Let's see your small layout

[PhilaKnight]

Just simple 2 loops with switches to a small yard with some operating accesories

[pbjwilson]

Heres my micro layout. Figure 8 is all 0-27 curves and a crossing. About as small as you can get other than a circle.

 

[fifedog]

Less is more.  I luuuuvvvv spaghetti; just not on a 4 x 8 .

However, I do find kpolak's track plan most interesting.

[Anonymous]

Can't right click, only got one mouse button. ;)

[magicman710]

Jason, right click the "X" and click "open tab".

[Anonymous]

Anjdevil...your pics are not coming up.

[kpolak]

Here ya go!  I clicked on "preview this image" at 425 pixels, and copied the informmation under the "direct link to this image", and placed the  img  before and the /img (in square brackets) after the url.

Kurt

Hope this helps.

[otftch]

I received an e-mail that my link would not work for my layout shots.The link is  http://community.webshots.com/user/otftch. If someone could let me know if it works now.

                                                            Thanks,

                                                               Ed

[anjdevil2]

This is my current layout, a 4X6. It will be going away soon for the new one. That will be an L shape 4X8 and a 4X6 table. The old one has a bridge and 3 independent loops, the 1st & 2nd loops are connected with a left switch with a block Fastrack between them. I can switch between loops and still have 3 independent power sources, running with a CW80 and a KW.

[envfocus]

Daan thanks for "restarting" this thread. Your layout looks great.  I wish my prewar roster could handle 2% grades!  Anyway, I started my first layout 4 weeks ago.  My general plan is shown below.  I wanted to run three of my prewar trains at a time with NO switches.   At its widest, the table is 4.25 feet and its longest arm is 8.5 feet.

After working on it the past 2 weekends, I'm probably 75% done and everything seems to fit so far.  The legs have casters on them to I can move the table back and forth.  Its final resting place will be in the basement.  I hope to have it all done over Labor Day weekend.

[ChiefEagles]

I figured something was up when he told me on the phone to check his post on small layout.  Dang, got me in my Disney outfit.   Instead of working Bass Pro Shops when I go to Orlando, I really go to Disney and work.

I've seen some really nice layouts.  Now mine has the track taken back up ans soundboard going down.  Here it is before the treack came up but will still have the same track layout.

Yes, goes through the walls and makes a circle.  Engine storage track  and reversing track is in the other room.

Lets see Lionel diesels smoke.

 

[Jumijo]

 Jim A-  Will the photo of Snow White er ''Chief White" be on the Front Cover of the CTT with your layout in it???  Take Care.

Cover and Centerfold.  As Curly would say "whoob whoob whoob whoob!"     

[1688torpedo]

 Jim A-  Will the photo of Snow White er ''Chief White" be on the Front Cover of the CTT with your layout in it???  Take Care.

[Jumijo]

Here's a photo of our small layout.

Oooooops! That's a photo of the Chief dressed as Snow White.  

 

HERE is a photo of our small layout.

 

And another

 

And yet another

 

and another

Jim

 

[Anonymous]

daan, that is fantastic! I love it and I'm not even the one who gets to play with it! Great work.

[daan]

Inspired on all these small layouts I decided to build one for friend his kids. They have 3 kids in the age of 8 to 13 years old and where very hard with parting with my layout on a birthday party. As far as I learned from them, railway accidents and derailments are the best thing to replicate, so the track needs to be guarded by some structure to prevent trains falling off the table. I used a figure 8 as base and aded a leftover switch with a siding they can switch off. Also a couple of sturdy lights are added so they can derail their trains in the darkness of the night.

I used a 1/2" thick sheet of 4x8 plywood, some 1x2" support beams on the sides and 031 curves. Don't start talking about gradients, since this layout features 6% grades for runaway trains! The plywood sheet is cut down 1' in length and 1/2' in width witch I used for the mountains and sides (to prevent the trains running of the table.

The mountains are made with fake grass (green carpet) which flexes on impact and reduces damage to a minimum.

The finished layout. The trees bushes and everything else needs to be made by them. I rebuild the K-line engines to DC, since it's easier to switch direction and used a relaiable transformer with a decent power shutoff when a short happens. If a train derails, it's cought by the mountains and ends up leaning in it's carpet walls. I'm sure that I've tested it very thoroughly, downhill with max voltage and only one small dc can motor per locomotive!

