4x16 layout

Perfect size for an operating layout....check out https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/member/john.c.2 

Forum member and he will get you to understand a running layout vs. operating layout....I have done both and now hooked on operating .....but both are great as long as you enjoy what you are doing...

Slightly off tops, but along the same lines - does anyone know why the Hell Gate bridge was touted as a break-through in efficiently and directly connecting the South/Mid-Atlantic states and New England?   It runs between Manhattan (Ward's Island) and Long Island (Astoria, Queens).  Basically, connects two islands in NY.  Amtrack route that comes up from Florida / Jersey already ran into Manhattan, and from there it's a straight shot up to New England.    

PJB posted:

Slightly off tops, but along the same lines - does anyone know why the Hell Gate bridge was touted as a break-through in efficiently and directly connecting the South/Mid-Atlantic states and New England?   It runs between Manhattan (Ward's Island) and Long Island (Astoria, Queens).  Basically, connects two islands in NY.  Amtrack route that comes up from Florida / Jersey already ran into Manhattan, and from there it's a straight shot up to New England.    

Off topic and wrong section, lol.

    I'd bet you get a good answer posting this in your own new thread in the "real/protoype trains" section.

Op.s;; Don't knock it till you try it. It can be fun; a learning experience. Especially if there are others involved.

...but my first response to "addition" is always #1. A reversing loop #2 yard/storage  #3 (more a personal interest than "goal" or strong suggestion) yard hump tracks. 

...and I'm pretty much a lone-looper, not an op.s guy unless I'm recruited.

First, unless you want to start at square one, all new, list what you have already in switches and curve sizes and what you intend on running (future too), as different locos and stock have various requirements for curve minimums. Plus your accessories. Passenger? Freight?. Intended industries?

A layout theme can vary greatly.

Thanks Joe...The important thing to do is have fun and enjoy what you are doing--toy or "real."  In addition, I expound on the virtues of three things critical to any layout:  Plausibility, Purpose and PARTICIPATION. A toy train person may disregard Plausibility.

These three essential elements will help you and others to enjoy and get more satisfaction out of your layout.  Something that famed model railroader Linn Westcott long ago were words to the effect: having more to do will provide you with more fun.

Those words didn't make sense to me when I read them in the early 1970s, but they resound loudly in my ears!

With respect to any activity or project, the more engaged, involved and interaction, the greater the probability of continuing.  When people come over and look at your trains, if they can operate them, push buttons to make lights and sounds activate, push buttons for accessories or activate other layout features, versus just being an observer, the greater the liklihood that they will enjoy it much more.

I have observed this first-hand on my layouts.  Now, no one gets out of here without operating a train!  :-)    

Adriatic posted:

PJB posted:

Slightly off tops, but along the same lines - does anyone know why the Hell Gate bridge was touted as a break-through in efficiently and directly connecting the South/Mid-Atlantic states and New England?   It runs between Manhattan (Ward's Island) and Long Island (Astoria, Queens).  Basically, connects two islands in NY.  Amtrack route that comes up from Florida / Jersey already ran into Manhattan, and from there it's a straight shot up to New England.    

Off topic and wrong section, lol.

    I'd bet you get a good answer posting this in your own new thread in the "real/protoype trains" section.

Still off this topic but ALL NE Corridor rail traffic goes over the Hellgate, onto LI and through the east river tunnels to Penn Station.

PALAZ- what I have learned from reading this forum is first decide what you want your railroad to do, industries, etc. The 4' width will allow for reversing loops so that you can still run trains while switching. I would try and extend off of your existing layout if it makes sense.

Slightly off tops, but along the same lines - does anyone know why the Hell Gate bridge was touted as a break-through in efficiently and directly connecting the South/Mid-Atlantic states and New England?   It runs between Manhattan (Ward's Island) and Long Island (Astoria, Queens).  Basically, connects two islands in NY.  Amtrack route that comes up from Florida / Jersey already ran into Manhattan, and from there it's a straight shot up to New England.    

OK, well on-topic  

If I were the OP, instead of looking for similar sized plans, I'd take a look through the train layout books written by the masters, John Armstrong and Linn Westcott.  They may or may not have specific layouts of these exact dimensions, but they offer something much more valuable - an understanding of the principles and mechanics of all aspects of a layout.  You end up in control - you know how to build a great layout and what to avoid.  You end up designing exactly what you want with no surprises, and you'd be happier with the result.   

Peter

I would look at thortrains.net. The example below is an O-31 MTH layout (3 by 13), but this could be converted to O-36 or even O-48 FastTrack to fit into 4 by 16. If you need help converting, just ask!

It came from the "doorway" layouts, specifically the expanded O-31 layouts.

palaz1954 posted:

I have a small 4x8 Fastrack layout and want to expand but my wife will only let me expand length wise so was wondering if anyone had any ideas where I could find plans for a 4x16 layout.  

A center pinched oval or bow-tie is a nice plan for a long narrow layout. Atlas O layout O-16 or O-35 in their layout book. Adapt the shape for whichever track system that you are using.

Here is a 4X 12 that could be expanded to 16' long:

Here is a 4'8" wide modular layout that can be expanded to 16' long.

Here is a 4X12 track plan that could be extended to 4X16.

4X16, with two independent mains, reversing loops, and the inner mainline is two return loops.   The inner main train can automatically reverse direction through the loops each time using the non-derail feature of Fastrack turnouts.   There is a "Grand Tour" route through the crossing in the middle allowing a twice-around route.

