Here is a tenative track plan for fold away layout

I am proceeding to build the fold up layout.  We purchased all the lumber and hardware this past week and I scored every track switch I need for $35 at the show today!!  A gentleman had O72 turnouts for $8 each and 0-22 for $5 each.  I bought the 0-72's right away for the asking price.  Then after I found nothing else I needed right away, I pulled up my track plan on my smart phone and went back to get the 022 switches.  I paid him for 1 as thats all I could afford (I needed 3 total) and he up and gave me the other two I needed!     Mike

Good find and a good train guy. I think it's a cool idea for space utilization.

Have fun building it!

I am taking a break from cleaning out my room so I can start building the wall mount framework.  I hope to get the frame cut, varnished and on the wall today.   Pics to come.  Mike

Here is a picture of the beginnings of the frame. The top is fully mounted to the wall, the sides are just held on with a couple screws for the moment.  The sides will get one of those heavy duty "L" brackets in each corner to add rigidity to the frame. I will put the bottom board up tomorrow.  My wife is sick and doesn't want to hear any more drilling today.  Atleast I was axle to make some progress.   Need to get rid of a few magazines now, time to reduce the clutter in the room.   Mike

Here is a progress picture, laid out all the track I have on hand.  Just short a few half sections and some custom length short pieces.  I do have all the turnouts for the dual loop including the 072 crossovers.  Not exactly sure how I will deal with all the wiring from the turnouts to the controlers, since the layout folds shut, a conventional control panel isnt going to work.  Unless it just sticks up in the air above the layout when its closed.  I have a local source for Lionel turnout controlers as he is converting his 40 turnouts to push button control.   I am not totaly sure I like the congested look with two loops of track.  Leaves little room for anything else.  An alternate track plan, much simpler in design, that I like is the Lionel D-146 display layout.  I can easily shorten it from 8' long to 7' and it has 2 nice long sidings for accesories and would not require the expensive dual train transformer or the four 072 turnouts.  

The plan is no more "congested than the two RRT plan photos that you attached in the first post. Do you already have operating accessories and buildings that you want to use? I can convert the plan to RRT and place those for fitment. I see it as about a 50%/50% track to scenery. Busy yes, but a lot of action in the space that you have. The open areas of grassy fields and parks have been eliminated. Nothing wrong with that. Just need to check track spacing and perhaps reposition the inside spur using the RRT libraries. You can shoot me list offline or post them here.

The power and control panel could use something like trailer connectors to make the connections for switch controllers and such. (or DB 15 for switch control)If use multiple L-braces or corner brackets as they called at the local hardware store, you could cut channels into front face 2 x 4 and cover them. Then the bracket legs could slide in and hang when the layout was down. You need a place to store that puppy when the layout is up. Is there any clearance at the top when folded for connectors or would they need to be recessed into the  2 x 4?

That would remove the limitations and let you create a nice compact control center that would look like the extensions used on the dealer layouts, only detachable.

Since to you have some more small radius switches, making a figure 8 in the center would allow reversing in both directions. If you can live with one direction of travel for the train, eliminating the inner cross through the center and adding more spurs would work also. Either way, the crossovers are needed for some varied operation or you'll quickly get bored .

I guess its just harder for my mind to visualize how it will look with scenery, whereas the other plans had scenery on them giving me a base line to work from, I don't have any major accessories yet, but would like to put the milk car platform and the oil derrick in.  I do have the plasticville grandcentral station with the 2 wing platforms, a 154 crossing flasher, 394 beacon tower, Marx Girard station and a Marx hand crack derrick that can span the track.    As to the control panel, when closed the table closes against the frame, not into it. A face mounted panel, such as some of the factory display layouts had that are slightly slanted and just big enough to hold the transformer and turnout controlers could work as long as everything was securely mounted. When the table is close, there is probably 1.5 feet of open space before the ceiling.  I would rather not deal with a bunch of plugs and having to store the control panel.  At this point, I need to get all my 2 rail O equipment sold, then I can pick up the rest of the track, transformer and switch controlers.  Mike

Mike,

Ok, thanks. I didn't know the wall space was built to accommodate the control panel. Good planning!

I'll work on something with those accessories in RRT. The 3D is ok, but good enough. That should help you decide on the track to scenery ratio.

Thanks Carl. I am still hoping to get a ZW to power it all.  Mike

If you put the control panel in the corner, and leave space for it, you should be able to fit it on the layout

Mike,

Here are some photos snips and a plan overview of the figure 8 and cross-overs. I used a Lionel 137 to approximate the foot print of the Marx Girard whistling station. Hand crank derrick not represented.

The derrick and tower could lay down before folding with a styrene piano hinge and stay on the table. Plasticville station height will close.

it doesn't look crowded. There are various routes to take, change tracks and reverse directions. You could still add a siding with a fifth small radius switch.

I didn't do trees and stuff, but there's room to detail it.

I have the SCARM or the RRT if you want the files.

El Classico posted:

If you put the control panel in the corner, and leave space for it, you should be able to fit it on the layout

If not, how about hinging it somewhere along the front so that it folds down when the layout is raised? It will stick out at the top when closed, but that might be better than having to disconnect it and could be covered to make it less of an eyesore.

I don't mind it sticking up when the layout is closed. Yes its definatly better than having to deal with several plugs if it was removable.  I wish there was room in one of the corners, you might fit a single 1033 there, but thats about it.  The track plan pretty well fills the table top. I have to keep a 3/4 inch clearance around the edge so the table can close against the frame on the wall.  I have seen a couple track plans that had the one corner done differently so that a control area could be put there.