Hi,
I am in the early planning stages for my second HO scale layout and am wondering if anyone has advice about how to fit a few curved tracks around the end of a tight island peninsula to serve as staging for (ideally) three 8-10 car trains.
Run through staging would be ideal, but may be impossible. The "scenicked" portion will end where the backdrop board does.
The layout is an L shaped island with a main loop to facilitate continous running. My space is fairly limited, so any extension on the peninsula can only extend 2-3 feet to the right (1 grid segment = 1 foot) of what is shown, but I am hoping to work something out so a few trains can end their run and be held on the top right. Considering that I can realistically only use 18 and 22" curves in the space, planning is proving difficult as I think a helix or multi deck option would be impractical.
Thanks for your suggestions!
to the forum! The forum moderators will moderate your first few posts, so please be patient.
My suggestion would be to post your workspace or planned layout. Even a picture of a hand-drawn plan, with some dimensions, would help.
Simon
Hi Dr. Yellow,
Welcome to the forums!
Unfortunately the image of your layout plan didn't post. You will need to use a photo hosting site like Imgur. There is an explanation of how to post an image at the top of the General Discussion forum.
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Hello All,
to the forums!
Dr. Yellow...a few curved tracks around the end of a tight island peninsula to serve as staging for (ideally) three 8-10 car trains.
What do you consider "a few" staging tracks?
On my pike I have 15-inch curves on the "Mainline".
This limits my motive power to 4-axle diesels and 0-6-0 steam engines.
How long are the individual 8-10 cars you are planning on staging?
Peco makes HO Code 100 turnouts with a #2 frog; ST-240 & ST-241.
I use these on a wye with 15-inch radius legs.
Curved turnouts might be a solution but these tend to have a #7 frog or greater, which takes up more real estate- -which you seem to be short of.
Coupling and uncoupling on a curve is difficult to say the least.
An easement, a straight section of transition track before the curves, would make coupling and uncoupling easier.
A rule of thumb for the transition track would be half the length of the longest car(s).
Keep in mind that a minimum center-to-center track spacing would be 2 inches in HO. A more comfortable spacing would be 2-1/2 inches.
As has been suggested, a track diagram would be helpful.
Keep the questions coming, learn how to post an image of your track plan and as always...
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
You have mentioned that this staging are will not likely be pull-through, so more likely back-in or back-out. These can be a problem in certain situations, most of which involve curves. Any cars with truck mounted "Talgo" couplers will have a tendency to derail when backing up, because of the forces involved when pushing rather than pulling these cars. Longer cars like gondolas or flats might see these problems to a lesser extent, even with body-mounted couplers.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Can we pls get a schematic (no need for perfection) of what you're trying to achieve?