As this is the "3-Rail Traditional Toy Train" OGR forum, we need to hear from those with that style of layout. We are a small minority of viewers and participants on this, our forum, so it will be helpful and interesting to learn more about our layouts, and their operation.
So please post a small, short introduction to your "3-Rail Traditional Toy Train Layout" to include a few pictures and an short description. When we run out of posting these introductions, lets post descriptions of a your current interests in what you are running, improving, changing, planning, etc. on your layouts.
I will start. The following link tells all about how I designed, built and operate my layout.
https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...fties-era-027-layout Table of Contents end of Post 1 on page 1
The title tells most all about it, the layout is an action packed, fifties era, Lionel/Marx 027, operating and switching, conventional controlled, portable Toy train layout. It is 44 years old and still improving. The original layout started in Jamaica, in 1977, as a one train board layout with the track plan below and is portable and been moved to 6 houses and was on the floor for about 2 months a year, with this plan, until 1988. Size is 11 ft , 2 inches long and 5 ft, 9 inches wide, is in two sections, and the inside loop includes an oval and figure 8 allowing train reversing in either direction, a homemade $10 turntable with pit and round house and has 11 Marx switches. The outside loop has two alternate/storage tracks and has 9 switches. This original train board has two Lionel LW transformers for trains only and can runs 4 trains, with two trains per two blocked relayed loops, and numerous operating accessories. One or two operators can run the layout with provisions for the whole layout to be operated with the LW transformer on the left. This layout train board has several operating accessories now an operating Lionel Gantry Crane.
In 1988, a second train board was added making an L shaped expanded layout and adding a second Actionable Touch Track Diagram control panel and Lionel LW train only transformer, and the layout was still on the floor. A third operator can operate the second train board or it can be operated by the either of he two other LWs on the main train board. Size of addition is, 7ft 6 in x 4ft 7in. The third loop includes a dog bone giving train reversing in either direction for the outside loop for both train boards and has 11 switches. The expanded layout can now runs 5 trains with two trains per two blocked relayed loops with one train running on the new train board and has numerous operating accessories.
The expanded layout now can be operated by only one operator and by two or three operators with two control panels and has a total of 31 Marx switches had a Wye added in 2020 to allow reversing of trains on the outside loop and traversing trains from the main board inside loop to the outside loop of the new train board. The layout has been up permanently in a hobby room since 2011.
So, Postwar 3-Rail Traditional Toy Train fans, let us learn about your layout and layout operation and we will all get more acquainted.
Charlie
revised 4-8-2023
