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I am planning to expand my layout to a 12' x 11' circle 30 " wide. See attached. I am coming through the wall in the far corner.  I am hoping to be able to reverse direction in the expansion. Where it connects to the original layout is a 4 track yard. I hope to use 2 tracks to connect ot the new part. One in and one out? I have attached pictures of the existing layout, new table and a drawing of the new table. I will be using tubular track. Have 31", 42" and 54" curves available. Also O22 turnouts. Not sure if I caan have 2 or 3 loops on the table. Scenery will be designed to fit the track layout. Thanks John20230201_074012_00120230201_07405220230201_074146_001Layout expansion

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Last edited by Radioman77
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John, it looks like your new space is going to be connected to your old layout through a tunnel under your stairs with very limited access.  I'm guessing your stairs are at least 36" wide, and with a 30" table right next to them in your new area, you're going to find dealing with any maintenance or derailment issues under the stairs will be quite troubling.

Further, if you want true "reversing" (changing directions on the same track), you will have to build some kind of a "bulb" (maybe 5.5' square) into your design in the new room.  Otherwise, your trains will just be running on an oval that has been stretched, like a dog-bone or a folded loop.

To solve both of these problems, my suggestion would be to break your circle where it completes near the tunnel and build your bulb there.  At 5.5' square, you still might need an access hatch in the center to reach the track on the bulb nearest the stairs.

Chuck

Yes, a reversing loop for one track requires the starting point to be a switch and a loop so that a train on a single track enters the loop in one direction and exits the loop onto the same track in another direction.  You could treat your entire new oval area as a reversing loop if you placed that switch right where your track exits the tunnel into your new room.

Chuck

@PRR1950 posted:

Yes, a reversing loop for one track requires the starting point to be a switch and a loop so that a train on a single track enters the loop in one direction and exits the loop onto the same track in another direction.  You could treat your entire new oval area as a reversing loop if you placed that switch right where your track exits the tunnel into your new room.

Chuck

I was thinking along that line but wasn't suure now I will have to investigate the idea. Thanks John

Looking at the original set of photos and the current layout, should I assume the idea is to connect the narrow bench work on the left to the main table in that room with lift-out/up bridges and also connect the upper bench work to the main table with a single lift-out/up bridge? How large is that main table?

It also looks like you intend to use the current layout for the reversing loops, not a bad idea.

I’m going to try to incorporate your drawing into the sample I posted. I’m not sure how quickly I’ll get to it though, but it’ll be today, hopefully this morning.

Yes the narrow piece is connected to the main with bridges. I will add one more from th wall opening to the small table. The main table is 5x12 the yard one is 2x8 and the small one is 1x9. The main table and the 2x8 join by butting together and pinned in place. I layed out the plan with track and it seems to fit. Not sure where the reverse would take place on the original layout.With the addition of the 3rd bridge it might work. John

John, I need to apologize. I had started a response and got sidetracked. We're in the middle of a renovation and I thought I posted it. Anyway, here's what I've got so far. The red line along the top and left, then around the yellow line forms a large loop. Then if you take the yellow switch before you get back to the red line, it forms a reversing loop. The purple line along the top and left through the crossing to the blue line forms another reversing loop back to the red/yellow line. As you can see, there's not enough room for the upper left yellow switch to use the narrow table along the wall unless there's more space on the other side of the wall than just the few inches of wall. That's what I made it a set of 2 spurs with an escape crossover.

2023-01-02 daz

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Dave did some playing around with the track last night. With minimal changes to the yard and side table I think I can make it work. The good part is I can use only the 42 and 54 in curves. It will take some cutting track but will be an interesting run for the trains. Thank you very much for the help. I don't think I woul have thought of the arrangement at the pass through. I wll post some pictures when I get the track laid. Thank you again John

Done with Atlas track.  20+ Years ago, Atlas had a track software.  Each block, faint lines, is 1 ft square.  Done in a small bedroom, 13 1/2 foot X 10 foot. Note: The closet, bottom of picture.  Room door is lower right.  O54 outer loop, (required 5 ft table width), O45 inner loop.  There were two major additions to this original layout.  One bottom left.  The other, via an Atlas double track bridge, to a remote, (Coal tipple section), of the layout.

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Last edited by Mike CT

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