O gauge Lshaped design and plans

"still can't find anything.  HELP"

I received the message fragment shown above.  I am not sure what it actually means by "still." Did you ask this question earlier?

We can possibly help if you give us a bit more info.  Dimensions of the room, dimensions for the table, type of track, scale, hi-rail, toy, accessories/non, industries, operating concept, circular/point-to-point, switching, freight/passenger/both, etc.

Usually listing the availble room space, obsticles, what you have already, and a wish list will help inspire some custom ideas.

L shape is just the barest of beginnings.

  Starting your own plans and asking for others tweaks and ideas shows you will put in a good effort on a custom design too.

  Some who love to design here do grow weary of designs never pursued after they spend many hours working on them; show you care!

It is a slow time of year too. I doubt responses are ever thinner than in June & July.

  Im not able to run any software to even kick start you, but SCARM is my suggestion if you run windows. Free, and the author lurks around the forum. Search for "Scarm help" threads here and/or go to the site and download carefully (not from the google contolled clickbait ad window in the center)

That is only one software option fyi. They can be a lot of fun too!

Thank you for your input. Much appreciated

Here are a couple.   What track are you planning to use, what dimensions?

Thank you very much this is what I'm looking for , if you have any more that would be great .  Thanks again GRP

I have a variation on one, adding a second passing track.

Here's two of my layouts (tinplate),  one was around an L in the wall, the second sits into a corner space. Where I needed to put these against walls, I had to make sure all turnouts are within reach. Next up will be painting the walls and adding some background.

If there's something specific you're looking to accomplish, let me know, I've got tons of variations made before I settled on either of these. 

Tim

14x8

18x13

photos/videos from both

Timothy Sprague posted:

Here's two of my layouts (tinplate),  one was around an L in the wall, the second sits into a corner space. Where I needed to put these against walls, I had to make sure all turnouts are within reach. Next up will be painting the walls and adding some background.

If there's something specific you're looking to accomplish, let me know, I've got tons of variations made before I settled on either of these. 

Tim

 

I like these layouts.  I'm currently trying to figure out some type of L-shape layout.  I like your separate outside loop.  I could use something like that for a fast passenger line.  I could use the complex inner line for freight operations.  I'm going to use FasTrack, so it's going to be pretty tight.  I also want to figure out a way to incorporate a trolley line, and maybe a mining train, though I'd use O27 tubular track for that.  Not really into modeling.  I just want to run trains.

JeffPo posted:e, with a 42" outer

Timothy Sprague posted:

Here's two of my layouts (tinplate),  one was around an L in the wall, the second sits into a corner space. Where I needed to put these against walls, I had to make sure all turnouts are within reach. Next up will be painting the walls and adding some background.

If there's something specific you're looking to accomplish, let me know, I've got tons of variations made before I settled on either of these. 

Tim

 

I like these layouts.  I'm currently trying to figure out some type of L-shape layout.  I like your separate outside loop.  I could use something like that for a fast passenger line.  I could use the complex inner line for freight operations.  I'm going to use FasTrack, so it's going to be pretty tight.  I also want to figure out a way to incorporate a trolley line, and maybe a mining train, though I'd use O27 tubular track for that.  Not really into modeling.  I just want to run trains.

Here's what the latest layout will look like when I ad my "Highline" to it. 
If you're using fasttrack the table will need to be a little wider. I'm using tinplate with a 42" outer. I'd say to be safe you should make the table 54" to 60" wide.

Tim 

Here's a diagram for mine.  12x8 overall; 054 Atlas on the left, 045 Atlas on the lower right. Inner 036 loop has been changed to have 045 on the left side of it to be parallel with the 054 loop.

Timothy Sprague posted:

Here's what the latest layout will look like when I ad my "Highline" to it. 
If you're using fasttrack the table will need to be a little wider. I'm using tinplate with a 42" outer. I'd say to be safe you should make the table 54" to 60" wide.

Tim 

That looks pretty neat.  I figure my trolley or mining train will have to be elevated.  And yeah, I'm planning on a 5ft table width.  The long arm of my L-shape will be 5ft x 16ft.  Don't have as much room for my short arm because not only is the room shorter in that direction, there's also a door to a little paint studio for my wife in the way.   Apparently she wants the door to open more than just a foot for her to squeeze through.     We're still fighting that battle.  I'm going to start work on the long arm soon, then see how far I can go with the short arm.  I just need to get some trains running!

Looks good, nice plan!   I like to have two trains run without intervention - you could add another track in the upper right to allow a outside loop and a loop-to-loop.

