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Suggestions for an easy to build HO layout on 4x8?

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  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern CA Bay Area
  • 4,387 posts
Posted by cuyama on Monday, January 27, 2020 10:53 AM

The Black River Junction Layout Ulrich posted is not the same as the World's Greatest Hobby (WGH) layout and would need a lot of revision to work without the extra staging yard.

Here's the link to download the free booklet that has the WGH 4X8 layout, which looks like this:

Both layouts have "Rock" in their name and it's also on the WGH site, which may lead to the confusion. I don't think this works for the Original Poster's needs, either.

Byron

 

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
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Posted by RR_Mel on Monday, January 27, 2020 9:57 AM

The only negative I see is you can’t reverse your trains.
 
You can get Atlas code 100 or 83 to fit any layout.
 
 
 
Mel
 
 
 
My Model Railroad   
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 
 
  • Member since
    January 2020
  • 131 posts
Posted by Wdodge0912 on Monday, January 27, 2020 8:50 AM

That might work. I could just leave out the staging yard, or figure out a way to have one section of the "walls" drop down for it instead.

How would that Kato track translate over to Atlas code 100 stuff. Not like I'd have to.roadbed, but like the turns are 19 1/4" or 21 5/8" and  the straight all have fractions of inches as well.  Also with the turnouts it says they come with their makeup peices, would the Atlas turnouts I have something that's the same? I wouldnt mind buying new turnouts, as I dont have many, bit to replace every peice of track would be a bit much, especially since I also want more locos and to fix the ones I do have, amd also need to get some rolling stock going too

 

EDIT: It is a single loop though, but is doubled for a bit, could maybe figure out a way to make it a dual loop.

Plus it looks like it would need at least a little bit of that staging yard for operations when going into the inside.

  • Member since
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  • From: 53° 33′ N, 10° 0′ E
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Posted by Tinplate Toddler on Monday, January 27, 2020 8:33 AM

I think the WGH (that stands for World´s Greatest Hobby) Black River Junction layout would nicely fit your bill! Take a look here 

The track plan looks like this:

There is a step by step description on this built on the WGH homepage.

 

Happy times!

Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)

"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
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Posted by RR_Mel on Monday, January 27, 2020 8:16 AM

I did that for my kids back in the 60s, worked out slick.  I had two boys and one girl back then and they also liked slot cars so the slot raceway was on top of the trains.
 
Unfortunately they liked the slot cars more than trains so it ended up dad running his trains on their track.
 
 
 
Mel
 
 
 
My Model Railroad   
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 
 
  • Member since
    January 2020
  • 131 posts
Posted by Wdodge0912 on Monday, January 27, 2020 8:00 AM

The plan would be to put a top onto the train table. Probably have something made up for it with a peice of glass so it can stay on and lifted up for working on it, unless it needs major work and then removed. Legs I'll probably make some sort of bookcase like structure at the corners, leaving a gap for chairs to be slid under. I'm starting out with a 4x8, but I may be able to go bigger, but we'll have to see when it is that time. I figured a 4x8 could've tweaked or just add an extra switch somewhere on the outside and add a small yard if I get to go bigger. 

 

I have been able to see and look at the plans, but the ones I like all just show the design, no dimensions or how to build them or anything like that. More of a finished product than what I'm looking for. 

 

I have the Atlas books, which break down the layouts into track peices, that's really what Im looking for, something were I can pretty much duplicate how the track is laid. Even if I change the scenery and stuff up,  the track itself can be copied over 

 

But the table I'm building wood be like a coffee table N scale layout, just bigger.

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Monday, January 27, 2020 7:50 AM

So, what your looking for is a design that will allow you to flip the table over, and use the underside of the layout for a game table?

Or a design that you can lay a flat game table over the layout?

A game table is that important, that maybe a folding card table won't work?

Trying to understand what your looking for.

There are hundreds of 4x8 plans.  Place your mouse on the black bar at the top of the page, on "How To",  on the center column of options, click on track plan data base, you can enter search items to narrow it down.

This is just one option.  Google 4'x8' table top layouts, hundreds more.

A member in here designs layouts for a living, I think his name in here is Cuyama?  Cuyuma?  Bryon is his name.  I'll stop butchering his screen name. Confused

Mike.

  • Member since
    January 2020
  • 131 posts
Suggestions for an easy to build HO layout on 4x8?
Posted by Wdodge0912 on Monday, January 27, 2020 7:35 AM

So Talking with the wife more, I will be able to have a 4x8 freestanding in the room we plan to put it in (when we move to our house) 

I'm looking for suggestions for a 4x8 layout, as that is the size i'll need to be building. The table will have sides, and i'll need to be able to place some supports in the center as well, as the table will also be needing to be converted to a board game table. I'll also need to put some storage underneath for said games as well. Pretty much I'm making a large coffee table build is a way to think of it. 

I'm looking for something that'll fit in the 4x8, but also have a dual track loop, with the outer having 22" curves for the longer steam locomotive with passanger trains I would like to get, a 2-8-4. 

The problem I'm finding is a lot of layout i like don't show what peices or even lengths and such. I've been looking at the Atlas layouts, as I have some of those books, but they use snap switches. I thought I had snap switches, but i have custom line #4s. I have tried to take the layouts from the Atlas books and make them in the RightTrack software with the custom lines, but have had no luck. 

I'm really only looking for a layout that has the dual loops, and a couple spurs for  industries on the inside, and it would be nice to have an outside spur for an interchange track. I would like more, but i understand i'm already asking a lot for a smaller amount.

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