Skip to main content

Reply to "My layout currently has tubular track 031. I’mLooking to expand the curve sections to 042."

Richard P.

I have "walked in your moccasins."

Using ANYRAIL software, I designed an L-shaped layout with O31 curves and switches, mostly because I had Lionel O31 tubular track curve sections and twelve Lionel O22 (O31 curvature) tubular switches on hand.  When I realized some of my locos wouldn't negotiate O31 curves, I adopted O42 as the minimum curvature for tubular track and switches on a revised L-shaped layout with two levels. O42 was the largest curvature I could fit onto level one, and I used O31 trackage on level two, dedicated to trolley lines only. Diagrams of the two levels are attached for reference.

I sold all the Lionel O22 tubular switches via eBay and recycled that money into K-Line O42 tubular switches. I acquired O42 tubular curved track sections. The O42 curvatures were placed everywhere, even at sidings.

Later, I acquired locomotives that required larger-than-O42 curves. Admittedly, they were impractical acquisitions, but in my defense I was seduced by beautiful models of Rock Island trains.  They are now resting as "Shelf Queens" on aluminum shelves mounted to the walls of the train room. Beautiful to look at, but not run-able on my layout. Proof for the axiom, "Build a layout as large as you can accommodate and afford."

I regret that the O42 version of the track design maxed-out the available space in my train room. I initially wished for O54 or O6O curves, but that would require building a new wing on our house!  I toyed with the idea of re-designing the layout with larger curvatures as an around-the-walls layout with NO perimeter aisles, but that would be impractical for train operations and difficult for access to the borders -- where (according to Murphy's Law) most of the derailments will happen.

It's true ... size matters. In layout-building and otherwise.

Mike Mottler    LCCA 12394

Attachments

Images (2)
  • MHM Layout, Level 1 as JPG
  • MHM Layout, Level 2 as JPG

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

×
×
×
×
×