Hello everyone. I'm looking for 4x8 layout ideas. I started my first layout last year... but had to put it aside. Mind you though, at that point I only had one length of track down, so I accomplished nothing.
Recently, after gaining interest again, I reviewed my old track plan to decide its not what I really want... So now, I'm looking for some more layout ideas. I'm not really sure what I do want, perferably something with a few industries/town with room for switching and links for expansion in the future. I know its asking a lot.. but I'm not really sure what I want.
So go ahead and throw some layouts ideas at me!
Thanks. -Evan
Well... The BNSF, a famous 1:1 scale layout pases through our town. There is the mane lion (nee NP) and next to it a siding for the team track. There used to be sidings for some grane elevators, but those are gone now, as is the siding.
An ethanol plant was built in our town, and the plant has four tracks parallel to the mane lion. It receives grain (in grain cars) and coal (in coal cars). It ships Ethanol in tank cars and dry brewer's yeast in hoppers, possibly the same hoppers but then they would need to be cleaned before corn or other grains could be used in them again, but most of these kinds of ares are always cleaned between ladings, and so a car cleaning plant might not be too far away.
Around the other side of the table you build "Dickinson, ND" or really any major town where the railroad changes crews on its passing freights. Actually, crews do not change at Dickinson any more, but they run all they way from Mandan to Glendive, but Dickinson is the halfway point and trains may be held here for hours before a slot appears in the inbound traffic for the release of outbound traffic.
Other industires on our little stretch of mane lion (about 40 miles) are two different grain elevators, a brick factory, terminals of the Bakken Oil Express consisting of two four track loops and looking for all the world like a model railroad layout from the air. Halliburton is building a farcking sand depot in our town, and others are building a trans shipment point between rail and truck for the needs of the oil industry. A diesel oil refinery is also being built in Dickinson, but that plans to serve western North Dakota, and does not really plan rail shipment of diesel, but who knows, they may just do that yet, especially as it will adjoin the Bakken Oil Express.
Google a map of "Richardton, ND", look at the ariel view, and see the different rural industries along the line. Or you can pick any lenght of railroad that you like and use that as your exemplar. As for the LION and his railroad, Him models after the New York City Subway, so go figure. And if you do want to build a subway on a 4x8 foot table, the LION has plans for that too.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Are you looking for layout ideas, or track plan ideas?
A generally good layout idea is to divide the space in half and have a separate town on either side of the divider.
Another good layout idea is to cut the 4x8 space into shelves and put it around the outside of the room. Much more train space without a lot more room space consumed.
Also as the Lion is suggesting there are many really interesting prototypical situations that could be sited as good ideas for a layout. I always look to small Kansas towns for track arrangements such as Kiowa or Stafford where the Santa Fe crossed the Missouri Pacific. In addition to the grain elevator, fuel depot, lumber yard, team track, stock yard "industries", there is the interchange with the other railroad.
If you are looking for track plan ideas, the ubiquitous 4x8 has had more plans published for it than any other size imaginable. Do you have any of the books of track plans? If you would say what you like and dislike about pre-existing ones it would help us find things in the "right direction". What was your original track plan and what about it is not to your wanting?
Read this article before you build a 4X8.
http://www.layoutvision.com/id28.html
I have the right to remain silent. By posting here I have given up that right and accept that anything I say can and will be used as evidence to critique me.
Byron's article is an excellent one, and can be summed up in one concept:the 4x8 layout is convenient, because that's the size of a sheet of plywood. It is, howver, a very inefficient use of space. There are so many better shapes you can create with that same 32 square feet of wood.So, my layout idea for you would be to rip that sheet of plywood down the middle into two 2x8 sheets, and get creative with your layout. Trains don't have to run in a circle.
If it's track plans you want, you can buy books of them, and find hundreds more on the internet. If you can tell us more about what you want in your layout, we can help guide your search.
BTW,
Connecticut Valley Railroad A Branch of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford
"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -- Henry Ford
A 4x8 layout is a good way to start - it was mine and many others first layout.
Take a look at the Gateway Division's project layouts here. These have actually been built and will give you some good ideas for a first layout. Most feature some switching - some more than others.
Good luck
Paul
I also gree that you should look at Byron's Layout Vision website. His site also describes the San Jacinto District.
And to further encourage you to consider an around the wall pt-to-pt, there is an article in the Nov '69 MR, "What makes an outstanding layout?" that describes a 15x39' U-shaped layout.
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
Welcome.
Many good idea above, however, if you have limited property rights and have to stay 4x8, I would reenforce the idea of a scenic divider. I am currently only on a 4x6 with a divider, but my trains to somewhere (out of sight). My divider is not centered nor parallel to the sides, I just think it looks less obtrusive that way. On one side I have a two track siding servicing a team track on one leg and a grain dealer and fuel dealer on the other. On the other side a passing track, could have a short stub siding if I wanted.
The ends of the divider can be disguised in a number of ways. Ii use a stand of trees at one end and a rock cut at the other. Other ways include a bridge, tunnel or just going around a large building and there are other ways.
I can operate two trains, one at a time in DC. Now that I have DCC I can operate two, though it works better if I have someone to operate the second train.
