clearance.

5) lighting for the layout is going to be dependent on room lighting where ever you set it up. In my dark house (built in 1930s with electricical system to suit), that's a problem.

Not having enough creativity to overcome all these challenges in a way that suits me, I've switched from the under-the-bed concept to a bookshelf style layout cantilevered over the bed using shelf track systems. My daughter doesn't mind as long as I gave her enough vertical clearance to sit up on the bed, and finished the underside of the layout attractively. That clause resulted a light plywood/cork panel held in place by cams so I could easily remove the panel for wiring access. I built a bench to stand upon when I need to reach the back of the layout or the bookshelf. Under the bookshelf, 20 inches above my base elevation, is my built-in layout lighting (flourescent tubes).

Biggest disadvantages to the over-the-bed bookshelf are:

1) insufficient width for continuous running

2) reaching/viewing over the bed. The bed sets me 20 inches back from an 18 in deep shelf, I was scared to cantilever more than that from the wall without diagonal braces.

Advantages:

1) place to store my modeling magazines and books on the bookshelf - although this can be awkward when moving the layout - gotta take everything off the shelf first

2) single built-in package with lighting, backdrop, and flat base - can be easily transported and displayed, or taken to workshop. Power supply and lighting requires simple single computer power cord plug-in.

3) standing and stretching while working/operating on layout.

4) rolling stock cassettes are easier to mount - set up bracket on adjoining door or wall for far end of cassette from layout.

Hope this helps with building your layout to suit your desires.

[Anonymous]

Thanks.
I will probably be able to run a bit farther back into the wall. And The bed is build into the wall SO I can probably run it Underneath. Thanks

Connor