Need some switching layout designs

I think if I was doing a switching layout I would replicate John Allen's famous Timesaver switching layout in O scale.  That plan even comes with "operating instructions!  I think that one day I may do a 2 rail version in O.  I think that would be real cool!  Check out the layout on the Internet.  Just Google!

The Timesaver Layout is a "game" and not real useful for general model railroad purposes.  It may be fun to play, but really limits railroad operational potential.

Nessmuck, you say you have 24 feet to use, but what's the width?  18 inches? 36 inches? 12 feet?  Are there any specific industries you would like to model, or are you planning to use various operating accessories?  Also, if possible, would you be willing to do multi-level running with a switching / industrial scene on the lower level?

John's suggestion about internet searching is good advice, just be sure to use something like model railroad track plans or model railroad layouts.  I know there are several good websites out there, just can't remember the names now.

Chuck

Here's a link to a very recent thread on switching layouts.

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/t...x30-switching-layout

Jan

Here's a copy of a post I made on the aforementioned thread:

This one is a Free-Mo inspired variant on a plan I stumbled across a few years ago and stretched to 16 feet. It's designed using MTH ScaleTrax, but could easily be done using Ross turnouts with Gargraves flex track. It's 16'x3' with 32" ends for compatibility with a proposed O scale US Free-Mo standard.

This one is a straightened out version of an oval layout I had designed (and partially built). It's designed using ScaleTrax #4 and #6 turnouts. The gray structure at the top right is a dimensional stand-in for the Atlas Ice House and dock.

This one is an old design with the idea of a more realistic looking Timesaver. This was done with Atlas track and #5 turnouts. Here again, it could easily be done using Ross 11-degree turnouts and Gargraves or Ross track.

I probably have at least a dozen switching layout designs I've tossed around that are between 12 and 16 feet long. The three things I try to keep in mind are:

• Is it an industrial branch vs. industries long a mainline? The reason is that on a mainline you can't leave your train sitting out blocking the main for extended periods.
• What kind of equipment do I want to use? You're not going to be switching tank cars in an area full of citrus packing houses unless there's a fuel dealer selling smudge oil and fuel.
• The length of the equipment. I need to have enough space to shuffle things around.

Hope this helps.

And I have to disagree with you John about the Timesaver.  As I posted in the above linked thread, it is a puzzle game like the Inglenook is.  Both have a rule set to be used when operating on each.  The Timesaver was not designed for use as a normal switching area/layout.  I don't have anything against either, infact I plan on building at least a reduced Inglenook if not full sized one just to have something I can operate until I can build my bigger layout, but then I know what it is I am building and I plan on playing by the rules for the game.  Before the OP picks a switching layout, they just need to be aware that the Timesaver isn't just a run of the mill switching plan, and if it's not played by the rules, it can become very frustrating to the operator.  Matt's plans above are nice ones, and I'd be more likely to recommend one of those over the Timesaver.  And 24 foot is a lot of room and can make a very nice switching layout for sure.  Like Chuck said, the OP needs to answer some questions, like the width (60 inches is rather deep for a layout unless you can get on both long sides.) and what kinds of industries he would like to service on switching.  If he can get on both long sides, I'd say split it down the middle and have that O54 on the outside as the main and now you can service different regions on either side of the layout.

24' is a good length to work with. Mine is 20' x 3', and I wish I had a little more in length, but who doesn't?  I found the biggest factor for spacing was the buildings themselves. You at least need foot prints to know exactly where they will go and how much space they eat up.

As mentioned on the other thread, the Bronx terminal is really neat. I made an effort to put it into RRTrack, but my head almost exploded. There was just no combination of sectional track I could come up with to make it work. It would be outstanding with handlaid rail, but that is way over my pay grade.

The Inglenook "puzzle" has actual prototypes that match -- two and three spur tracks of varying lengths and in some cases, a required spot order is required. The worst Inglenook type of prototype switch was in Downtown Los Angeles where there was a single track serving several industries. The whole string had to be pulled out, some cars removed with replacements re-inserted, then the whole string put back in place.

To date, I've never seen a prototype that matches the Timesaver design or any of its variants. That doesn't mean that one doesn't exist somewhere -- I just haven't seen one in any of the aerials I've surveyed. Part of Timesaver's challenge is the introduction of obstacles to easy switching the increase the complexity of switching moves which runs counter to prototype practice. Inglenook, on the other hand, is pretty straight-forward as far as the types of moves required -- no run-arounds or odd car spots.

BTW, Gilly, I also tried to duplicate the Bronx Terminal. You have to hand lay it. The guy who makes the Fast Tracks jigs built one in H.O. -- all hand laid. Very impressive.

This is a FasTrack design I made on RR Track.  It has a run through design and can be made narrower by eliminating the outer sections.  I'm not sure how to convert it to a format that can be viewed by people with out rr track.  If someone can change the format, have at it.

As for getting the RR plan, take a screen shot (Alt+PrtScn) and paste it into Paint then save as JPG.

Okay, here is a stab at 24 foot by 60 inch layout with a O54 loop around the whole thing.

I labeled things so hopefully it makes some kind of sense of what I have envisioned.  The gray bar up the middle is a backdrop that splits the two sides of the layout.  Both long sides must be open, and the end with the mountain (the tan area) can go against a wall.  The top side is a rural area/country side with a forest to the right near the mountain.  Paint the backdrop with blue skies and fields.  The bottom side is more of a industrial city area. Paint this side of the backdrop with a city sky line.  You can change the mill to a power plant or smelter for the ore cars and change one of the warehouses to the mill.  Actually, that is what I would do now that I'm looking at it.  The right warehouse would become the mill and the mill would become a smelter for the ore.  The green spots are just various industries/city buildings.  The track goes through the backdrop so you can turn things around.  On the top side the hole is hidden by the mountain.  On the bottom side you can paint that part of the backdrop as a warehouse, or do some track arranging to hide the hole behind a building.

The SCARM file is attached.

Very nice....that looks great !!! Thanks

Sinclair's design looks very nice!

Thank you.  It seems I can design for someone else, but not for myself.  Sigh. 

Idea starters for a switching layout or an interchange track. These are track segments designed using RealTrax but other track systems could be used.