Door Layout: MTH 031 with 027 Tubular

It may fit... but, you will not be able to run separate trains on each loop and be able to pass each other.  You would have to add some short pieces of straight to the O31 to keep the O31 center rail to O27 center rail about 4.5"-5" apart, creating an effective 36" outside loop... that is about the minimum needed for clearance.  Someone who can state this better will probably chime in soon.

I see your tag... I lived in a loft @26th and 6th for 25 years ...that was about half way between Penn Station and Madison Hardware.

@Dennis-LaRock posted:

It may fit... but, you will not be able to run separate trains on each loop and be able to pass each other.  You would have to add some short pieces of straight to the O31 to keep the O31 center rail to O27 center rail about 4.5"-5" apart, creating an effective 36" outside loop... that is about the minimum needed for clearance.  Someone who can state this better will probably chime in soon.

I see your tag... I lived in a loft @26th and 6th for 25 years ...that was about half way between Penn Station and Madison Hardware.

Thanks, Dennis! I'm figuring door layout, unless I go 027, is going to be an outside loop of MTH 031 and a down center trolley line.

18th and 8th, here, for years in the 70s. #1, A & E trains! Penn Station a stone's throw.

Hi pdxtrains,

Here's a layout I drew up using AnyRail for my 38" X 111" space.  It's 031 MTH RealTrax on the outside and Lionel 027 tubular on the inside.  You'll notice I have a 4.25" piece of RealTrax at each end.  Because it's a small layout I only run PW and a couple of relatively newer locomotives.  My largest diesel is a Lionel RS3 8805 and my largest steam engine is a Lionel Hudson 2934.  They pass each other without any problems.  Eyeballing the clearance it looks to be about 1/2" at the closest point.

John

@CA John posted:

Hi pdxtrains,

Here's a layout I drew up using AnyRail for my 38" X 111" space.  It's 031 MTH RealTrax on the outside and Lionel 027 tubular on the inside.  You'll notice I have a 4.25" piece of RealTrax at each end.  Because it's a small layout I only run PW and a couple of relatively newer locomotives.  My largest diesel is a Lionel RS3 8805 and my largest steam engine is a Lionel Hudson 2934.  They pass each other without any problems.  Eyeballing the clearance it looks to be about 1/2" at the closest point.

John

Wow, John--thank you!Are the track sections with white dots indicating power blocks? And it looks like, (1) 027 L switch, is it (1) Y switch? Andis that "X" a 45 degree cross? Forgive me, I'm used to loops!

My advice, based on my preference, is to go entirely with 027 track.

I've built a number of door layouts all with 027 track, so I have lots of experience in this. Also go with the modern era post MPC style turnouts, the manual ones. The vertical handle on those allows easy modification to operate those with nylon fishline. Far less headaches that trying to use the electric 027 turnouts, which in my opinion are the biggest drawback in 027 track. Also using foam ties underneath the 027 track will really reduce the rumble of the trains on the hollow door and make the layout very quiet. If you have questions on door layouts, ask me. I can give you ideas, which you may or may not follow - or you may come up with your own interpretations of those ideas.

Back in the day when I had a traveling layout that I took to train shows, there was another guy who had a door sized layout with MTH RealTrax. Although he certainly had a simple layout that worked, it was my thinking that the molded road bed took up too much space, thus limiting how much else you could do on the layout, such as scenery and accessories. That will be apparent when you click on the link below.

But the great thing about the hobby is there are so many options that allow someone to make a layout that is as truly individual as they are.

If you need some inspiration, here's a link for door sized layouts. Look for the graph with track styles and click on those. That should help give you some parameters as well as some ideas. Also thanks to the forum member (his name escapes me) who did so much work to get this site back up and running.

http://www.thortrains.us/marx/drlaydex.html

It would mean abandoning the MTH 031, but find some Marx 034:  the 027 fits very nicely inside it, and the ovals will just fit a 36" door.

Hi pdxtrains,

The white dots are used by AnyRail to designate tunnels.  There will be a mountain in that corner and I'm scratch building an ore processing building and tipple that will load the gondolas on the sidings.  I'm doing some mock ups right now on the plywood and may go down to one siding.  Both switches are 027 left hand.  And yes that is a standard 027 90-degree crossover.  I've created a bunch of different layouts for my basically 3' X 9' space.  I want to run at least two trains on the main level and a small elevated oval around the mine building. 

John

@palallin posted:

It would mean abandoning the MTH 031, but find some Marx 034:  the 027 fits very nicely inside it, and the ovals will just fit a 36" door.

Thanks!

Does Marx 034 use the same Lionel type track power lock-on, and does it accept regular 027 straights? Or do I need 034 straights to fit the Marx 034 curves? Compatible?

I don't mind using all tubular, but I want one loop with a wider radius than just 027.

Marx 034 is completely compatible with Lionel 027.  Marx did make longer straights available.  The same rail profile, pins, lock-ons, and geometry all around, just bigger curves.  There are 034 switches, too.

@brianel_k-lineguy posted:

My advice, based on my preference, is to go entirely with 027 track.

I've built a number of door layouts all with 027 track, so I have lots of experience in this. Also go with the modern era post MPC style turnouts, the manual ones. The vertical handle on those allows easy modification to operate those with nylon fishline. Far less headaches that trying to use the electric 027 turnouts, which in my opinion are the biggest drawback in 027 track. Also using foam ties underneath the 027 track will really reduce the rumble of the trains on the hollow door and make the layout very quiet. If you have questions on door layouts, ask me. I can give you ideas, which you may or may not follow - or you may come up with your own interpretations of those ideas.

Back in the day when I had a traveling layout that I took to train shows, there was another guy who had a door sized layout with MTH RealTrax. Although he certainly had a simple layout that worked, it was my thinking that the molded road bed took up too much space, thus limiting how much else you could do on the layout, such as scenery and accessories. That will be apparent when you click on the link below.

But the great thing about the hobby is there are so many options that allow someone to make a layout that is as truly individual as they are.

If you need some inspiration, here's a link for door sized layouts. Look for the graph with track styles and click on those. That should help give you some parameters as well as some ideas. Also thanks to the forum member (his name escapes me) who did so much work to get this site back up and running.

http://www.thortrains.us/marx/drlaydex.html

Thanks for this, Brian!

@brianel_k-lineguy posted:

If you need some inspiration, here's a link for door sized layouts. Look for the graph with track styles and click on those. That should help give you some parameters as well as some ideas. Also thanks to the forum member (his name escapes me) who did so much work to get this site back up and running.

http://www.thortrains.us/marx/drlaydex.html

@palallin posted:

It would mean abandoning the MTH 031, but find some Marx 034:  the 027 fits very nicely inside it, and the ovals will just fit a 36" door.

But beware of going with 34" and still easily found 42" O27 (low profile track). Like so many bugs in this hobby, once you see the traditional/O27 engines going gently around 42" curves without being jerked through 27" curves, you might crave  54" and 72"which are also available, though a bit harder to find, in O27 tubular track.