The 1952 Lionel Catalog layout, 6 1/2' by 11 1/2'

More developed layout:  adding another cross-over which creates the layout's only passing track, the figure-eight with return loops, a "mini-yard" and ballasting to emphasize a double-track main.

Now room to re-orient the O60 turnout at the top right to more closely match the original:

Looks to be fun for two-train operation.

Extending the top spur to make a connection with another RR to interchange loads.   And a spur in the lower right.

Lighted FasTrack bumpers on all the spurs.

Here, I have pushed the outside loop to all O36 (from O31).  Not much changed, not a lot of value besides the principle that wider is better.  There may be something that requires O36, not sure.

Redoing the layout in O36 FasTrack (three O60 turnouts) changes the character of the layout.  It now seems a different layout (not bad in any way, and arguably better in a number of ways) from the original.

Playing with some structures:

Smoothing curves where possible:

One reverse-curve is in the lower yard track that crosses, its an O60 turnout into short straights, and O48 curves with straights in between, so its not bad at all for O36 equipment.

The other reverse curve is feeding the loco service track, all O36 curves.  I might look at that again.

I was able to put a 1 3/4" section between the two turnouts.

The original layout was designed in the classic "Toy Train" style, assuming all-around access or folks climbing on the train table.   If pushed into a corner, access will be a problem, but this is just small enough to work on a large rolling table to pull out for access.

Thanks Ken - that was my original post but it was removed as being copyrighted elsewhere. You might want to delete my original too.

I downloaded it as a paid subscriber of the other magazine but I shouldn't have posted it.

I should have just traced it and posted the sketch.

Are any of your track plans in fastrack?

These are all in FasTrack.  Thanks for the note, I will see what I can do about the illustration.

@Ken-Oscale posted:

Redoing the layout in O36 FasTrack (three O60 turnouts) changes the character of the layout.  It now seems a different layout (not bad in any way, and arguably better in a number of ways) from the original.

Thanks - I like this plan in fastrack. I may not put in all of the center siding as I want some room for a small town. I do like the center crossover idea.

Great job!

@Ken-Oscale posted:

These are all in FasTrack.  Thanks for the note, I will see what I can do about the illustration.

Thanks, I just realized that they are all fastrack.

Sean, here is my vision of a town center, with a road and parking.

I have attached the AnyRail file for this track plan.  Have fun!

@Ken-Oscale posted:

Sean, here is my vision of a town center, with a road and parking.

That works - what I may do is hold off on the center section until phase two or phase three.

Phase one will be to get the tables done. I want to build them in three pieces for easy moving in a few years. Most scenery will get done after we move.

Thanks for your help on this - much appreciated!

@Sean007 posted:

That works - what I may do is hold off on the center section until phase two or phase three.

Phase one will be to get the tables done. I want to build them in three pieces for easy moving in a few years. Most scenery will get done after we move.

Thanks for your help on this - much appreciated!

Sounds good !  You are very welcome!

I think this layout plan is now good enough to be someone's O-Gauge Empire, in 6.5' by 11.5':

• Minimum curves and turnouts are FasTrack O36 - an upgrade from O31
• Two separate loops for train running
• Supports two operators running trains
• Cross-overs between the two loops
• A passing track
• The inside oval has a figure-eight inside, which creates two return loops for reversing trains
• Using the connecting tracks, trains can run a "twice-around" route
• There is a small 3-track yard
• Connection with another RR for interchanging cars in and out, and perhaps staging a train on the long siding
• Curves are widened when possible
• The two reverse-curves have been "conditioned", so they will be fine for O36 equipment.  These are both on spurs, there are no reverse curves on the mainlines.
• A number of industries for switching
• A town center, with stores, station, animated freight station, cattle pen and milk can unloader
• A steam locomotive service track
• Just small enough to go on a rolling table, to pull-out for access if placed in a corner
• Can work in a 12x12 foot bedroom, depending on the doorways, with access on two or three sides.  Maybe and depending on the room layout.  The layout can be squeezed down to 6.5' by 11'.

