DoubleDAZ posted:Ok, Thomas. Here is are the latest changes as near as I could reproduce them. I included a closeup so you could see the tracks labels. Note that these version only have 3 areas where the tracks wouldn't join.
Also note that the 1st 2 photos have my version of the bottom blue run with straights and curves that deleted the "S" curves. However, if the "S" curves don't bother you, the 3rd photo has them. I don't know what equipment you'll be running or how fast, so I don't know if curves will be a problem or not. In this version you can't add Jan's 5" straights to ease them though without reconfiguring the loops.
I suspect the symmetry in the 3rd photo might appeal to you, but don't overlook what you can do with the small pocket by the switch in the other photos if you add some bushes, etc.
Hello Dave,
OK I can see right now that I must give up the Train Hobby and maybe take up Quilting! Man this layout stuff will drive me nuts for sure. With that stated, It looks like you have made a near perfect layout, all three gaps/overlaps are so minor that I cannot see them presenting kind of a problem.
I just put together several sections of my new track and although a nice "fit" they surely are not perfect and on a 22-foot run would produce a small bit of discrepancy at lest. So, I surely can live with the minor issues on both of the above.
My next train will not be shipped until after the first of the year and it is a MTH 30-1830-1 O-scale Mohawk / Texas Pacific 4-8-2 and it would run on these tracks all day long. I do not plan on running any of the equipment "fast". And by that I mean real fast, I like the slower chug-chug-chug so none of the curves bother me at this point. I do have several on my list that most likely will only run on the outside track ( if I actually purchase them ) and they are: 20-3755-1 ( shows to work on 0-54 ), 20-3751-1 ( also 0-54 ) and 30-1819-1 a 4-6-6-4 but runs on 0-31.
I had to study and think to see the difference between #2 and #3 but I actually like them equally. I will hold my final decision on that for a bit later. I cannot believe what a big difference increasing the angles to 55-degrees has made in this layout. You have absolutely optimized the surface area and I thank you very much for all this work.
I did receive the Casters in today and the holes lined up perfectly with what I had drawn so I can complete the Frame drawing within a day or two and will post it here. Thank you again....
