5 1/2 x 10 1/3 layout help request

It would be helpful if you shared an image as well - for those of us who don't have SCARM

Let me see...

I used pairs of 072 switches for crossovers between the two mainlines on my Fastrack layout. It's a nice smooth transition, even for my LC+2.0 Big Boy, Legacy DD35A, and 20" super liners. It also gives you the natural 6" center-to-center spacing Fastrack was designed for. I wouldn't go any tighter for crossovers

@Mike0289 posted:

I used pairs of 072 switches for crossovers between the two mainlines on my Fastrack layout. It's a nice smooth transition, even for my LC+2.0 Big Boy, Legacy DD35A, and 20" super liners. It also gives you the natural 6" center-to-center spacing Fastrack was designed for. I wouldn't go any tighter for crossovers

Great! What is the equivalent number of straights I should remove for a O-72 switch?

http://www.lionel.com/products...h-left-hand-6-12048/

The straight portion of a Fastrack 072 switch is 15 5/8" long

Here's a table that was published a while back that describes ways to make up different lengths with Fastrack sections

Thanks!  Here is my layout using the O-72 switches

Still have some small gaps

I think this is what the suggestion would look like without cutting any track.  Note there are 1-3/8" half roadbed pieces and no roadbed pieces attached to the O-72 switches.  Scarm file attached.

O-72 switch

EDIT: I started this reply before the previous two were posted.

@SteveH posted:

I think this is what the suggestion would look like without cutting any track.  Note there are 1-3/8" half roadbed pieces and no roadbed pieces attached to the O-72 switches.  Scarm file attached.

EDIT: I started this reply before the previous two were posted.

Thank you!

I'd be concerned about the far side in that design - you have 6" center to center on the side with the crossovers, but only 4" center to center on the other side since you've functionally got an inner 48" loop and an outer 58" loop. Any loco with significant overhang on 048 curves running on the inner loop will probably swipe the train running on the outer loop. Slapping an additional 1 3/4" straight in the short sides of the outer loop will bring you to almost 6" center to center on the far side as well.

I'd also recommend putting a short straight section between the curves and the switches on the outer loop, even if it's just a short fitter. I had an issue on my layout where one of my locos would derail when backing through an 048 curve straight into the diverging route of an 060 switch (in the same direction as the curve) - adding a 1 3/4" straight between the curve and the switch fixed it.

Alternatively, consider if you've got the space to use 060 curves on the outer loop. Then you've got 6" center to center spacing everywhere and it all looks a little bit nicer (at least IMO)

@Mike0289 Thank you,   I may not have the space to add the short section but I will look!

As I was looking over the layout. I was considering an elevated loop of O-36 track. When you use the Elevated FastTrack Trestle set how many trestles do you need per track section for planning purposes? The Elevated FastTrack trestle comes in package of ten. I am not using the graduated trestle set.

Thank you everyone for providing your good advice!

I think the sets come with spacers that connect the trestles. I think they're about 10" in length to line up with the joints on regular straight sections, but I can measure a spacer from my graduated trestle set later tonight and report back. The spacers are nice for evenly spacing the trestles but also for adding stability and rigidity to the entire elevated track section. The included spacers are a good starting point, at least.

@Mike0289 Thank you!

My current loops (O-48 outside and closed off O-36 figure eight in the middle) are spaced apart by 2.5 inches at their closest. I never had any issues with locomotive over hang so I expect that I can use tht distance between the new loops as well

@Madockawando posted:

My current loops (O-48 outside and closed off O-36 figure eight in the middle) are spaced apart by 2.5 inches at their closest. I never had any issues with locomotive over hang so I expect that I can use tht distance between the new loops as well

Are you talking about edge-to-edge (i.e. outside edge of ties or roadbed) or center-to-center (i.e. center rails)? My earlier comment about 4" was center rail spacing, which with Fastrack's 3.3" overall width, only leaves about 0.7" of space between the pieces.

I'd be very worried about sideswipes with the two lines this close.

@Mike0289

It's 2.5 edge to edge, roadbed to roadbed.

@Madockawando posted:

@Mike0289

It's 2.5 edge to edge, roadbed to roadbed.

That's what I suspected. The image I shared is how close the two lines would be on the far side of the plan @SteveH shared - 048 inner loop & effective 058 outer loop with 6" center-to-center on the near side means 4" center-to-center on the far side. Without some additional straight or a switch to 060 curves on the outer loop, I think you're going to have issues.

@Madockawando posted:

As I was looking over the layout. I was considering an elevated loop of O-36 track. When you use the Elevated FastTrack Trestle set how many trestles do you need per track section for planning purposes? The Elevated FastTrack trestle comes in package of ten. I am not using the graduated trestle set.

Thank you everyone for providing your good advice!

You may want to look at the MTH Elevated Trestle set for Fastrack - maybe 40-1134. They can be centered at each FT connection point and, IMHO, are better looking, sturdier and easier to assemble than the Lionel ones.