Skip to main content

I’m in the planning stages for a new layout. I plan to build a double loop with O-54 curves (The layout is only 12x8 if it matters) on the outside and want the inside loop to remain parallel (same distance, center rail to center rail on the curves), attached with crossovers in both directions.

I’m debating between 3 track systems: Atlas O, Gargraves & Ross, or some combination utilizing Ross switches.

My question, simply put is what combination do you all recommend to achieve this? Using the demo of Atlas’ track software, I found I could use their O-45 curves on the inside and it lines up using their O-54 switches. I want to explore other track options as well and be able to maintain a parallel track all the way around my layout. Thing is, I only want manual switches and Atlas’ switch prices are out of my budget. I like how the Gargraves manual switches are attractively priced, but may be willing to pay for Ross as well.

Thanks in advance!

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

@GVDobler posted:

Never make light of a 12x8 size layout. Any size is better than no layout at all. 

Yeah, I’m a part time college student currently and still live at home. I’m building it partially for me, and partially for my younger brother. My mom isn’t exactly okay with me using half the basement, otherwise it’d be much bigger. One day I’ll have something much bigger, I’m sure!

It's busy, but here's something to consider. The switch examples show the center-to-center spacing of the combinations (might not be exact). The blue loop is O54 and the orange loop is O42 (except the bottom Ross example). The green switches show the spacing on the other sides. The inserts show the different look you're going to get with various combinations. However, by adding some custom cut fillers between the switches in the GarGraves example, you can achieve a more concentric look with about 6" of clearance.

test

Attachments

Images (1)
  • test

Atlas track system, at one time had curves for 9" diameter increments.   O27, O36, O45, O54, O63, O72, O81, O90,    My layout,  small, was O45 inner, O54 outer with mostly O54 switches.   At one time Atlas provided a free design software, long gone.

Atlas, Gargrave, Ross, you can create custom pieces as need.  IMO.  Mike CT.

Last edited by Mike CT
@jaketrainz posted:

Yeah, I’m a part time college student currently and still live at home. I’m building it partially for me, and partially for my younger brother. My mom isn’t exactly okay with me using half the basement, otherwise it’d be much bigger. One day I’ll have something much bigger, I’m sure!

Nothing wrong with a 12 x 8, I've lived with less.

@Rich Melvin posted:

Why not use GarGraves Flex Track? Then you can make your curves any radius you want. You don’t need to be tied down to sectional track dimensions.

True, but it's not as easy as sectional track if you want to make something quickly.  Given the situation, the sectional track is a lot quicker to build something that you can reuse the track when you move.  I suspect that Jake will be moving at some point not too many years from now, it would be nice to have track you could reuse.

FWIW, I'm using a lot of GarGraves Flex in my layout, but this sucker is going to be here until I'm on the dark side of the grass, I'm not doing this again.

Here's another example of using different GarGraves switches. I added the yellow bars to designate 3" spacing from the edges. The top switches are O-42 on the curves to give a smooth transition between loops. The bottom switches show how using the O-72 switches on the left gives a somewhat smoother transition than the O54 switches on the right. The big difference between GarGraves and other brands is the lack of small filler tracks, so you end up having to make custom cuts (green tracks). However, that makes for fewer joints that may cause problems, so it's generally a tradeoff.

test

Attachments

Images (1)
  • test
@DoubleDAZ posted:

Here's another example of using different GarGraves switches. I added the yellow bars to designate 3" spacing from the edges. The top switches are O-42 on the curves to give a smooth transition between loops. The bottom switches show how using the O-72 switches on the left gives a somewhat smoother transition than the O54 switches on the right. The big difference between GarGraves and other brands is the lack of small filler tracks, so you end up having to make custom cuts (green tracks). However, that makes for fewer joints that may cause problems, so it's generally a tradeoff.

test

I’ve thought about that too, but I would prefer to avoid cutting track if possible. Any combination that works with either O-54 or O-42 switches that still gives me a parallel loop?

Edit: or any precut filler sections available?

Further edit: What size filler sections for O-54 and O-42?

Last edited by jaketrainz

Well, concentric is a tall order for GarGraves because of it's limited straight options and not wanting to cut, so here's as close as I could come trying various combinations. That doesn't mean some other combination wouldn't come closer, just that I don't have time or patience to try them all. There are 2 places where the tracks don't connect in software, but I'm confident they will in reality. The right side is about 2.8" wider than the left. I used O-72 switches, O-54 curves outside and O-42 curves inside.

test2

Attachments

Images (1)
  • test2
@DoubleDAZ posted:

Well, concentric is a tall order for GarGraves because of it's limited straight options and not wanting to cut, so here's as close as I could come trying various combinations. That doesn't mean some other combination wouldn't come closer, just that I don't have time or patience to try them all. There are 2 places where the tracks don't connect in software, but I'm confident they will in reality. The right side is about 2.8" wider than the left. I used O-72 switches, O-54 curves outside and O-42 curves inside.

test2

I see what you mean now. That gap is much larger than I want. I will likely be cutting then. I don’t have a saw but I have an uncle who does and who will be helping me with this layout anyway.

How does connecting the cut pieces work?

And what size would they need to be for either O42, O54, or O72 switches?

Last edited by jaketrainz
@Mike CT posted:

Atlas track system, at one time had curves for 9" diameter increments.   O27, O36, O45, O54, O63, O72, O81, O90,    My layout,  small, was O45 inner, O54 outer with mostly O54 switches.   At one time Atlas provided a free design software, long gone.



tlas, Gargrave, Ross, you can create custom pieces as need.  IMO.  Mike CT.

