Organic track plan?

Garrett76, for a start due a search for the pizza layouts, curves only.

Jack

I have an old book from the '70s by John Armstrong, I think it is titled 'Realistic Operation for Model Railroads'. In that book there are lots of track plans and examples with gentle curves and sort of a 'flowing' of the track so to speak. Might be a place to look for starters. The book is still in print as an updated edition, which I also have, but the old one seems to be better (to me) for some reason? It's mostly for HO, but he talks about O gauge as well for some of the plans. 

The one that comes to mind is the old British "rabbit layout" with hardly a straight in it.

The original was designed for narrow gauge and had trains doing the rabbit warren thing with a lot of tunnels.

Example on this page:

http://www.carendt.com/small-l...k/page-85b-may-2009/

In fact, a major portion of my plan is to show off broad sweeping curves along with hiding any sharp ones.  The track plan I have roughly sketched so far looks very Art Nouveau in design.  Some areas will certainly have straight sections, especially where coupling is common, mostly in yards and spurs.

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/t...ed-with-this-in-mind

Bruce

I've been using Gargraves flex track on significant portions of my new layout. It really works well when you need to get "there". This can very well be described as organic. It certainly breaks up the symmetrical appearance of using all sectional curves. The other thing it has done; it would be near impossible for my to put it into RRTrack.

Gilly 

One reason I've not familiarized myself with design programs.  Geometric track plans are easily pictured in my head and put to paper.  I agree, flowing design with easements and barely perceptible curves is probably not doable on current design programs.

Bruce

RR-Track handles flex track well once you have had lots of practice. The trick to doing flowing flex curves is to set two straight sections at the angles you want for the arc, then fit a general curve. Make sure the track setup parameters call for "Radius Curve" and you have the maximum length and minimum radius set. The other thing you can do is use easements -- one in and one out of the curve (divide the arc by two).

You can use flexible track (both GarGraves & Atlas) in SCARM. Can't speak for other programs, but I'd imagine you can with them, too. 

I really do need to get with it.  Sorry for being so narrow minded in regards to what these programs can do.

Bruce

many of the larger layouts have few long perfect straights. Sometimes, a straight is not perfectly straight, but has a meander in it.

Toy trains look better moving around.

Real trains take the most direct route with the least amount track, so protoypical layouts will not have that "organic" or flowing design.

here is Ingenerio No 1 track plan. Most of what you see from viewing areas is curved. Also, jmiller320's track plan(2nd pic)

I think this is more along the lines of the OP's idea.  I will probably incorporate this basic track plan, with minor changes and small yards and spurs added.  Let's all go organic on 420.

Bruce

I like to do 3-rail O-gauge plans with a variety of curve radii, because I really dislike the "toy train" look of trains zooming directly from straight track into O27 or O31 curves. Even with conventional sectional track it's possible to get reasonable easement effects with O72 or O54 curve sections preceding sharper curves. I've managed to collect an assortment of various different curve radii including O27, O31, Marx O34, O42, O54, O72 etc. Straight sections can be curved slightly for very wide curves, and track section joints can be fudged a couple degrees without looking kinky. With careful planning a layout with compound curves and conventional track can be built without a lot of custom-cut track pieces.

In HO I use mostly flex- track for flowing curves and good easement effects. Of course it helps to have scenery that justifies the curves.

This is Earth, calling Garrett76, do you read us, over...

Hi, I've been busy at work. Do the people of Earth require my attention?

If you want lots of curves on your layout, you could google image search "earthquake seismograph". Very, very natural curves--like, bedrock natural! Ha ha!

Here's a layout with a few curves ... 

here is the Elbridge Russell layout. talk about curvy...

Train "signatures" available here, several to choose from:

http://www.tandem-associates.com/lionelrules.htm

http://www.tandem-associates.c...odernlionelrules.htm

They're fun! Pardon the digression from the original topic ... 

Those train graphics are great, thanks