Show Us Your Track Plan

Gandydancer, I'm glad you liked my reply. I tried to give a perspective on my pride-and-joy (I must confess) and appreciate that you found it positive.

I also Thank these voices for their "Likes": Mark Boyce; Postwarman; trainroomgary; JohnnieWalker.

It's enjoyable to share accomplishment and receive the approval of fellow hobbyists. Thanks again ,guys, for the reach-back.     FrankM

Here is a model of my standard gauge floor layout that I hope one day will become permanent . I have only set this up but twice, and there weren't any switches installed at that time .  It was set up once at the house and once at an adult daycare facility . The scale model is 1" to 1' , 6'x16'. All the cardboard cut outs and half pipe sections represent the correct size of what I own and have made. Even the height of the #92 towers is  the correct scale.  The switches are 042 and red, the lionel crosses are yellow,  the 90 degree cross is MTH and is blue, all the curves are 042 and the 4 straights coming off the 90 cross  are from USA Track out of Malvern PA. and the rest of the straights are from various manufacturers , a few of which are custom cut.  This layout if it ever does become permanent will be a walk around.  Its a lot of track for one train to run on but its interesting , as I get older one train running is all I can handle .

Frank, It is great that so often you take the time to thank those who have commented or "liked" your posts!  Your layout is really a wonderful one.  However, it can't compare to what a wonderful person you are with your encouraging comments!  Thank you!

JohnnieWalker posted:

Here is a model of my standard gauge floor layout that I hope one day will become permanent . I have only set this up but twice, and there weren't any switches installed at that time .  It was set up once at the house and once at an adult daycare facility . The scale model is 1" to 1' , 6'x16'. All the cardboard cut outs and half pipe sections represent the correct size of what I own and have made. Even the height of the #92 towers is  the correct scale.  The switches are 042 and red, the lionel crosses are yellow,  the 90 degree cross is MTH and is blue, all the curves are 042 and the 4 straights coming off the 90 cross  are from USA Track out of Malvern PA. and the rest of the straights are from various manufacturers , a few of which are custom cut.  This layout if it ever does become permanent will be a walk around.  Its a lot of track for one train to run on but its interesting , as I get older one train running is all I can handle .

Johnnie, I really like your model of your model!  I built one once out of cardboard and modeling clay.  The full size layout was never built.  I lost the space it needed.  I can identify with your comment about only being able to run one train at a time.

Here's my track plan. My space is limited. I've included a pic so you can see I squeezed in about as much platform as possible...if I gain 5lbs. i will not be able to move between the layout and the walls.   I had these objectives in mind: be able to run 072 trains; incorporate the Backshop and the MTH passenger station; have a small city and yard using as many operating accessories as possible and give it as much "play" interest as possible.  I forgot to include "access"...so the middle is a challenge. (another reason for the 5lb. rule).  I got some great suggestions from forum members on the track plan a few years ago. I added an elevated section for the trolley. It's point-to-point now, but I plan to close a loop in the future.  16'x7'  My previous layout (different basement)  was 8.5'x16' I had no idea what a difference 1.5' makes!

Mark Boyce posted:

Johnnie, I really like your model of your model!  I built one once out of cardboard and modeling clay.  The full size layout was never built.  I lost the space it needed.  I can identify with your comment about only being able to run one train at a time.

Although I can run 2 trains simultaneously without any worry of them crashing since they are on 2 independently wired blocks, and I'm sure that many of you simultaneously run many trains, I find that running 2 trains makes me feel unsettled and a little anxious,  so I almost always run only one train at a time.

Arnold

gandydancer1950 posted:

Moonson posted:

The layout is always on your left as you proceed from the bottom of the stairs and farther into the trainroom. That is, there is one viewing aisle, alongside the right of the layout, which I named "Moon Township."

The first neighborhood you see is the Andreano Village section of the township, featuring 3 mainlines and 1 trolley line, a closed-loop in the nearby Suburban Neighborhood....

Next is the suburban neighborhood.

As you continue to walk further alongside the layout, the next area is the service yard for the trains, which is accompanied by a working man's neighborhood of small businesses to serve a working man's temporary needs while going to or coming from work.

A narrow section, mostly involved with track going to and from somewhere is next.

The 3 mainlines of Level One enter mountains that frame the "V-Valley neighborhood, on three sides, with 1 closed-loop of its own on Level One of the overall layout; 4 closed-loops on its second level, 2 of which frame the valley on 4 sides; a 3rd level closed-loop "dog-bone" is perched in its own neighborhood...

Continuing to walk through the trainroom, we come to the more rural neighborhood's country lane..

...followed by the newest section... ..established in space carved from the 2-car garage, requiring the removal of walls, building walls, raising a floor, and relocating the garage-to-basement door, which also became the location for the bank of ZWs that powers the layout.This part of the viewing aisle allows a left into that newer section, or return to the front of the layout, now on your right side, or you can exit the basement thru that door to the garage.

FrankM, Moon Township, USA

Just incredible Frank!

LOVE that stack of power !!  Just seeing that is almost more fun than carefully looking at all the layout shots.

Stack of power is right, Bill!!!

I call it "The Tower of Power"

Mark Boyce posted:

Stack of power is right, Bill!!!

I call it "The Tower of Power"

Hi Mark Boyce and Burlington Bill, Originally, those five ZWs were on a low shelf (behind that green fabric drapery on the right, here,) under part of the layout, but when I had the 20'x6' area, off to the left, here, separated from the garage and added to the trainroom, and moved that door to where it is now, I used the occasion to build that arrangement so that I could more comfortably see guests as my wife was leading them downstairs to see the layout, which begins in the area that can be seen off to the far-right of the ZW-bank here.... I wanted to be able to face everybody and not have to bend over to make adjustments to the control levers. Basically, I run just two trains on each one of them, to avoid any shut-offs due to overloading.

My Thanks to both of you for the very pleasant interest and feedback!

FrankM

Here's my new layout that is under construction. It was done for me by DOUBLEDAZ Dave, the master of Scarm.  It's 10' long on the back wall, 9' long on the side wall and 6' long on the L'.  Only 3' deep along the walls to let this old guy reach everything. I can run 2 trains and have storage tracks to display engines. Lionel 027 track.  Much more than I expected. Thanks Dave!

Frank, I think the stacked ZWs is a great idea!  It's no fun stooping over to make adjustments!

Gary, I remember following along on that plan by Dave!  He does a great job.  I'm glad you have it under construction!

RD posted:

Here is the plan I found in an HO book and converted to O gauge with plenty of help from the forum.... 

Rich -

I have liked this track plan from the first day you posted it.  I'm guessing, but I figure that was around Feb-Mar of 2017.  That was 18 months ago.  PLEASE tell us that it is well under way and post some pics.

BTW what are the dimensions of the HO version?  Text too small for me to read.

Thanks,

Jim

RD -

You can ignore the previous post.

I found the track plan on the MRR website for track plans.

Click on the image for a larger easier to view image.

Industry areaIndustry control panelControl panelLayout plan

Millhouse River Transfer Table Control Panel