Here is what I am building. I want something kid friendly (hence the three main lines). But I also want to be able to have a small yard. There are two access points near the 90 degree crossover. This was designed on AnyRail with Gargraves flex track and Ross switches. It's 11' x 11' with that lower right approximate 5'x5' section taken out. There are two O54/O31 turnouts as part of it. I'm hoping that since it opens up after the O31's that I will not have issue running a steam engine with O42 requirements.

Time will tell.

Here is one more example in "L" shape:

The Expansion of Lucasville O-gauge Train Layout

Mixy

Walk around.  Click on the underlined phrase for a slideshow.

Mike CT posted:

Walk around.  Click on the underlined phrase for a slideshow.

Mike - that is a really nice layout!

Cheers,

Sean

Sorry, but I'd be afraid those O31 switches will come back to haunt you and limit what you can run.

Chuck

PRR1950 posted:

Sorry, but I'd be afraid those O31 switches will come back to haunt you and limit what you can run.

Chuck

Good point! I did a little update on AnyRail. Thoughts (not to hijack this thread)?

Badge109,

When I responded earlier, I thought this was your thread.  Suggest you start your own thread and I, and others, will probably be glad to comment.  Continuation is not fair to original poster.

Chuck

Here's another idea: 

Bill , thank you for lay out this looks really great.  Again thank you. GRP

Hi Bill any way you can send me track break down of this lay out .  No rush   Thank you GRP 

Sorry, GRP, I don't have that info. I built it and then modified it to run two trains.

Ok ty

Here is a 10 X 10 design from two 4X8 sheets cut to a point, using Atlas-O sectional track.  Optionally, cut pieces of Atlas flex track can replace the sections of small straights to reduce the number of joints and reduce the number of track sections.

GRP posted:

still can't find anything.  HELP 

6 on this page - Atlas O Layout gallery

4 here - Classic large O layouts

Attached are some forum members track plans -oops I see Tim Sprague added his - nice plan to work with

Take elements, mix, adjust to fit your space

The Atlas O jersey Central O-18 provides a lot of fun

Another base to start with is two ovals crossed at the elbow and joined in the corner.

here's the 1957 catalog layout. It has accessories, but would have to modified slightly to permit dual mains. Extra set of switches at the left end.

Why don't we work backwards - tell us how wide you can have the tables and which accessories you have or want to incorporate.

Then, we can come up with two mains and the specific tracks to work them into the layout.

here is forum member Dan Padova's design for a 5' x 10'. He had the table size and the accessories that wanted on it (lots of them). refined his design with collaboration from forum members.

!Moon man you hit it out of the park on the large L shaped layouts .  How would I find out the amount of track and sizes I would need .  My lay out will be 16-20 feet by 12 if that helps  no obstructions at all .  Also I could go bigger , thank you. GRP

PRR1950 posted:

Badge109,

When I responded earlier, I thought this was your thread.  Suggest you start your own thread and I, and others, will probably be glad to comment.  Continuation is not fair to original poster.

Chuck

Fair point!

GRP,

I know from you other post that you specified 16' x 10', but how wide? 5' should be the smallest. It would permit O54 and O42.

You looked at many options for track plans, but the Thor trains large O examples have no accommodations for accessories and require train detection and anti-collision prevention to operate two trains simultaneously.

Dan's is a single train with lots of action and accessories with space for all of them. The Lionel 456 Coal ramp and 397 coal loader had to be relocated for proper space and operation.

Ken, myself and few others can create a plan for you with an inventory detail and annotated plan for assembly.

Answer these:

1. Is a 5' wide table ok?
2. Will you walk around the L or will there be sides along a wall?
3. Which track do you want to use?
4. Do you want any rises or an all elevated line?
5. Which accessories do you want to put on it? (Name like Marx or Noma station) or number like Lionel 364 or AF 796

it's important that you submit a Givens and Druthers list as detailed as possible. Given is a must have or a physical limitation, Druther is a "like to" have

We don't mind taking the time to create a layout plan, but keeping the time to minimum is necessary.

Dan started with the first attached photo and we arrived at the second attached photo. Any ideas you can put on paper and post a photo of are also helpful.

Ken, was your design above done in AnyRail?  Any way I could obtain a copy of the file?  Really like how you've combined so many desirable functions (elevations, "mountain", tunnel, yard, etc.) to make an attractive layout.

Carl, thanks, glad you liked it.   Here is the AnyRail file for the track plan :

One more - here is an updated 1957 catalog layout with Fastrack.   The outer route is now O-45 minimum, and grades are reduced to 4% maximum.   The left hand side table is 2" higher than the right to ease the grades and for more scenic interest.  The overall dimensions are 9X14.   I replaced the curved elevated trestle over the yard with Atlas-O O-45 diameter which will look better as a trestle.

Thanks, Ken!

billshoff posted:

Sorry, GRP, I don't have that info. I built it and then modified it to run two trains.

