Layout design for 8'x8' space. In need of help!!

[PennsylvaniaRailroadOScaler]

Hi,

 

I moved from having a full size basement and now i am down to a simple 8x8 space. Trying to find a plan for a room this size is not easy.  Im trying to come up with a plan that would maybe have a double track mainline around the walls with some switching hopefully.  I know with o scale i am very limited but dont want to rule out possibilities.  I am also planning to use gargraves track because i am just not attracted to commercial snap track.  I could use any ideas anyone has or could come up with. Im sure anyone can understand the withdraws someone has when you go along time without running trains.  I am scared to start or try something because time around my house is sometimes scarce. Help me please!!

Thanks for any input

 

Scott R.

[Dr. John]

What kind of equipment will you be running? That will determine the curves, switches etc. If you're running postwar/traditional size equipment, you can squeeze in more trackage.

Second, what kind of accesories/buildings to you plan to use. These take up space that can be used for tracks. Ditto for the type of scenery you want.

The good news is, you can easily have a double track main with some sidings in an 8x8 space. You may need to limit buildings to low-relief backdrop types or very small ones and limit the number of accesories.

If you can answer some of these questions, I bet you can get some good trackplan ideas. I'd be happy to help. 

[PennsylvaniaRailroadOScaler]

First of all thanks for the reply.  I plan on running traditional size equipment.  I would be running f3's, m1's I1's etc.  Nothing very large.  Buildings on the other hand would include maybe a small coal yard and misc small factories. I would like to have a tunnel and maybe a bridge. I just want to basically run trains and have some occasional switching.  I know any kind of yard would probably be out of the picture but if you think differently, then i would definitely like to have one.  Scenery would be dense forests and small towns.  Tipical pennsylvania mountain terrain.  I have always had this vision of having a branch that would go up grade to a coal mine and having locomotives pushing coal cars up the grade.  I have alot of plans i had made but i just cannot get anything to fit or work to what i want.  I would love any plans or ideas from anyone.

 

thanks,

 

Scott

[Dave Farquhar]

Here's my trackplan:

 

If the image doesn't show up, the URL is

http://pages.sbcglobal.net/dave_farquhar/trackplan.gif

The outer loop is O42; the inner loop is Marx O34. Gargraves O32 and O42 track should do a reasonable job of approximating it. Gargraves O32 might fit a little better, even.

Ignore the header; it's from a different project I was drawing and I never changed the header. This gives you two loops, with a little bit in the way of switching possibilities. Maybe it will help you. I can't take full credit for this; Spankybird posted a 4x7 layout he did some time back and I liked it, so I stretched it out a little to 8x8 but the basic plan is his. 

[overall]

Here is a website that deals with small micro layouts;

http://carendt.us/scrapbook/page52/index.html

Also you might try "Thor's all gauge railroad page". Sorry I don't have a link on that one, but you can goggle it.

George

[Dr. John]

Here's an 8x8 walk-in plan I created with RR-Track software using Gargraves O-32 and O-42 curves with GG O-42 switches. It utilizes an MTH double track bridge as a duckunder for access. You could add a tunnel in one of the corners very easily. Click on the images to enlarge them.

 

Here's a 3-D view of the same trackplan. I visualize using building flats to save space.

 

[dougdagrump]

Great plan Dr. John ! Nice to see you posting again. I agree that the use of building facades around the walls will give a great deal of scenic variety yet not interfere with maximizing amount of trackage.

An excellent example of this is what frank53, www.lionellines.net has accomplished using that same premise.

[JimM]

Here is my 8X8 layout, I used Lionel 027 for the tubular track and Fasttrack for the outer loop. I also use 4 1024 manual switches and an X piece. I have 3 loops on the board, and it can have 3 trains running at one time. The smallest one I use the Polar Express Elves pump car. The outer loop I use the Polar Express set and the 027 track I use the Pennsylvania Flyer set. Each one runs great with no de-railments or any problems at all. My layout is two pieces of 4X8 plywood with a 1X2 around each edge. Then, I attached folding legs to the bottoms of each board. Then, after they are set up, I screwed the two pieces together in the center making one large 8X8. What do you think? Then, in a while, I will take it down and store it, making a NEW setup for the 2008/2009 season. I used Microsoft paint to "show" my layout in a colored design, so, Sorry, I don't have a fancy computer program to design a layout, but, I made the layout just laying pieces of track onto the platform and then, putting them together. If you don't want the outer loop, then, you can make the center one bigger by adding straight pieces to each side and center runs. I actually had the 027 track bigger, but when I added the Fast-track loop, I needed to remove straight pieces of the 027 track and make the center one smaller. Since I took the picture, I have added a white "sheet" skirt around the platform so you cannont see underneath. Also, before I take it down, I want to add a scenery background around the back and sides. I am trying to find a piece of wallpaper boarder with something I like, and then, just get some hardboard/masonite about a foot high, attach wallpaper boarder, and then just screw it to the edge. 

 Enjoy!

Jim