O-36 Fastrack minimum diameter.   The outer mainline curves are compound curves assembled mostly with O48 sections plus four O-36 1/4 curve Fastrack sections, with O-72 easements leading into the curves at each end.   Our traditional-size locomotives and rolling-stock will look good rolling through these outer mainline curves.

A variation on the above layout plan with extended storage for cars in the middle.

This looks like something I would like to try.  Where would I find a complete plan with list of track needed?

palaz1954 posted:

This looks like something I would like to try.  Where would I find a complete plan with list of track needed?

Which plan? Use the "take action" at the lower right corner and select "reply with quote" for the plan that you like.

Ken-Oscale posted:

A variation on the above layout plan with extended storage for cars in the middle.

A variation on the above layout plan with extended storage for cars in the middle. 

Ken-Oscale posted:

4X16, with two independent mains, reversing loops, and the inner mainline is two return loops.   The inner main train can automatically reverse direction through the loops each time using the non-derail feature of Fastrack turnouts.   There is a "Grand Tour" route through the crossing in the middle allowing a twice-around route.

O-36 Fastrack minimum diameter.   The outer mainline curves are compound curves assembled mostly with O48 sections plus four O-36 1/4 curve Fastrack sections, with O-72 easements leading into the curves at each end.   Our traditional-size locomotives and rolling-stock will look good rolling through these outer mainline curves.

This track plan with the two independent mains and reversing loops  or the other one with the area in the middle with car storage would be perfect.  Please let me know where I could find them along with the track needed to build.  Thank you Stephen Palazzolo

Here is an image with trains on the tracks.   Created with AnyRail, then imported into TrainPlayer, added locomotives and cars, then exported as an image.

Stephen, here is a list of track needed (use turnouts of your choice: remote, command)

• 6-12042, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Straight 30".                        9
• 6-12014, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Straight 10".                        16
• 6-12024, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Straight 5".                          7
• 6-12025, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Straight 4 1/2".                   4
• 6-12026, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Straight 1 3/4".                   10
• 6-12073, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Straight 1 3/8".                   13
• 6-12035, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Buffer/Bumper (Light) 5".      2
• 6-12059, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Buffer/Bumper 3 5/8".          3

6-12050, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Crossing 14 1/4". 22.5º          1

•  6-12015, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Curve 18", angle 45º (O36)             9
• 6-12022, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Curve 18", angle 22.5º (O36)           4
• 6-12023, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Curve 18", angle 11.25º (O36)         13
• 6-12043, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Curve 24", angle 30º (O48)              7
• 6-16834, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Curve 24", angle 15º (O48)              11
• 6-16835, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Curve 24", angle 7.5º (O48)             9
• 6-12056, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Curve 30", angle 22.5º (O60)           1
• 6-12055, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Curve 36", angle 11.25º (O72)          6
• 6-12041, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Curve 36", angle 22.5º (O72)            2
• 6-81250, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Curve 48", angle 11.25º (O96)          3

• 6-16824, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Left turnout 10". (O36) Command Control                  1
• 6-16825, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Right turnout 10". (O36) Command Control                2
• 6-81949, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Left turnout 15". (O48) Remote/Command                 4
• 6-81948, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Right turnout 15". (O48) Remote/Command               3
• 6-16829, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Right turnout 13 1/8". (O60) Command Control         1

Stephen, I created a track plan file for you, to use with AnyRail.

Download and install the free trial version of AnyRail.   This will allow you to view the track plan, but any edits that you make cannot be saved until you buy the software.   (It allows plans of up to 50 sections to be edited and saved for free.   This plan is more than 50 sections).

Then import this file into AnyRail.   Then you can see what goes where - use your mouse to hover over any piece of track to see what it is (shown at the bottom of the screen).

Have fun!   If you do build this layout, please add pictures of your layout in progress to this thread so we all can see and follow your progress.

Ken-Oscale posted:

Stephen, I created a track plan file for you, to use with AnyRail.

Download and install the free trial version of AnyRail.   This will allow you to view the track plan, but any edits that you make cannot be saved until you buy the software.   (It allows plans of up to 50 sections to be edited and saved for free.   This plan is more than 50 sections).

Then import this file into AnyRail.   Then you can see what goes where - use your mouse to hover over any piece of track to see what it is (shown at the bottom of the screen).

Have fun!   If you do build this layout, please add pictures of your layout in progress to this thread so we all can see and follow your progress.

Thank you, I'll do that.

Ken, 

That's a great design.

Attached is a 4x16' that we did for our Holiday layout a few years ago. It was two levels but the two levels were not connected in any way. The top level was a a couple of 036 reversing loops connected with a straight section. 

The lower level was a dog bone with passing and stub sidings.

All track was Fastrack and 036 curves.

The two 4x8 tables were just 1x4" for the framing and a 2" thick sheet of foam for the surface. No plywood. I used 6" tall scraps of foam as risers to elevate the top layer where needed.

Nice!   Great layout, thanks for sharing.   From your comments it would seem the layout was temporary?   Did you do another holiday layout recently?

Ken

Ken,

Yes, this was temp. We started, the year before, with a single 4x8 and then expanded to the long 4x16 version.

The third year we configured them to an 8x8 square and painted the terrain green for a postwar, dealer-display vibe.