HELP WITH YARD STORAGE DESIGN

Having fits really means design cramps. If you really wanted it a certain way with certain tracks, then John or I would try to make it work.

if you define what you want to do with it, that makes it easier to arrive at a solution.

Don't let the software block what you see or want it do.

The software helps with will it fit and which track to use.

The weather mess continues. Sleet, rain, high winds and now more snow. I am on the cold edge. I think you will get dumped on. This sucker is huge!

Thanks.

One last note before I take off - the door to the train room opens "out" and away from the new yard, so it is not an issue.

Does Lionel make an O-31 with command control ?

Rich 

tr18 posted:

One last version with the pass through sidings. Good luck with the storm.

 

Nice, John! I think I'll see how 036 will fit using your plan. They are 10" long on the through. Somehow, the O31 actual length of the straight ended up 11 3/8".

I don't think RRT has updated the library yet. SCARM has updated in 9.36 as we have direct contact with the author.

Richie C. posted:

Thanks.

One last note before I take off - the door to the train room opens "out" and away from the new yard, so it is not an issue.

Does Lionel make an O-31 with command control ?

Rich 

 

Not to my knowledge. Could check the new Track & Power catalog.

Yea! A door that's not an issue.

Carl

I did that real quick and had some small gaps. Either it gets made up using a specific combination of the small straight (1.75, 4.5, etc) or he will need to cut a custom length which is not hard to do.

Also, the curves on the outer run around track are 036. Everything else is 031

Finally back from cleaning up from the storm - not quite as much snow as they predicted, but really strong winds on the coast and lots of downed trees and power lines.

Thanks, guys - the design looks great.

I can make up any little gaps with small Fastrack pieces or a custom length - no problem.

Carl - are you saying the O-31 switches are 11 3/8" long on the through, but the O-36 are only 10" ?  Would that mean I could keep the same basic design and the same number of sidings using O-36 switches at the top and bottom  ?

Thanks.

Variation on a theme ?

Except mine keeps coming out to about 50" wide ?

Richie

I'm pretty sure Carl's comment about 11 3/8" was referring to the gaps in my drawing. The Lionel catalog says the 031 and 036 switches are both 10" long.

I tried a version using 036 switches on the top and bottom only, and them changing to 031 after that. It is tight. I could not get it to fit without the first switch in the top right corner being halfway into the tunnel portal.

So to me it seems to be either all 031 or fewer sidings. Personally, I'd go with all 031.

I think you're right about going with all O-31 to get the most sidings.

I'll shove the first switch back into the wall as far as it will go and still allow enough turning clearance and go from there. My LHS is good about letting me put stuff together in their store and getting exact measurements.

I'm still a couple of months from starting as I have to sell/dispose of a couch, old TV and some other items and cut a window into the wall before beginning construction. Plus, I've got about 100 Nascar collectibles hanging from that wall that I need to sell or box up.

I'll keep you guys posted as to progress and post pic's as I go along.

Thanks again.

Richie C. posted:

Finally back from cleaning up from the storm - not quite as much snow as they predicted, but really strong winds on the coast and lots of downed trees and power lines.

Thanks, guys - the design looks great.

I can make up any little gaps with small Fastrack pieces or a custom length - no problem.

Carl - are you saying the O-31 switches are 11 3/8" long on the through, but the O-36 are only 10" ?  Would that mean I could keep the same basic design and the same number of sidings using O-36 switches at the top and bottom  ?

Thanks.

Yes, those are the actual product lengths of the straight. I agree, If the curves fit, the O36 will get a little tighter.

tr18 posted:

Richie

I'm pretty sure Carl's comment about 11 3/8" was referring to the gaps in my drawing. The Lionel catalog says the 031 and 036 switches are both 10" long.

I tried a version using 036 switches on the top and bottom only, and them changing to 031 after that. It is tight. I could not get it to fit without the first switch in the top right corner being halfway into the tunnel portal.

So to me it seems to be either all 031 or fewer sidings. Personally, I'd go with all 031.

 

John, no, the length of the FT 031 is wrong in RRT. It was marketed as 10" and then the actual was 11 3/8". This was confirmed with Dean Brasseur at Lionel.

I haven't see a library fix from RRT lately.

I was not concerned about gaps when working on a concept - I know that you know how to fit track.

I don't have any O31 switches in my existing layout, but I'll measure one of my O36 switches tonight and then go to the LHS on Saturday to fit up some track and switches and see how they measure out and let you know. 

I can expand the width of the yard by a couple inches using trim pieces if necessary so, if the O36's will work without losing any sidings, that's probably the way I'd go.

something to consider about many of the designs above... you should try to keep the impact of a yard as small as possible to the mainline.  branching to alternate sidings should only be implemented after a single or double ended entry/ exit point to/ from the main.

cheers...gary

Richie,

Not as many tracks, but it fits except for second passthrough. I have an alternate straight that fits. You see the misalignment points. the outermost will join. If the innermost will not, the alternative track length is shown is main room.

The start point is 45.5" for the left edge of the yard and 2.5" down from the top edge. A 5" provides the wall pass.

This is pretty close to the fitment of your main layout. You'll see the gray low right corner from one of your pics. Drag it out for the background view.

You can copy all of track from this file and paste it into your layout file open in a second instance of SCARM.

The roadbed is shown for clearance spacing. Press B to toggle it on/off.

pic and file attached right-click on the file and save then open it locally

Edit- in SCARM you can select Tools>Parts List see what track is needed. remember the O36 11.25 are included with switches and the optional straight subtracted also.

Gary - I agree. Not sure if you saw the design of the main layout revised by Carl back on 3-14, but I'd say 90% of the train running will be done on the side of the wall away from and not be impacted by the yard. I think for most of us, space limitations force us to compromise from what would be the ideal layout to one that fits into the allotted space and provides the most entertainment value for us and our families and friends. In this case, I'm willing to compromise on an occasional fouling of the main in order to achieve what I believe provides the best bang for my situation.

Carl - That looks great. I see where the misalignment points are. From my experience with FT, I'd say there's probably enough "give" to make it work. I'll try to save it to SCARM and let you know if I have any issues. Thanks again and, if you have time in a few months, I'll probably be back when it comes time to build the main layout.

Richie

This hobby is all about tradeoffs so I'm going to throw one last option out there.

First, it is possible to do this using all 036 switches but will likely require some 031 curve sections, IF you can live with the entry switch protruding into the tunnel portal, OR if you can stretch the width from 48" to about 52".

Second, if one of those is possible, do the same thing at the bottom and have all pass throughs.

Have fun

Because O is bigger than N and our space is limited, we all try to fit 40 lbs. of stuff in a 10 lb. box.

TR-18 has the right idea. Reverse ("S") curves are trouble, both in 1:1 and 1:48.  The sharper the curves and the closer their proximity, the more troublesome.  Trains on track are very much like string on a table, pull the string and it straightens out; push the string and... well, you know.  Try to push string around reverse curves and the results are predictable.

Good luck.

John,

That's a sweet design too, but I'm not sure I can push the switches that far back into the wall and get turning clearance because of some heating pipe obstructions, but certainly worth a look if I can expand the width outward. At about 52", the width will start to interfere with a door that opens towards the yard.

With all pass-throughs it looks like twelve command control switches - my LHS will be salivating !!

RTH - you're right. About the only saving grace is that, since it's a yard, the speeds will be pretty slow.