I may do more with the scenery at some point.

Minor mod and tweeks:

I realized I could re-locate the steam loco service facility, to be more accessible from the yard.  Its an O48 turnout off the main, no reverse curve.

I forgot the town's water tower!

Does this layout need a mountain with tunnels?

Now for something completely different.  Well, not really.  I made this effort with two goals, I wanted to know if I could make the outside perimeter minimum O48 (improved appearance and grace, and O42 equipment), and I wanted to see if I could improve access and reach into the interior of the layout, knowing that for homes and for most of its time, the layout is likely to be up against a wall or in a corner.

So I reworked and rotated the layout.  It was an ugly process, but the result is interesting.

One person might be able to operate inside the triangle with the lift-out bridges in place, but it would be tight.

If everything was 036 FasTrack could it be reduces to 5’6 x 10’

@Prewarrkt posted:

If everything was 036 FasTrack could it be reduces to 5’6 x 10’

No, the curvature of the outside perimeter doesn't add anything to the width or length.  Removing the outside perimeter would do that, but that is a different layout then.  The redo above actually shrunk the layout by 2", from 6'6"by11'6" to slightly smaller 6'4"by11'6".

A more conventional way to connect two loops would shrink the layout, this one is unusual in the way the loops connect (and interesting).  I have published other layouts on the forum that connect two loops in different configurations, that are either narrower or shorter than this one.

Here is a smaller layout that connects two loops together to show what I mean, only 5'x9':

Here is another different idea, 5'x10' connecting two loops with return loops and crossings:

One more, just because, this one is 5'x12'.  The INSIDE route is O44 compound (running O42) with a wider compound route outside:

Here is the 4x10 I am running now:

Thanks they all look great. Just starting to think about a layout for the holidays. 

This version has more "efficient" cross-overs between the O48 and O36 routes.  The layout is a bit shorter at 11'4" long, and still 6'4" wide.

The passing track is O48 (O48 is Blue).

Doesn't look much like the original "toy train" style layout, but is better in many ways.  But I can understand if someone prefers the earlier style in 6'6" by 11'6"  - personal choice:

Or even the O31 FasTrack close to the actual catalog layout:

With more generous borders and back to 6'6" by 11'6":

Updated with two mountains and tunnels.

Minimum track center spacing has been carefully evaluated, at the 4.5" spacing used in Atlas-O track diameters (9" diameter steps).

Trying some structures and roads:

Trying some trees, a stream, and exposed rock faces.  I am not an artist by training, so getting this right for a vertical view of exposed rock is debatable: those small slivers actually have texture that looks like a rock face, but I haven't figured out how to bring out the contrast and coloring.

I replaced the FasTrack lift-out bridges with two Atlas-O bridges, each a single section,  of 40", and the other slightly less at 39 7/16" (due to the fit with FasTrack).

I might cut four 10" sections of Fastrack to make a better fit approaching the bridges, and to give a square end to the track section for the bridge to butt-up against.   And make each bridge section exactly 40".

For scale, that is about an 11 year-old kid operating trains in the center, using the Lionel Universal Remote.

The above "mature and modern" track plan departed significantly from the original design vision of the catalog plan.  So I felt like taking a few minutes to re-look at an earlier plan that still looks like the original design.

This updated and modernized version of the track plan has these enhancements over the original:

1. O31 FasTrack Minimum
2. O36 FasTrack for the outside loop and passing track (BLUE) (and the connecting RR has two O60 turnouts).
3. The addition of the 2nd cross-over creates a passing track
4. The addition of the figure-8 and crossing allows train reversing and train routing fun
5. Added a 3-track mini-yard, with a switch lead that does not interfere with running the inside loop (a third operator working the yard)
6. The top spur was extended to make a connection with another RR with O60 turnouts (or for future expansion), adding operating purpose and rational.  This spur can also stage a third train, to take turns with two other trains.
7. Construct as a table with legs on rolling wheels, to pull away from the wall for 360-degree access.
8. This two-train layout has options for three trains with the top O60 staging track, and a fourth train standing on the passing track.  A switcher could be positioned in the yard, for five locos.  Perhaps three operators.

