My 5x9 027 layout started as a 4x8 layout in a special edition of Model Railroader called "Model Trains Step by Step" from late 2005. I believe the same plan was featured in CTT magazine within the last year, but I have been unable to locate the issue. Here is my plan, if you just look at the inside up and under loop, I will fit a 4x8. However, if you try it remember that on layouts with inclines and declines you have to have sections that increase power going up and decrease it going down or else you will constantly be jockying the transformer throttle.
DSmith, that's a great layout. Here's an earlier thread that shows a few smaller layouts.
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1/1166791/ShowPost.aspx#1166791
Here's my 4.5 x 8.5 layout.
dsmith wrote: My 5x9 027 layout started as a 4x8 layout in a special edition of Model Railroader called "Model Trains Step by Step" from late 2005. I believe the same plan was featured in CTT magazine within the last year, but I have been unable to locate the issue. Here is my plan, if you just look at the inside up and under loop, I will fit a 4x8. However, if you try it remember that on layouts with inclines and declines you have to have sections that increase power going up and decrease it going down or else you will constantly be jockying the transformer throttle.
That's a great layout! I like your benchwork as well. Thank you for sharing.
Regards,
John
Here is one I was working on today. I didn't have time to finish the bridges or scenery, but it might be enough for you to get some ideas. It's a 3 level layout with 3 or 4 independent small trains for kids.
Wes
RJ, I always love to look at pics of your layout! Prewar kicks booty!
Hi Wes.
What are you using to do your plan.
I am trying to come up with one for a 5' X 16' I want to run both "O" 3 rail & American Flyer.
I seem to be going thru trees like no tomorrow so if I could find some thing easy to use on the computer I would.
Thank you.
Im using RR track lite (It came with my MTH starter sets). A lot of people use it because it's really easy to use. You can also get libraries of different track brands and accessories. Just open up a layout grid with your 5x16, and start laying track!
http://www.rrtrack.com/
Here's A 4X7 I have been running for the past year. I am constantly changing my mind about 2-mains or having the sidings...so far the sidings are winning. A cityscape is planned for the level above the passenger cars with a second level trolly loop.
Kurt
Hey Dave Smith and Envfocus,
Every time you two post photos of your layouts, I feel compelled to tell you how wonderful I think your layouts are! Great things do come in small packages!
Jim
Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale
kpolak wrote: Here's A 4X7 I have been running for the past year. I am constantly changing my mind about 2-mains or having the sidings...so far the sidings are winning. A cityscape is planned for the level above the passenger cars with a second level trolly loop.Kurt
Hi Kurt,
I would stick with the layout you have with sidings instead of two loops. It looks like a great design with lots of sidings, 3 passing sidings and a reverse loop. Wow!! Having loops to run multiple trains around in circles is a lot of fun but I am finding that after I get used to my layout, having lots of sidings and switching possibilities gives me more long lasting enjoyment.
Hello Jumijo,
I have seen pics of your layout in a couple different threads and I think yours is EXCELLENT. From the pics that I have seen you have a great layout and super detail to boot. Do you have a plan of your layout? And how many trains do you have running at once?
-Scott
Kurt, I agree with david on your track plan. I love to have multiple trains running, but after a while you want to do something different...like switching. Your current plan provides for a lot of route changes and dropoff points.
Dont forget that trolley on the upper level either.
Dennis (ogauge) and Jim (Jumijo): thanks for the kind words and yes, I'm not sure about prewar kicking booty, but I sure do like it. Although I enjoy seeing the large layouts, I always marvel at what people come up with to enjoy a train in a small place. Does anyone remember the thread or person who had the small layout mounted in a trailer that he pulled to different events? I believe that he resides somewhere in Canada, maybe British Columbia, I just can't remember. I believe that was a 4x8 layout that would be great to see again.
Lehigh Valley Railroader wrote:Hello Jumijo, I have seen pics of your layout in a couple different threads and I think yours is EXCELLENT. From the pics that I have seen you have a great layout and super detail to boot. Do you have a plan of your layout? And how many trains do you have running at once?-Scott
Thanks, Scott! Very kind of you to say that.
I don't have a track plan for our layout, but it's just 2 loops of O36 FasTrack. I used a few spacer pieces to widen the outer loop. I figured with 3 small children, I'd keep the track plan as simple as possible to avoid derailments or worse. When the kids get older, and my daughter lets me, we will construct a new layout with a more complicated track plan. More switches and sidings. Right now we run 2 trains at once.
