First draft of track plan

Matt,

Your elevated section of track creates a reverse loop. Consider adding a complimentary reverse loop or a turntable to change the direction of your engines. Otherwise, you'll have to back the engine through the loop to turn it back around.

You have 1 mainline, not 3. The design gives the appearance of 3 mainlines due to the parallel tracks, but it is one continous line that crosses itself. If you plan to run 1 train, this is fine, but multiple trains will cause conflict. Consider replacing the crossover section of track with a turnout, connecting the inner loop back onto itself. Then you will have 2 mainlines which will allow you to run 2 trains simultaneously without worry.

What size turnouts will you be using for the yard? This will affect how you lay track. Will there be any scenery in the yard area? Will the yard area be for staging only, or will you be switching cars in it?

Your grades will create boxed in scenery if they are kept at their current positions. Draw your plans to scale to see if you can move them back a bit to open space up.

In addition to the above comments, watch your grade % inclination. The one you marked 'down' appears OK, but the one going up could be somewhat steep as it is shown. Maybe you could start it up before the curve?

Good luck!

Alex

Revised the original plan quite a bit.

1. Do I need the 4 way crossover? I don't think except it would allow for switching between tracks sooner than traveling all around the layout.

2. I can't figure out how to best switch to clockwise direction from counter-clockwise travel. I have a loop in to go the other way though.

3. The upward travel starts on the far right side. The label was cut off on the scan. I am planning on around 28' of track in both the up and down direction to make the transition.

4. I still have the option to add track up on the top flat on the left and the lower portion in the center and toward the right. These areas would be for industry (accessories) and a town.

5. What should I alter to support running more than one train at a time?

How does the flow seem?

Curve sizes are not determined. I am just trying to get a basic travel plan.

Thanks
Matt

quote:

Originally posted by Matt15237:
Revised the original plan quite a bit.

Matt, I'm trying to gauge your layout building knowledge. I see that you have recently joined the forum and you've made some mistakes in terminology. Is this your first layout? Is this a plan you've seen and want to duplicate? How much scenery do you plan to build?

quote:

Do I need the 4 way crossover?

The "4 way crossover" you picture is called a double crossover. Currently, only Ross Custom Switches builds a double crossover. It's expensive at $350. You do not need a double crossover. Two single crossovers spaced far enough apart will create a passing siding.

quote:

I can't figure out how to best switch to clockwise direction from counter-clockwise travel.

Looking at the new layout plan, you could add a second Y switch opposite from the first, at the other entrance to the tunnel.

quote:

What should I alter to support running more than one train at a time?

The only way to run a second train simultaneously without interferring with the first is to build a second line around the first.


Here is a picture of what an 8' x 22' layout would look like using Atlas' Right Track Software. The maximum size curve is O-90. The curves I used as you have them drawn are O-54, O-45, O-36. Notice the l x w ratio of my drawing compared to yours. This is why you need to draw your plan to scale from the first draft.

Stewart,
Thanks for the reply.

I will to try to clarify my intentions a bit. I am 37, I am not your typical "modern day" train enthusiast that uses computer programs and desires to have a fleet of high tech engines on my roster. I have no problem with those that do or use all of lifes modern technology to create a more enjoyable process. I have built several HO layouts and a couple of O layouts with tubular track. The O layouts were 4 x 8 and a 6 x 10.

I am a person who needs to have my hands on things and move them around and see how it looks in the real world. Yes I have wasted time and materials in the past by employing this method but in each case I have had a huge amount of fun. I love trains. I love watching trains, playing with trains and all things associated with trains. This will be my largest build to date. I do not know exact terminology that is exercised by others here on a daily basis. I respect the aid and benefits from things like RR track and Atlas software. I plan to run conventional control. I do not have many operating accessories at this time. So as far as where this fits on the layout I don't know.

My recent foray of a track plan is a combination of several track plans I have collected over the past year or two. While I have not drawn it to scale, I have taken into account certain measurements and means of thought into why the lines (pencil lines not rail lines if that is correct) go the way they do.

I understand that all that read this will have their comments but that is OK. I know my methods go against most principles discussed here. I am very meticulous with my building methods. Perhaps I need to move more of this logic to my planning processes - at this time I have bigger personal dragons to slay.

The type of help I was interested in are things such as this that you have provided:


quote:
I can't figure out how to best switch to clockwise direction from counter-clockwise travel.


Looking at the new layout plan, you could add a second Y switch opposite from the first, at the other entrance to the tunnel.



quote:
What should I alter to support running more than one train at a time?


The only way to run a second train simultaneously without interferring with the first is to build a second line around the first.



Please don't take offense to my reply, hopefully that makes things a little clearer. Perhaps my lack of planning and use of practical tools inhibits accurate responses from individuals here. I realize there are a lot of knowledgeable and talented folks that are layers deep in this hobby, I appreciate all of their craftsmanship and knowledge you all bring and make available to me. I know the written word is not as easy to interpret as the spoken word and for that matter I felt the need to explain my intentions in detail.

Thanks
Matt

Matt:

I've got a decade + on you, but I'd never attempt another layout without
using PC CAD at some point in the process. But most CAD programs are not
ideal for "doodling around". For that, I've used bits of cardboard,
traced out to the sizes of my "ideal curve. Your drawing shows some
fundamental errors in scale and potential problems with grades, so
simply drawing to scale might be a good first step. CAD can come later,
or never, as you prefer.

Since your space is mainly rectangular (and not small by any means)
your best approach may be to find an existing layout that has most
of the features that you prefer, and then modify it to suit, rather
than starting from a "clean sheet of paper".

-Mark

To add a bit more detail to my advice, I'd stress the importance of good
planning at the beginning. A step up from a simple sketch is building a
"model of the model", using properly scaled curves. I model mainly in
HO, and for that, one inch to the foot works out nicely. But even at
that scale, your O gauge layout would easily fit on a desktop space.

Here's a pic of a model of a model of the first level of an HO scale
layout:



The white curved sections are made in my preferred radius for the
layout, and were cut on a plotter I have, using material with a
re-positionable adhesive. Cutting them from light cardboard would
have worked as well, but I happen to have this other stuff on hand.
I don't bother showing the "straights" at all at this stage, so fiddling
around with track placement is very easy. Once you're happy with the
basic track layout, you can trace the patterns on paper and/or go to CAD
to work out the finer details (e.g. bill of materials, grades, blocks)...

-Mark

Mark,
Thanks for the ideas.

Downloaded Atlas Right Track Software. Should have something together as best I can tomorrow to post.

How about this? I was not able to get the wye connected but assume it is. I will be using gargraves so I was not too worried about it.

Looks buildable. Unless you'll have access to all four sides,
you will need hatches or some way to access the tracks in case of
derailment or other mishap.

You have no sidings or yard tracks, but those can be easily added.

The innermost turn on the right side does not need to be that tight.

-Mark

I'm going to mess around with it some more. I have the ability to add a 2' x 6' section to the bottom left corner that I can use for a yard.