For everyone who had a figure-8 layout and didn’t think it was realistic:

[LensCapOn]

The May 2018 Trains magazine has a two page image that shows how one loop on one could look like in real life (pages 68-69). Go and take a look for yourself. The Google Maps image gives some idea but pales to the “inside the loop” shot. Might be enough to make you buy the issue.

 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/CN/@41.4959443,-87.7037844,609m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x880e10ab6da06c03:0x6ad2c840f45a3dfb!8m2!3d41.4965953!4d-87.7014073  

[Overmod]

But that's essentially a 'directional interchange' between two main lines that do not cross at grade...

[LensCapOn]

^^^^^^^

That is all true, but you are not seeing it as a modeler trying to make our often artifical track plans look realistic.

 

My eyes opened wide, then refocused, when I saw the "shot inside the loop" image.

[mbinsewi]

I guess I'm missing it.  I have the April TRAINS magazine right here, and pages 68 & 69 are ads.

Mike.

[LensCapOn]

mbinsewi

I guess I'm missing it.  I have the April TRAINS magazine right here, and pages 68 & 69 are ads.

Mike.

 

May issue. Corrected it now. Clearly a brain fart by me. (sad)

[mbinsewi]

OK, I see it.  Thanks.  Got the mag yesterday, haven't gotten that far yet.  Love that photography.

[snjroy]

When I saw the title of the thread, I thought of EL Moore's Elizabeth Valley RR. First saw it in the book HO Primer in the 70s and went back to it several times for inspiration.Seems like doing things in tight spaces was more common back then...

Simon

[LensCapOn]

The Elizabeth Valley looks a lot like the first G&D. Go do a search everyone and see for yourself.

 

[snjroy]

Agreed, they belong to the same family of nice compact plans. I guess it was a different era, where short, fast running locos were more the norm.

[angelob6660]

Google maps took me to China.