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Hey Gang,

 

I've redesigned my layout again on a 11' x 4' table so nephews and nieces could run multiple trains on Uncle Stewarts layout without fighting over who gets to run their train first on the old single line layout. (OK, you got me, I want to run more than one train too  .) The outer line is AtlasO O-45, which puts the edges of the track within 1/4 of the table edge. I have no problem with that distance as trains will be run at respectable speeds...but you know youth and fast trains  . I will probably add a guardrail of plexiglass for the children.

 

So, how close to the edge of the layout have you pushed your track?

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Stewart,

    This all depends on the layout and which trains I expect to run.  Knowing I have very limited space for our formal living room Christmas layout eliminates the running of the big Williams UP that only runs thru 072 switches.  Also on the Christmas layouts I run notoriously slow so everyone can see everything, so when building this kind of a layout, I build right up to the edge of the platform.  With the bigger layouts I am much like Brian and leave about 2-2 1/2" of platform as a turning bumper.  As I go up however the 2nd, 3rd and 4th levels, usually get farther and farther away from the edge of the platform. When I get up to the 5th level, that I use for my bumper street cars, these trestle actually come clear out to the edge of the platform for ease of changing the bumper cars wen desired.  The higher your levels go the more slow speed running becomes important, especially with big expensive engines and rolling stock. DCS & Legacy make this an easy control situation.

In the 1st picture the programming/bumper car track, actually extends out over the power tables as part of the 2nd level, for ease of programming all DCS engines.

PCRR/Dave

 

Notice in the 2nd picture, the Height of the Tweety & Silvester Bumper car, and how close to the edge of the platform, it really happens to be.

 

4th and 5th level Pine Creek Railway 001

DSCN0921

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  • 4th and 5th level Pine Creek Railway 001
  • DSCN0921
Last edited by Pine Creek Railroad

It's a delicate balance between letting the kids have some fun on their own and the other side of the 'coin' is the 'coin' being run.  I have operated as an adult on some layouts that makes that little queezy feeling rumble in your stomach as you make it around the layout. For me with kids/grandkids running trains and not wanting to be the 'old ogre', plexi makes me the good grandpa again.    Russ

I had the ties going slightly over the edge. I realized, before disaster, that maybe this wasn't such a great idea and cut the loops down a bit. Now there is a nice "safety zone" on all sides of the outer loop. Biggest downfall - my "yard" went from three good sized tracks to two shorts (about 9-10 car storage to 4). 

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