Building a new toy train layout using some of my dad’s postwar Lionel track and manual switch and my grandfather’s prewar Marx manual switches.
Made part of this in Any Rail 5 and in Photo Shop Elements for my Lionel O27 3ft by 3ft Layout. These drawings are rough ideas and are not to scale. I might change the buildings and not sure the spot to add a road on the layout. The buildings will be printed card stock buildings. I’m leaning more towards card stock buildings since it would be a bit cheaper than trying to find plastic kits.
I will be adding trees in some of the corners of the layout and next to some of the buildings.
The road bed will be painted gray to keep it simple.
I got the track plan from http://www.thortrains.net/ The only changes to the track plan is I added two Half Straight Sections to the old track plan seen bellow. I added them to make it a bit easier to run my dad’s postwar 637 and so I could add in a small bridge as well. The original track plan is 3ft by 3ft however, since adding the half straight sections the base will have to be slightly wider than 3ft more like 3ft 6inches by 3ft 6inches not quite sure but I'll figure that out. I however do not want it to be much bigger due to space limitations
The base will be tempered hardboard and pine board sides making a shallow box with perhaps foam board or something else as the base (any ideas or tips instead of using foamboard). The track wont be nailed down since I want to be able to take it apart for repairs.
Any thoughts on this track plan?
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Hi Khayden
Probably about the only change I would make is to make the oval a bit longer by adding two straight tracks on both sides. This would make it easier to run your father's 637 set as it is somewhat longer than the 229 set with its freight cars. Other than that, you are off to a good start.
Hi Khayden
Probably about the only change I would make is to make the oval a bit longer by adding two straight tracks on both sides. This would make it easier to run your father's 637 set as it is somewhat longer than the 229 set with its freight cars. Other than that, you are off to a good start.
It's a thought I might do that
A few random thoughts:
If adding the straight tracks makes the track end up too close to the edges, you could add 1/2 straights instead, or full straights can be cut to length with a hacksaw.
For the corner(s), I think I would add a water tower to one of them. Those steam engines will get thirsty. A rotating beacon is another eye catching accessory that doesn't take up much space, and is a natural for a corner or edge of a layout, as it protects the people of the layout from falling off the end of the world.
If you are able to add a straight section as Keith suggested, you my be able to add a short bridge at the top side, and have a river "feed" the lake you have.
It looks fine as it is; these ideas may or may not make the layout more fun for you.
J White
A few random thoughts:
If adding the straight tracks makes the track end up too close to the edges, you could add 1/2 straights instead, or full straights can be cut to length with a hacksaw.
For the corner(s), I think I would add a water tower to one of them. Those steam engines will get thirsty. A rotating beacon is another eye catching accessory that doesn't take up much space, and is a natural for a corner or edge of a layout, as it protects the people of the layout from falling off the end of the world.
If you are able to add a straight section as Keith suggested, you my be able to add a short bridge at the top side, and have a river "feed" the lake you have.
It looks fine as it is; these ideas may or may not make the layout more fun for you.
J White
I thought about it last night and I think I will add 1/2 straights instead of the full straights. As for the water tower I think I'll add one as for the rotating beacon I'll see if I can find one it sounds like a neat idea to add.
Before you purchase buildings you might consider that O scale structures can over power O-27 rolling stock. Plasticville looks fine, a Walthers dairy building may be too large. Small buildings look good at the corners of the layout and if you are going to have pine board sides, you can put a 'half building' in the corner, use only two sides of the building kit. In another corner you could place the remaining two sides painted other colors. Put a few trees around them and you'll be considered a genius.
John
Great ideas I won't be getting buildings just yet however the idea of using half buildings in the corner is great
I am thinking about adapting your plan to fit under my Christmas tree this year. Good job!
I am thinking about adapting your plan to fit under my Christmas tree this year. Good job!
Cool
Here's a good site for cardstock buildings, and lots of other gems as well:
http://www.bigindoortrains.com/
The guy that did a lot of those buildings used to post here; don't know if he still does.
J White
Here's a good site for cardstock buildings, and lots of other gems as well:
http://www.bigindoortrains.com/
The guy that did a lot of those buildings used to post here; don't know if he still does.
J White
Thanks
What is the diameter of the circle of track?
Are you using 027?
That would mean that the circle is approximately 27" wide, so there would be 9" of table remaining, if it were mounted on a 3-foot square of table. That would seem to indicate that you would have 4.5" all around the circle.
How are you planning to get those sidings and switches arranged to use only 4.5" to a maximum of 9"?
What is the diameter of the circle of track?
Are you using 027?
That would mean that the circle is approximately 27" wide, so there would be 9" of table remaining, if it were mounted on a 3-foot square of table. That would seem to indicate that you would have 4.5" all around the circle.
How are you planning to get those sidings and switches arranged to use only 4.5" to a maximum of 9"?
Its O27
Mr. Bloom is right unfortunately. The track will barely fit (less than a half inch on each side) in the 3x3 area without the extra 1/2 sections suggested earlier. I assumed that the table was drawn to the same scale as the track. It's really more like 4x4 as pictured. I'm sorry I didn't notice that before.
J White
"Its O27."
"These drawings are rough ideas and are not to scale."
I would suggest that you take a circle of track, and place it on a piece of plywood or cardboard that is 3' by 3' and see what I am talking about. Drawing them to scale is the only way that I can think of that will create a useful picture.
This little portable layout is 30" x 48" not 36" x 36" but it kind of gives an idea what you can do in 36" x 36". The half size straights may not fit either. 27" plus the 9" or so of the switch will be your 36" as mentioned above. If you can bump out your dimensions to 39" or 40" your track plan could work just fine.
This little portable layout is 30" x 48" not 36" x 36" but it kind of gives an idea what you can do in 36" x 36". The half size straights may not fit either. 27" plus the 9" or so of the switch will be your 36" as mentioned above. If you can bump out your dimensions to 39" or 40" your track plan could work just fine.
I'm bumping the size up to 42" x 42" to help make everything fit a bit better but not be going into 4ft
I for one am glad you are not going to 'four feet' your dream..
I for one am glad you are not going to 'four feet' your dream..
Not much of a fan of four feet by four feet, plus I have some space limits to keep in mind.