Have fun,
Richard
Another vote for a scenic divider. It's a good way to break up the layout and make it appear larger than it is. And if you have room off to the side, you could add a narrow board with a couple of staging tracks on it.
Steve S
4x8 Layout 1:1 scale. (actually, it is 1 x 2 MILES!) : ) This is the terminal of the Bakken Oil Express. Both loops are now complete, each loop has four tracks. the mane lion of the BNSF passes at the bottom of the layout. The street on the right, 115th Avenue, is a gravel / dirt road choked with oil trucks bringing oil to the terminal. Locomotives here fly falgs of many different railrroads including NS and CSX. Most of the oil goes to the east coast rather than to Texas. It replaces North Sea Crude at the eastern refineries.
Broadway LionMost of the oil goes to the east coast rather than to Texas. It replaces North Sea Crude at the eastern refineries.
Unless the tank cars carrying it explode along the way....
One accident was an improperly laid up train. Not enough brakes set.
The second was a derailment of a different train that blocked the tracks of the oil train which could not be stopped befire it arrived there.
BroadwayLion One accident was an improperly laid up train. Not enough brakes set. The second was a derailment of a different train that blocked the tracks of the oil train which could not be stopped befire it arrived there. ROAR
No argument. But there were accidents nonetheless. Bad ones. Shame on the railroad industry.
Of course, it's still light years ahead of trucking or pipelines.
CTValleyRR BroadwayLion One accident was an improperly laid up train. Not enough brakes set. The second was a derailment of a different train that blocked the tracks of the oil train which could not be stopped befire it arrived there. ROAR No argument. But there were accidents nonetheless. Bad ones. Shame on the railroad industry. Of course, it's still light years ahead of trucking or pipelines.
The real shame is not OKing the Keystone pipeline.
Bob
Don't Ever Give Up
KeyStone pipeline is irrelevent. That goes (will go?) south to Texas, this oil is going to the east coast to replace the higher priced North Sea Oil.
Lion provides an excellent clarification. The transport of oil via pipeline or rail or whatever is not a simple thing. The network is complex and oil from a particular location doesn't necessarily go to where one would think it would. Wow, we've really strayed from the OP's original query.
Joe
JoeinPA Lion provides an excellent clarification. The transport of oil via pipeline or rail or whatever is not a simple thing. The network is complex and oil from a particular location doesn't necessarily go to where one would think it would. Wow, we've really strayed from the OP's original query. Joe
That's my fault. Of course, it's not like the OP has done abything other than start the thread. Hasn't been back, as far as we can tell.
CTValleyRROf course, it's not like the OP has done abything other than start the thread. Hasn't been back, as far as we can tell.
Remember that since his OP was his first post to the forum he is still in "moderated mode". The turnaround on post approvals is not exactly zippy.
Yea... its not zippy at all, I tried posting back a while ago but it's never shown up. I've thought about going to N scale as well... whats everyones view on N scale layouts?
Well, the first part I'd say on N scale is it's all strictly personal. Everyone has different combinations of space, time, money, and goals for their layout. I started in HO through HS and college. Switched to N while in the Air Force with all the moves (used bookshelf modules BTW, which are great for N scale shelf layouts that might move). Then after about 20 years in N, returned to HO. If I had the room I would swtich to O. The reasons for that are not strikes against N or HO, but personal goals -- my favorite parts of the hobby are building detailed structures and one train, branchline, small town railroading. While you can do that in any scale, the large scales fit those goals better. However, if I'll readily admit the smaller scales can support scratch building and are more friendly to long train ops. Interestingly, I think N scale can be more expensive per square foot than the larger scales, because the prices are similar, yet it take so much more equipment to fill the space.
jim
I'm a diehard HO guy, but that said, if I was starting fresh...I'd consider it. I've developed the taste for passenger trains and...
Let me put it this way. My entire layout is 16 feet long. The Amtrak Capitol Limited in HO is 13 feet long. But could I have done a stub end passenger terminal in the same space, in N? Absolutely.
LION started in S gauage with some really clasic American Flyer. Dad talked me into switching to HO. He spoke of building a llayout in the two front dormers with a connection under the eves. That never happend but I did go into HO. I sold that stuff to buy a printing press. Whaile I was in the NAVY I bought mor HO exquipment, all passenger equipment, including some Japanese transit equipment.
I stayed in HO, but this layout really took off once subway equipment became widely available in HO,
I stay with HO because that is what I have, and it is the only scale that has inexpensive subway cars. There is good subway equipment in O scale, but a $400.00 per car that is not for a LION.
Evan I've thought about going to N scale as well... whats everyones view on N scale layouts?
Evan Yea... its not zippy at all, I tried posting back a while ago but it's never shown up. I've thought about going to N scale as well... whats everyones view on N scale layouts?
My current layout almost was n-scale. It fit much better in the space I have available, but when I did some mockups to help me decide on the best distance between shelves I kept staring at the little models and they didn't look right. I don't know if that was the size on the n-scale models vs my old eyes or that I had looked at HO for so many years I couldn't adjust. I decided to make some comprises and do HO.