Jumijo wrote: Lehigh Valley Railroader wrote: Hello Jumijo, I have seen pics of your layout in a couple different threads and I think yours is EXCELLENT. From the pics that I have seen you have a great layout and super detail to boot. Do you have a plan of your layout? And how many trains do you have running at once?-ScottThanks, Scott! Very kind of you to say that.I don't have a track plan for our layout, but it's just 2 loops of O36 FasTrack. I used a few spacer pieces to widen the outer loop. I figured with 3 small children, I'd keep the track plan as simple as possible to avoid derailments or worse. When the kids get older, and my daughter lets me, we will construct a new layout with a more complicated track plan. More switches and sidings. Right now we run 2 trains at once.Jim
Lehigh Valley Railroader wrote: Hello Jumijo, I have seen pics of your layout in a couple different threads and I think yours is EXCELLENT. From the pics that I have seen you have a great layout and super detail to boot. Do you have a plan of your layout? And how many trains do you have running at once?-Scott
Hey Jim,
The pics that I saw of your layout seemed that your set up is in a "L" shape. Is it a 4x8 with a 4x4 attached? I also wanted to tell you that I really like the way you layed the track with the tracks side by side through the curves. It looks great. Once I get my layout back up one day, I may use yours as some inspiration.
Anyway, a little off track (no pun intended) I saw on your photbucket website that there was a pic labeled "My 442" is that your convertable? If so is that a 71 or 72? My other hobby during the summer months is going to car shows. Right now I restored a 83 Trans Am (drove a 1982 through college) and my favorite Muscle Car of all time is the 442, someday I will own one. I may just buy a basket case and restore it but if the right car and deal comes along you never know.
Hello Scott!
What Jim would really love is a Red Corvair! Anyway, I saw his 442 on Photobucket like you & thought it was/is a very nice car. Cars & Trains sure seem to go together just fine. Take Care.
Lehigh Valley Railroader wrote:Hey Jim,The pics that I saw of your layout seemed that your set up is in a "L" shape. Is it a 4x8 with a 4x4 attached? I also wanted to tell you that I really like the way you layed the track with the tracks side by side through the curves. It looks great. Once I get my layout back up one day, I may use yours as some inspiration. Anyway, a little off track (no pun intended) I saw on your photbucket website that there was a pic labeled "My 442" is that your convertable? If so is that a 71 or 72? My other hobby during the summer months is going to car shows. Right now I restored a 83 Trans Am (drove a 1982 through college) and my favorite Muscle Car of all time is the 442, someday I will own one. I may just buy a basket case and restore it but if the right car and deal comes along you never know. -Scott
Scott,
Our layout is one 4x8 table with a 6x4 table attached to form an L-shaped 8x10. Thanks again for the kind words. Feel free to emulate any part of the Jumijo you wish to.
My 442 was a 1972 W-30, with Ram Air, Rochester quadra jet carb, 455 big block, aluminum intake manifold, Turbo 400 tranny with a dual gate shifter, posi-traction, and air conditioning. I fell in love with these cars in high school when my buddy told me his dad was picking us up after baseball practice. He pulled up in a green 72 ragtop with the top down. I restored my Olds to look just like that one I saw all those years ago. I sold the car 2 weeks before my wedding. I sometimes regret not keeping it. But the winters up here are long and I could only enjoy driving the car 6 months tops each year. So I sold the car and got a wonderful wife and 3 great kids in return. And it was those 3 kids that got me involved in model railroading.
Jim (Dr. Olds)
Jumijo wrote: Scott,Our layout is one 4x8 table with a 6x4 table attached to form an L-shaped 8x10. Thanks again for the kind words. Feel free to emulate any part of the Jumijo you wish to.My 442 was a 1972 W-30, with Ram Air, Rochester quadra jet carb, 455 big block, aluminum intake manifold, Turbo 400 tranny with a dual gate shifter, posi-traction, and air conditioning. I fell in love with these cars in high school when my buddy told me his dad was picking us up after baseball practice. He pulled up in a green 72 ragtop with the top down. I restored my Olds to look just like that one I saw all those years ago. I sold the car 2 weeks before my wedding. I sometimes regret not keeping it. But the winters up here are long and I could only enjoy driving the car 6 months tops each year. So I sold the car and got a wonderful wife and 3 great kids in return. And it was those 3 kids that got me involved in model railroading. Jim (Dr. Olds)
Thanks for the size of your layout. I also wanted to tell you that you did a great job restoring the 442, it looked really nice. I hear you about the long winters, here in PA we get some pretty bad weather for quite some time too, not nearly as bad as your winters though. We really only get 7 or 8 months to drive our show cars. Lately they have been throwing down more salt and anti-skid materials on the roads which keep most collector cars off the road till like April when we get some good rains. Dont get me wrong, I am glad they do, because it is much safer driving in the bad conditions with that stuff and helps keep everyone safe. Just wish we would not have as many as far into March. Oh well.
Well it seems that it all worked out and I am happy for you. Thanks for help and I know you helped me a couple times before with some questions that you had answered. So thanks again.
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