See attachment...should work.

-Greg

Attachments

Files (1)
Atlas Right Track Software
Last edited by Greg Houser

Visit your nearest ACE Hardware, $38.99.  Steel Grip 120 volt Corded Mini Cut-Off Saw

I use this for chopping the Gargraves track with a metal cutting abrasive wheel.  It makes a nice straight cut, then I just dress it with a tiny file and place the track piece.  This is especially useful if you're bending Gargraves Flex track.

Attachments

Images (1)
  • mceclip0

Visit your nearest ACE Hardware, $38.99.  Steel Grip 120 volt Corded Mini Cut-Off Saw

I use this for chopping the Gargraves track with a metal cutting abrasive wheel.  It makes a nice straight cut, then I just dress it with a tiny file and place the track piece.  This is especially useful if you're bending Gargraves Flex track.

Not a bad price! Any specific cutting wheel you recommend?

It's 4.60" in SCARM, but bear in mind that's cutting by eyeball, so it could be slightly more or less when built. I used O-72 because they give you a smoother transition, but if you prefer O-54 for whatever reason, here's what that would look like with 10 cuts as noted and 6"spacing. Note that I replaced the 12.4" straights with 37" straights. The problem is that if you don't want to 37" straights, they are .20" shorter (at least in SCARM) than a combination of all the other straights, so the geometry will change (2nd photo). If you want, I can redo it with 12.4". All that means though is that 6 of the cuts will be different, but there will still be 10 cuts. I attached the SCARM file, but I don't remember if you can open it using the Atlas version of SCARM. Either way, you won't be able to make changes.

test4

test4a

Attachments

Images (2)
  • test4
  • test4a
Files (1)
@DoubleDAZ posted:

It's 4.60" in SCARM, but bear in mind that's cutting by eyeball, so it could be slightly more or less when built. I used O-72 because they give you a smoother transition, but if you prefer O-54 for whatever reason, here's what that would look like with 10 cuts as noted and 6"spacing. Note that I replaced the 12.4" straights with 37" straights. The problem is that if you don't want to 37" straights, they are .20" shorter (at least in SCARM) than a combination of all the other straights, so the geometry will change (2nd photo). If you want, I can redo it with 12.4". All that means though is that 6 of the cuts will be different, but there will still be 10 cuts. I attached the SCARM file, but I don't remember if you can open it using the Atlas version of SCARM. Either way, you won't be able to make changes.

test4

test4a

I downloaded the free version of SCARM and started playing around with it. If I put 2 O-72 switches together with no filler piece, the distance is 4.55in. Is that "enough" space? I've heard talk of 6in being the ideal spacing. I currently don't have any engines that require more than an O-31 curve (I'm coming from Lionel FT w/O-36 curves), but I do plan to maybe one day get some engines that require either O-42 or O-54, possibly articulated, but obviously nothing too big for O-54.

Edit: 5.5in seems to give me a perfectly parallel curve. Now that I have this software, I can figure out the custom cuts on my own. Glad I downloaded it!

Last edited by jaketrainz

4.5" clearance is fine on straights, that's the spacing for the Atlas dual-track bridge. However, just because an engine and rolling stock work with O-31 curves, doesn't mean they don't have enough overhang to run into each other on the curves.

Here's an example of what I'm talking about and why folks like 6" spacing. If you keep the 4.5" spacing around the layout, the spacing on the curves becomes just over 4" because O-42 is not a concentric match for O-54. I don't know how close to scale these SD40 are, but you can see how the front of the engine on the inside curve overhangs toward the outside curve. You can also see how the body of the engine on the outside curve overhangs toward the inside curve. It's worse with long passenger cars. Now, you might be able to get away with the 4" clearance with your current equipment, but it might limit what you can run in the future. I know this is probably not a permanent layout, so that might not be an issue for you at this point.

The other issue is that no combination of O-42 and O-54 curves will be concentric without a spacer between the switches.

test3b

However, all that aside, I have to apologize. Because you didn't want to cut tracks, I didn't think to check to see what the minimum size spacer could be used to keep the curves concentric. Turns out they can be just 2" and the C2C spacing will be 5.25". So, I think this might be the absolute best you can do and there are still 10 cuts.

Jake 2020-10-17 daz

Attachments

Images (2)
  • test3b
  • Jake 2020-10-17 daz
Files (1)

layout design

I put this together in SCARM. Still finding my way around the program, but everything fits ok. 6 custom cuts total. Obviously more if I add some sidings coming off the inner loop. Took me some experimenting to get the spacing correct. It's ever so slightly off when comparing the right and left sides, by less than 1/10th of an inch, but I think in practicality It'll work. I used flex track as stand-ins for the pieces that I'll need to cut.

Attachments

Images (1)
  • layout design
@DoubleDAZ posted:

Well, that will work. FWIW, here's a version that connects in SCARM and also a photo that compares this (orange) to the old one (blue). The 2 versions are on different layers in SCARM. The new version has plenty of space around the edges. Good luck with the build.

Jake 2020-10-18 daztest

On break at work right now but I’ll download that when I get home. I do want some space for scenery and terrain. For anyone interested, it’s going to be made out of insulating foam atop a 12x8 custom table. When construction gets going, I’ll start a new post with pictures and place a link in this thread. Thanks everyone for all the advice. I’m looking forward to getting started in the next few coming weeks!

Add Reply

Post
The Track Planning and Layout Design Forum is sponsored by

AN OGR FORUM CHARTER SPONSOR

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×