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4x8layout

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4x8layout
Posted by bigdogjeff on Tuesday, February 23, 2010 5:50 PM

i have a 4x8 layout o gauge but want more cant go to the side or long so i think up. Any ione have any ideas to have a top bottom layout

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Posted by 8ntruck on Tuesday, February 23, 2010 11:19 PM

Dig around through the mid 50's to early 60's Lionel catalogs.  They will often have some layout suggestions in the back, some of which are two level. 

Many of the Lionel dealer display layouts were about 4'x8' and multi level too.  I'm sorry I cannot point you to a source on these layouts, but somebody else here may be able to.

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Posted by Railroader_Sailor_SSN-760 on Tuesday, February 23, 2010 11:21 PM

 What type of O do you plan on using? O-31? O-27? Fastrack?

If you wanted to, you could use an elevated trestle set to set one loop higher than those on the "platform level".

Without some track parameters, anything else I could toss out there would just be pretty much random, and may not be of much help.

If it helps, here is what I have right now: a 4'x8' layout in my living room with a O-27 oval in the center, a postwar S-Gauge American Flyer figure-9 outside of that, and a O-27 with 42" curves on the outer oval, with an elevated reverse loop for a gang car / trolley car.

 

So many scales, so many trains, so little time.....

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Posted by fifedog on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 7:16 AM

Don't just limit yourself to going vertical, think also subterranean.

Give us some idea of what kind of trains you will be running: post-war? tinplate? modern? steam or diesel era?

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Posted by bigdogjeff on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 11:45 AM

i am running new trains and old i have 1957 diesel gp9 and a 2007 sd60 diesel with 1 old steam and 1 2007 mth steam. i run old 027 track but if i have another layer, i will use new track for that section not sure what track i would buy yet, but giving best idea i can give.

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Posted by overall on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 12:52 PM

Sounds like you need to buy some layout planning books and browse through them until you find something you like. Kalmbach has several of them devoted to Lionel and Lionel-compatable trains. I am going on memory but here are some examples;

Classic Display Layouts you can Build.

Creative Track Plans for Toy Trains.

Realistics Railroading with Toy Trains ( a favorite of mine )

Layout Plans by Cartens.

Hope this helps,

George

 

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Posted by fifedog on Thursday, February 25, 2010 7:32 AM

Sounds like a broad interest in equipment.

Threw this one out there before...

Howzabout a "bowl" type of layout.  Run your modern equipment and newer track on the outside loop.  Then recess down to the next layer, and so on, using the older trains and O27 track.  Even notch out the center portion of the layout as if you're peering into a valley. 

Different perspective.

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Posted by HighOnDieselFumes on Saturday, February 27, 2010 4:59 PM

 Thanks for the list of layout books. Im getting ideas & plans together to rebuild my 4X8 or 4X11, cant think which.

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Posted by Brutus on Saturday, February 27, 2010 6:07 PM

Another thought for ideas - go on youtube and browse for O gauge layouts!  It's amazing how many videos there are of really fun layouts.  Also, this way you can watch the action and see if it suits you!  I'm sure that many the authors of the videos would even email you plans if you asked.  I think Fife has a great idea by the way!

RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.

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Posted by Brutus on Saturday, February 27, 2010 6:10 PM

http://www.thortrains.net/

I've found a lot of good stuff on this site as well - keep us posted on your progress, too!  How about some pics of your current layout?

RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.

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Posted by HighOnDieselFumes on Saturday, February 27, 2010 6:13 PM

 Pics of who's layout?

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Posted by Brutus on Saturday, February 27, 2010 9:28 PM

Bigdogie's?  Your's too, if you want to share?

RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.

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Posted by bigdogjeff on Sunday, February 28, 2010 11:43 AM

how do i post pictures and i will post me pics

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