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An idea I have been working on this morning.   It has a nice long passing track for two-train operation, and two reverse-loops.

Mainline turnouts are O60.  Yard and industry O36.   Curves are O36, O48, and O60.  Layout base is two 4x8 sheets.

In addition to the perimeter bent-loop, there is a bent figure-8 route, and a winding reverse-loop to reverse-loop route.  Access is decent - good for most of the layout with just the two corners a long reach.   The yard can be worked with a yard lead through the crossing and around the curve, allowing a second train to run the outside perimeter route.

Comments or suggestions?

M1111_01V1c

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Last edited by Ken-Oscale
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This illustration of the railroad serving Junction City highlights the track diameters, with O36 in RED, O48 in BLUE, and O60 in GREEN.  Scenic details include the spur in the center of town serving the freight station embedded in the asphalt for pedestrians and vehicles to cross.  There is a dam on Jane's Creek to create the cooling pond for the power plant, which when full, backs water up the inlet and tributary streams.  There is a wood border/fascia around the layout.  FasTrack lighted switch stands have been added.

M1111_01V3b

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Last edited by Ken-Oscale

L-shaped 4x8 variants have inspired me to become an OGR magazine subscriber.  Been looking for something portable to first time build, beyond past 10 years running sets around the tree at Christmas.  Amazing to see your 10x10 in Run 312.  Was building some simple table top sections over the Father's Day weekend, two interlocking 4'x6' with some extensions.  Key point is each section easily make it up & down my building stairway with a 90 degree turn landing in it.  I like your 11x11 design (less $$ turnouts too).  When I get some time off, I'll stretch the frames a little and run my stairwell test again.

11x11 Question:  Did you try fitting O60 easements to the remaining sides of the two end loops?

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  • 10x10 Bench top connected
  • 10x10 Bench top separated

Thanks Mick, very interesting.  Also glad to hear about your testing and work with sections that can make it around a 90 degree stairway turn, that is a useful standard to keep in mind.  Cheers!

Thanks for the pics, that is good work.  -Ken

Easements, I looked at this design a couple of times casually to consider easements.  This latest version might be able to benefit:  the O36 turns have either O60 or no easement.   Perhaps I can add an easement.  I like the idea of easements for the look as trains enter curves, and have used them on other designs.   Thanks for that suggestion!

I decided to try using Compound O42 instead of O36 (O48+O36 quarter sections).  I figured as long as I was doing easements into the O36, I might just as well go all the way to O42.  The mainline is now O42 minimum.   A bit more room around the edges.  A better layout in a number of ways.   Needs refinement.

M1111_01V4d

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Last edited by Ken-Oscale

Nice improvements to the details and flow of the layout.  I can see a line of coal hoppers waiting.

Ran my stairwell test this evening using one half of my 10x10 bench top with extensions to mockup the proper 11x11 outline (see photo).  It made it through the stairwell, but it was a beast compared to the 10x10 half.  Add plywood surface, 1-2 inches of foam, and track.  Hmmm... I'll likely go with building the 11x11, just wouldn't label it readily portable.

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  • Bench top right side stretched to 11x11
@Mick60 posted:

Atlas version looks great, and appears to be with a lot less fitter pieces.  Maybe easier to add outer edge exit switches to each table end.

I agree on all points.  O45 turnouts to build off of the loops is easy.

Atlas-O is MUCH easier to work with than FasTrack, in part because of the flex track.  Also because the turnouts are drop in replacements for a 10" straight, and a perfect match for the curves.  That helps mucho.  Using cut flex reduces the number of track section joints (better conductivity).

Here are the track sections.  O45 by default, blue is O54, green is O72.  The light brown sections are straight flex, cut to length.  One could just cut 40" straight sections to length, instead of flex.  On the other hand, using flex gives a bit of wiggle room in case your build has variances.

M1111A_01V1b

I like that this track plan has long graceful curves of O72, very nice to watch trains transit.

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Last edited by Ken-Oscale

Perhaps a better O54 yard:

M1111A_01V1g

If you look closely, you will see the yard has two O54 'S' curves - but probably OK as they are O54.  There are two O54 cross-overs with 'S' curves as well.

Two of the yard spurs are 50+", and the other three are 40" long.  Twenty-two 10" freight cars.

The five industry spurs are only accessible from the O45 section, so a smaller loco can handle those.

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Last edited by Ken-Oscale
@Mick60 posted:

Shows the inherent expansion ability with the basic design.  For my portability need (moving by next year), I’ll stay without the second full loop but add turnouts off the ends for expansion of this interchange layout.

I like that idea!  Trains could be staged off both the right, and bottom, and enter the layout to run and then interchange in the yard.

-Ken

Ken, This layout has several layout options, great for newbies like myself.  Thanks for the inspiration.  Even the single loop version has O72 outer and inner paths if extended in the future straight beyond the ends.  FYI- I won’t be able to make build progress until my week off, July 13th week.

Question for anyone:  I’ve built 6 legs already, but don’t think it’s enough for this 11x11 L shaped table.  Any recommendations on # and placement?

12x12 L-shaped bench top completed after a trip to my favorite local Menards for more 1x4's.  Had to re-think sections to be able to navigate my 90 degree stairway landing, keeps the layout movable if needed but had to go with 3 sections (the center is split if needed also).  Kept the initial two piece 10x10 L bench top for future layout expansion.  Have a great weekend.12x12 L Bench top connected12x12 L Bench top separated

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  • 12x12 L Bench top connected
  • 12x12 L Bench top separated
@Mick60 posted:

12x12 L-shaped bench top completed after a trip to my favorite local Menards for more 1x4's.  Had to re-think sections to be able to navigate my 90 degree stairway landing, keeps the layout movable if needed but had to go with 3 sections (the center is split if needed also).  Kept the initial two piece 10x10 L bench top for future layout expansion.  Have a great weekend.12x12 L Bench top connected12x12 L Bench top separated

Nice work! Should be able to get those pieces up, down or around most stairs.

Last edited by Sean007

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