The left over space is filled with roads for matchbox or lego vehicle's. Fun guaranteed! (and not only for kiddos )

[FJ and G]

renova; good one

[kpolak]

Thor and All Gauge gets ALL the credit.  I made a few modifications, but he did the base layout.  Here's the link:  http://www.thortrains.net/

Here's last year's Christmas layout:  Also by Thor.  I was able to run 2-trains at the same time, on the inner and outer loops.  Careful with the larger overhangs...

Went head-on with the 2338, and 1666 going opposite directions.

Kurt

[Anonymous]

I love this layout diagram, this is pretty much what I'm looking to build.  My idea is to have an outter main that runs the perimeter of the layout that can access an inner loop, but also allows for the ability to change direction.  It seems that your layout does all of this nicely.

[Anonymous]

I have to say I love seeing everyone's layouts. It's kinda like going over and visiting everyone's place but I don't have to spend money on gas!

Well, my 4x8 has grown! It's now 4'8"x10'. My dad helped me add on to it this week. We are also hanging it on the wall in the garage so it will fold up and I can park my car by it. I will try to get pictures on here tomorrow so check back. We went 4feet 8 inches so we can get the O54 curves I have on the layout. That's really what I wanted to do so I don't need to go up to 5 feet wide. I still haven't planned my track plan, but now I can't have an elevated track because of it folding up. I'll also have to be very carefull in my planning of scenery and accessories. But that's all part of the fun right?

Keep posting pics everyone! BTW, you're welcome to go get more pics and post them on here if you want! Like I said, it's fun to get to "visit" your layout.

[traindaddy1]

Sorry to post so late....This layout is @6' x 7'. At the time the photo was taken, it was a work in progress...many changes since.    4 separate lines, 1 elevated. (Blue bar is part of frame that holds a clear plastic dust cover.   Just to give you an idea.....Best of luck!

[NewbieLady]

Hi DaylightFan,

Our layout is 4x8, 3 independent loops, each with their own power brick ( I wanted the ability to run 3 trains at once, rather than switching tracks.) As you can see, we managed to fit 2 double-portal tunnel openings, an elevated line with a bridge, and a bit of a downtown area. We've since squeezed in some building fronts along the front wall of the tunnel (in the back), and added some MTH operating accessories on top of the rear corners. We wanted a lot going on, and if you try, you CAN squeeze a lot in, if that's what you like. Hope this gives you an idea or two!

[daan]

It's really fun to see how much variation there is on such small layouts! My layout is 5x9, but along the walls instead of an island. Building along walls has some oppurtunities:

1 you can reach about anywhere without having to climb up the benchwork.

2 you can use different landscapes and it doesn't look funny (you can't oversee the layout)

3 Because of you not being able to oversee the layout, the trains look to go somewhere instead of running in circles.

4 No legs, since the layout is fixed to the walls.

Also some disadvantages, the biggest one is that you need to build a duck-under(?) or a lift out bridge to get to your controls and you need a lot more wiring, since you can't just go directly from your controls to the object which needs to be powered..

Photo's are on my website, also look for another 5x9 layout under "mijn oude banen" where my old layouts are.. (salt river canyon railroad..)

[Anonymous]

My layout is 6' x 8' and takes up almost half of my living room.  I put the layout up from October to February. The bottom has an oval with a passing siding. (used to be a spur) It has O48 curves.  The top level is a smaller oval with a trestle and O36 curves.

 

[Brutus]

Actually, what you see there was my $40 goof.  I was seeing how many cars that 4-4-2 would pull.  It pulled all you see for about 1/2 hour at a nice slow speed.  Then, it started smoking from the wrong end!!!  I had to replace the circuit board and the motor (twice - I accidently drove a screw into the first replacement, which was not threaded).  It's all good, 'cause I learned an important lesson - don't do that!

Here's the original plan, which I have modified little by little:

[USNRol]

Here is a pic of my soon to be former layout:

Let me guess Jim, you're having to grow in size in order to get that train to go through the reversing loops?

Roland

[Anonymous]

brianel027, thanks for the advice. I can deffinitely see your point about having too much in such a small space. It's great to hear from people who have "been there, done that."

Thanks for sharing everyone. I hope you guys keep 'em comin'!

[Brutus]

Spankybird, I always love your pics from the layouts - nice track plan!  Great stuff guys, lots of different ideas shown.

Here is a pic of my soon to be former layout:

[spankybird]

This is my Circus layout. It is 5' x 8'.