Sorry to respond to an old thread, but I like this layout too.  I like the bridge cutting the corner.  I'm thinking about doing that with my L-shaped layout.

I haven't worked on my layout much in the last two years but I know that I'm going to have to use O27 track on the inside rather than the O gauge I show in that video. The inside and outside tracks run too close and cars hit each other.

I don't use track software because I get frustrated with it. I just lay down track on the table and cut to fit. Sorry, guys, but I 'm not a real model railroader; I build to entertain my grandchildren.

billshoff posted:

..... 'm not a real model railroader; I build to entertain my grandchildren.

That's as real as it gets my friend. Enjoy!

Ken,

I know this is an old post but I am trying to replicate the M412L-01 from earlier in the thread, 6-13-17, with not much luck.  Any chance that you can post the anyrail file?

Thanks for the help.

CHAWKI33 posted:

Ken,

 

I know this is an old post but I am trying to replicate the M412L-01 from earlier in the thread, 6-13-17, with not much luck.  Any chance that you can post the anyrail file?

 

Thanks for the help.

ChawkI33, what do you mean trying to replicate the M412L-01?   Not build it, but replicate the design in another track planning software?

If trying to replicate with another track planning software, be advised that Lionel's FasTrack is a bit variable:   The 4.5" section actually measures to 4.55" (discussed at length in another thread).   That small variance can add up:  3 sections of 4.55" adds 3 x 0.05", or 0.15" longer than expected.   1/8" = 0.125", so the variance is bigger than 1/8" over three sections.

AnyRail is the only program that I am aware of that uses the lengths actually measured from physical track, incorporating the manufacturing variance.   So it is the best program to work with FasTrack, to give the most accurate designs.   The integrated roadbed design means that FasTrack is less able to tolerate variances.   I can take spaces between sections - the connections between track sections can stretch a bit.   But compression of sections that are longer, don't work as well (can't compress to fit a tighter spaces).   Its OK to have a tolerance where the track fits the length with a gap of say 3/32".   But don't try to fit a length that is 3/32" too long.   Your software may allow it, but it will cause some displacement in the actual physical layout.

I worked on the plan you mentioned, and offer this improved version:

1. The cross-overs in the loop in the upper-right are smoother, with O60 turnouts and O72 1/2 sections making the "S" curves, easy for traditional equipment.
2. the loop in the upper-right is a bit longer.
3. The center-rail spacing is pretty accurate, at 4 3/8" spacing, just shy of Atlas-O 4.5" center-rail spacing.   Works fine on my layouts with LionChief scale and non-scale equipment.   But one does need to be mindful of the spacing, and run tests with very long equipment.
4. There is now a new route, a long oval at the top, running most of the 12' length.

I have attached the AnyRail file for this layout:

Thanks for getting back to me.  I am using the anyrail software to plan my layout.  Out of everything that I have seen this is the layout I like the best so I was trying to lay it out in the software to get parts list along with where some structures could go.

CHAWKI33 posted:

Thanks for getting back to me.  I am using the anyrail software to plan my layout.  Out of everything that I have seen this is the layout I like the best so I was trying to lay it out in the software to get parts list along with where some structures could go.

Got it, I hope the AnyRail file is what you need, good luck!

I like this design for a number of reasons: 

1. three trains running continuously, two in the inside loops, and one running the perimeter.   Good for chilling and train-watching.
2. It separates into two 4x8s for relocation and transport.
3. It has many operating routing variations, to keep things interesting
4. there is a bit of switching to do, perhaps more can be added, certainly in the corners with "drop-in" O48 turnouts.
5. It has one reversing route: in one direction, to reverse the other way needs a short backing move.
6. The outside perimeter is about O44.5" diameter, should run much O42, but testing would be prudent.

Thanks for the help.  I have twin 7 year old boys and we are starting this project. The more action we have the better.

One more improved version:  this one replaces the O60 cross-overs with wider O72s, with a section of O84 in the "S" curves.  Broader/wider is always better.   And I added a connecting railroad running the top-left perimeter, so you can imaging trains arriving and departing from elsewhere.   One might position a small industry at each of these spurs.

AnyRail file attached.

Your boys are gonna have a blast!

This next idea is not perfect.   It adds a second "Y" so trains can reverse in each direction without a backing move.   Unfortunately, I can't find a "solution" that works perfectly.   There is a gap of about 1/4" in the area indicated.  

There are five section joints making the connection.  I might try adding a 1/16" shim with gray plastic sheet, between four section joints to make a custom-length.   The tight plastic ball-sockets of the FasTrack would have to be opened-up or just trimmed-off.  Seems doable, but I have not tried it.   The rails will have a bit of "clicky-clack" across the joints.

Here is what the idea looks like: