layout help lionel fastrack

Hi Halibut75,

Is Swordfish the password?

Anyway, you put the cart before the horse.

The only configuration that I came up with is a 16 x 8 rectangle, adjoin the 8' sides.

072 is a 72" diameter center rail to center rail with 2 x 3/4" to sides outside rail, requiring 73 1/2" if the roadbed is right on the edge. So, you can't use the 6' side.

If you add at least 24" for an aisle and two side are against the wall, you would need at least an 18' x 10' space with no obstructions.

What is the size of space\room for the layout?

A table that large will be aggravating due to reach problems.

How would you like to proceed? (table pic attached)

A triangle?

 The room is 20' long and 11' wide with a little extra with the tables I have 3 4x8 and 3 2x4 so I am open for any ideas. I have all size switches and curves. Bascule bridge  too many buildings and accessories for what I have. I realize yes the cart is before the horse on this one  a zw and 80 transformer plenty of trains. Thank You for whatever any one can provide

Ok, a C or U? Here's a configuration placing the table against two walls. You'll need some access hatches. A dog-bone shape. Passing siding and a 4" elevation on the front track. I didn't like the "race track" on the big center room rectangle.

You'll need some access hatches. Just a basic 072 loop. Further development needed of course. I played with some operational features, but didn't want to go too far. You can get 060 or smaller inside the bone, maybe some 072 or 084.

The room walls are shown in 3D. I just zoomed on the track plan in 2D. Peruse it and see what you think

Ok, here's another offering. The outer 072 mainline with a nice rise across the table to show off the train. This is the same C configuration of the tables with it up against two walls. A variation of a folded dog bone.

The center can be filled with smaller radius curves and add operational features. For example, a crossover, a wye, passing siding, a small stub yard.

Depends on your track to scenery desires how much more you could add-in.

First of all thank you. In looking at my space again I have a back wall 12' and the length I could go 20'. And the depth is about 11' if this makes sense I love the showing of the 072 on the outside. I can still possible build more tables or try to go cut the middle of one of my 4x8'sn to allow for more track space I have plenty of track. Way to many buildings for now I would like to include my bascule bridge somewhere thanks again

Can you build around the walls?  Point to point or with a duck under.

Well, as jmiller320 suggested, rip the 4 x 8s into 2 x 8's and go around the walls with a 24" wide deck. Easy reach. Lift out for entrances\access. The new builds would be a peninsula or two. 24" wide allows for a double main taking up 10"-12", leaving the rest for buildings. They could be in the front or back as the mains could meander. Passing sidings for stations or freight, crossovers. Yards, town, wye for a turn-around on a peninsula. Could be rectangular or tear-drop shaped.

Print the table diagrams and doodle some ideas on them.

4 x 8 ripped diagram attached.

Thx. So in looking at my room again. It's a odd room in basement I made a sketch of table layout. With what I have can I ran 072 with this set up. I will have enough room to get around the table. I rather not rip my 4x8's. Thx

Can you get to the back side of the platform?  Four feet is going to give you issues in the long run unless you have one of those top side creepers.  I have mostly three foot wide bench work with two loops.  Right now I have access hatches in the center of both O84 loops and still have trouble getting into the corners.

Yes I can go all the way around table. One error on drawing the bottom left can be 8' instead of 6

Thx

If you can get to all sides your maximum reach will only be 24" and that shouldn't be a problem.

Hi forum, I am currently working on a expanded layout with fastrack my board is now 6' x 12' long.  I started with a figure 8 and then added outer track on the right side.  I want to run as much track as I can but am a bit confused on how to do it. I have a lot of 036 curves but have been reading on the forum about others using 072 curves. I also purchased an graduated mth trestle set and have a lionel elevated set that I would like to incorporate.  I am stuck on ideas and use of curves.  I started with a winter scene but I want to do fall with it and add lots of buildings and such I have enclosed photos of what I have.  Sorry for the winded post but I wanted to explain it all.  Thanks   

O72 track makes a six foot diameter circle.  You could go up as high as O 60 or O48 to go around the outside of your loop.  Fast track comes in O31, O36, O48, O60, O72, O84 and just released O96.

I have quite a bit of track  072 060 036 Curves and switches a nice bascule bridge lots of buildings. I am just stuck on coming up with a layout diagram.  have the fastback plan books and not much luck

thx

I don't think the layouts in the Fast Track books work out.  There are free track planning software sites you can down load to play with.

Any suggested sites

There are a few that were discussed on this forum.  You can try a search.  rrtrack is a pay site and there are samples of track plans on there.  Maybe someone with the program can help you with a design.  If you put up your room dimensions I'm sure someone will come along and offer some advice.

Hey,

I took your table sketch. Here's what I see for the double mainline. Add two extensions and a lift-out or lift-up or drop down for center access. This leaves a lot of opportunities for the inside. A wye, a stub yard, a passing siding, a pass through yard, various configurations as you like.

It's a 40" high table or track height.

Here's the rub... the 060 is the orphan of FasTrack. There are no split curves and other sizes don't play well with it. I have two half-curves of 060 in the for the angles at the bottom left. (custom cut) I would suggest that you sell your 060, put an 084 and 072 double main and run everything inside off of the 072 inside main to the smaller radius track that you have.

Check it out and let me know what you think of the start. If you like it, we can develop it or you can do it yourself in SCARM. I can send you the SCARM file.

Hi NSY,

Copy all of your post and start a new thread of your own. keep your situation distinct for better assistance.

You really need 7' for 072 turn arounds or half -circles. 060 would be the largest half-circle that you can fit on this table with FasTrack. You have to allow another 1 1/2" on each side of the diameter for the roadbed clearance. The track is almost 3 1/2" wide.

You can incorporate larger radius curves length-wise for some interesting mixed radius curve configurations.

The two trestle sets have different maximum heights, so it may interesting if you mixed them. Using one for an ascent\descent and the other for a second would work.

It's a nice size table, so it depends on whether you want to eventually run scale or not.

Thanks guys for the answer about the curves.  I think I will use 048 on this.  Also how can I get an idea sketch of this table ? What is SCARM ? I am new to this so how could I get or do a plan for this table with using what I have and using 048 and my trestles ? I see Moonman did one and that looks really cool.  Thanks for your help on this especially the track curves.  So much info on this and nice to see people giving of there talents.  

Hi Halbut75,

Here's the 084\072 version for your consideration.

NSY: SCARM Simple Computer Aided Railroad Modeller

Halibut75,

I have come to the conclusion that a walk-around rectangle with your tables put together would best utilize that track that you have, provide reasonable reach and the most options for a layout.

Here's a double main 072\060, double wye crossover and an elevated 036 to work in your bascule. There's room for scenery and a small yard on the third 2 x 4 table extension.

Gentlemen,

   Some real good advise given here, I will only add this, I would engineer the layout to run his bigger engines on the outside loop, with some switches and maybe a cross over, engineer an inside oval just for his smaller engines, and rolling stock, RealTrax 031 will run inside all of the Fastrack that has been built.  I would also add a 2nd level, maybe in a big dog bone pattern, large enough to run 2 different DCS controlled trains, at the same time, on the same track.  In this manner he can run at least 4 DCS controlled trains at the same time, and a conventional on the inner oval.  Pick up another ZW & KW cause you are going to need more power!  Dump the CW-80 or use it for an additional street car line.  You have plenty of room using any of these guys suggestions.

PCRR/Dave 

Thank You. i really like this one. So I will rearrange tables and see what happens. I do have room to go more in length on the longest part. You have it at 168. I can go further 

Hey halibut,

Good to hear from you. I had it at 168 because of the existing tables. I tried various ways to get a direction change in there. The reverse loops just didn't look right and blocked more of the inside.

I have added a set of crossovers to this version, near the wye.

I have to check the dimensions of the bascule to see where it will go. Is yours going to cross water or land?

I am still working on a better inside arrangement for the 036. There's a lot of room there to do something a little more interesting. Still under construction. I am working out the actual track fitments. The double wye bothers me a little because I wanted to snake one side of the long run to eliminate some of the "racetrack" effect.

The cool thing is, if it is a walk-around, you have a lot of scenic opportunities from 360º, rather than 220º when it's up against the wall.

Email is in my profile, if you want to develop it further offline.

Thanks,,, it looks great. I intend to have the bridge over water. I do have a couple of trestle sets already also several girder bridges. But I can worry about them another time

I will check out your profile. Lots of outdoor work this week end

Thanks 

Ok,

i'll work on a few things until I from you. Stay cool!

Okay had to knock out a wall and so on. I now have 4-- 4x8 tables and 1--  4x8

space in odd configuration I have that support beam. I've enclosed some pictures. I can go as long as 20 down the back it would be a little tight I am open for suggestions. 

can still do your last draft. Just worried about the  long reach. I can have about 12" of space on the rear wall to get around 

Thank You

Hi Halibut75,

We just observed a similar deer family Friday evening. 3 fawns, a doe. When, it became a little darker and they kids were finished eating, Mr. Buck finally came out of hiding. Kind of small in size for our area, but a stunningly tall pair of 3 pointers.

What is the size of the 5th table? 4@ 4' x 8' and 1@ ?

What is the track height of the bascule bridge with no additional elevation added under the bridge?

Or, should I ask, how high would you want the track height to be for the bridge?

Do you have the 313 PW or the 1998 version?

The state of South Jersey. We get treated differently than northern New Jersey. But after all these years, I guess we like it that way.

Attached is a 3D look of something I was trying to work in the bascule on the last plan.

Nice area. About 1:15 drive for me. Nice train club there. Check member Ted Bertiger.

I am kind of stuck on the inside. Any ideas on how to deal with the wyes blocking the middle? I am still looking for a way to get a yard, maybe a service track or two for an industry and the wye cuts that space.

I'll keep throwing track around a see what feels good.

Oh yeah, the new tables... So, 192" long x 96" wide with the 4' x 4' opposite the wall or on the end opposite the door?