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Reply to "6 x 12 Layout Design (Atlas-O track)"

Hi Bulldog,

I'm in the same phase as you describe and we also seem to share ideas on what we want in our layouts. I have two of the Atlas Pratt Truss bridges and one MTH arch bridge, all single track. Scenery is all new to me and I'm finding more and more that it needs to be considered during planning and not after bench and track. Hopefully, folks with more experience in planning for scenery will add to this thread.

You seem to already be aware of potential reach issues and others have suggested considering wrapping the layout around you to expand the size. These are good ideas but do introduce the issue of how you get in and out. Many ways to do that, including bridges. I've done hinged and swinging sections, and was ducking under the bridges at 54" above the floor. This time my plan is to build a lift table.

I'm also considering going up a level. If I connect the levels, my preference, it will take linear space to achieve a decent grade and height. A 3% rise, for example, is 3" over a 100" run and transitions are needed at both ends. The best recommendation I have found for length of transitions suggest 1.5 times the distance between engine pickup rollers, or just 1.5 times the length of the engine. I don't run any steam really, so my longest engines would be about 20" so I need at least 30" transitions on either end. This is all about 13 feet long and I'm only up 3-3.5". You get the idea.

Atlas track is easy to wire in my experience. I mostly use their track connectors with the leads, one set per block. The track connectors will also mate up with the Ross switches. I did have to remove a few of the spikes on the switches to slide the connector on but that's easy with needle nose pliers.

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

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