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How to double size of my planned layout? (HO)

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  • Member since
    September 2022
  • From: Idaho
  • 35 posts
Posted by OERRFailRanner on Monday, October 10, 2022 10:35 AM

I would buy a bigger house, but the problem is, I can't really move out of my current house untill i scrounge up enough money by 18 or later. These are some cool photos though!

  • Member since
    September 2022
  • From: Idaho
  • 35 posts
Posted by OERRFailRanner on Monday, October 10, 2022 10:33 AM

ctclibby

Boy, a helix in N scale should not have too big of a foot print. Me thinks that getting trains up and down it will be the tough part. Not mechanical, but the run time for them. Heights between the levels will come into play. If you have 12" separation, will that be enough to view whatever is below the top layer? 15" would be better that that would add to the runtime. Remember to figure in your benchwork thickness for that top layer and consider reach-in, AND since you will be almost standing on your head to wire the top layer, think about that also.

Later

 

 

It is planned in ho, so that would be my problem. But thank you for the insight on a helix in N and for general helix work!

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: North Dakota
  • 9,592 posts
Posted by BroadwayLion on Saturday, October 8, 2022 11:38 AM

1) buy a bigger house. : )

Train room of LION is 24' x 27' and runs on three levels.

This is 'back stage' on the layout. Toto I think there are more than three levels here!

And the main helix. (the other helix is part of that monster above.)

Most of the 'scenery' is painted black... after all you are supposed to be inside of a subway tunnel.

The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.

Here there be cats.                                LIONS with CAMERAS

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Libby, MT
  • 88 posts
Posted by ctclibby on Saturday, October 8, 2022 7:34 AM

Boy, a helix in N scale should not have too big of a foot print. Me thinks that getting trains up and down it will be the tough part. Not mechanical, but the run time for them. Heights between the levels will come into play. If you have 12" separation, will that be enough to view whatever is below the top layer? 15" would be better that that would add to the runtime. Remember to figure in your benchwork thickness for that top layer and consider reach-in, AND since you will be almost standing on your head to wire the top layer, think about that also.

Later

Todd Hackett

 Libby, Montana 59923

 I take only pictures then leave footprints on railroad property that I know is not mine, although I treat it as such...

  • Member since
    September 2022
  • From: Idaho
  • 35 posts
Posted by OERRFailRanner on Tuesday, October 4, 2022 10:35 AM

snjroy

Well, there is nothing like taking a sheet of grid paper, drawing your space to scale, and drawing your mainline, with the appropriate curves (or circles, so to speak). At scale.

Simon

PS: If you say pretty please, the Bear might find the time to draw one out for you Smile.

Simon

I do agree with you on this. I have been meaning to grab some graphing paper and start writing out some track plans.

Also where might I find the bear?

  • Member since
    November 2013
  • 2,775 posts
Posted by snjroy on Monday, October 3, 2022 10:31 AM

Well, there is nothing like taking a sheet of grid paper, drawing your space to scale, and drawing your mainline, with the appropriate curves (or circles, so to speak). At scale.

Simon

PS: If you say pretty please, the Bear might find the time to draw one out for you Smile.

Simon

  • Member since
    April 2021
  • From: saskabush
  • 127 posts
Posted by wvgca on Sunday, October 2, 2022 3:07 PM

you could always move to a larger scale ... no , that would give you at least four times the size, even eight if you include verticals ... not the double that you wanted ..

sorry

  • Member since
    September 2022
  • From: Idaho
  • 35 posts
Posted by OERRFailRanner on Saturday, October 1, 2022 10:19 PM

ndbprr

it is a little hard to reply without some specifics  Things like room size, minimum radius, short line, or main line,  switching or through trains for starters  as well as equipment length and givens and druthers

 

its a scale model of the Oregon Eastern Railroad, so it is a single trakc, and the biggest equipment will be 60' hoppers and (if I can somehow fit the rest of the track in my basement somehow) some reefers

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • 175 posts
Posted by hjQi on Saturday, October 1, 2022 8:52 PM

A helix will be more than double your track length as helix takes lots of track legnth. A reliable helix may need a larger radius so it may also take a lot more space..

Jerry

  • Member since
    September 2014
  • From: 10,430’ (3,179 m)
  • 2,311 posts
Posted by jjdamnit on Thursday, September 29, 2022 7:33 PM

Hello All,

Add a parallel second mainline.

Hope this helps.

"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"

  • Member since
    September 2002
  • 7,486 posts
Posted by ndbprr on Thursday, September 29, 2022 7:06 PM

it is a little hard to reply without some specifics  Things like room size, minimum radius, short line, or main line,  switching or through trains for starters  as well as equipment length and givens and druthers

  • Member since
    March 2011
  • 1,950 posts
Posted by NVSRR on Thursday, September 29, 2022 6:51 PM

Heix to a lower or upper level is the best way to double the size

Shane

A pessimist sees a dark tunnel

An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel

A realist sees a frieght train

An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space

  • Member since
    September 2022
  • From: Idaho
  • 35 posts
How to double size of my planned layout? (HO)
Posted by OERRFailRanner on Wednesday, September 28, 2022 10:20 AM

Hello,

As few people may know, I am building in N scale, but I am also planning waayy farther in the future to build a point to point HO railroad in the basement of my house. It does not seem like it is big enough to fit in, so I was wondering, how do I make a track plan bigger? I don't want to exceed what I have planned too much, but my idea was a helix to an upper level. Any other ideas would be amazing. 

Thanks!

Tags: help , Layout

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