 Still 6.5x11.5 as the original plan.  Unless pulled away from the wall for 360-degree access, it has problems with reach and access.  This size can be made a single table on rolling legs, to help with that problem,  The very interior is a long reach, even with 360-degree access.

The mini-yard can be made four tracks:

The yard can hold 11 10" cars, or more with some smaller cars.

Additional industry spurs can be added in a number of places.

A couple more additions:

With the new Passenger Boarding Track, the layout can host FIVE trains!:  One operating on each loop, the Connecting RR Spur staging, the passing track, and the Passenger Boarding Track.   Plus a switcher operating the yard, for six locos and three operators.

Checking the 2020 Lionel Catalog, most LionChief trains sets are O31.  Those with the Tier 4 locos require O36.  There are some O27 sets as well.

Maybe a stream through here, with some industries and a road:

With some trees and a tiny stream:

With some bridges and parking/roads:

 Experimenting with the coloring of ballast, and brightness and contrast.

After some optimization:  section count reduction, curve smoothing, 3 yard tracks extended.

By swapping two O31 yard turnouts with O36, a better yard resulted, with longer tracks, and a fifth track.  I used the top short track for steam loco service.   The straight section of the O31 turnout is 11 3/8" long, while the straight section of an O36 is 10" long.

Added block signals protecting the crossing, and the bubbling oil derrick with nodding donkey in the lower right.

Added FasTrack lighted switch stands, and block signals at the junction with the connecting RR at the top:

On this next version, I added a grade on the connecting RR going from right to left, with a wider lower level of older and dirtier ballast beneath.

Trying out a colorized method to label track sections.  Is this understandable, make sense?  Its clearer if you click on it.   -Ken

Seems to me its easy to read.  The "compound curves" where I mixed diameter sections are immediately obvious.

To me it seems less visually confusing than the method where I label every track section.  Here you can see what is going on without having to read labels, and when close together, figure out which label goes with which section.  One can easily see the difference between a quarter/half/full curve section.

The green O60 turnouts come with roadbed trimmed sections, which I colored green to match the turnouts.

PLEASE CLICK LIKE ON THIS POST IF THIS SEEMS LIKE A GOOD IDEA.   -THANKS!

I have been watching and reading this for the past few days, and seen this evolve.  I like a lot of it.  Well done.  A question I would ask is what kind of operating do you want to do?  You have a lot of switches, are you looking to do a lot of switching operations or are you going to be a looper, watching your trains run around the tracks.  My view is that if you are going to be a looper then all those extra switches just equal extra expense, and extra time for not a lot of real estate.  Said another way - how many cars do you think you can store on those sidings?  My guess is fewer than you think, and I ran into this same issue.  I have two yards on my layout, and mostly they are used for on track storage as I am a looper.

John

Ken your efforts are amazing.  The colored track is a bit easier to follow.  But for perspective, can you post a 3D view of the latest iteration?  I don't have AnyRail installed, I admit I'm very curious about its 3D capabilities.  Thanks!!

@Ted S posted:

Ken your efforts are amazing.  The colored track is a bit easier to follow.  But for perspective, can you post a 3D view of the latest iteration?  I don't have AnyRail installed, I admit I'm very curious about its 3D capabilities.  Thanks!!

Thanks Ted!  Appreciate the feedback.

AnyRail is OK, but not strong, on 3D.  I have posted 3D on a couple other layouts, but since this one is flat, it won't show much of interest.

-Ken

@jbmccormick posted:

I have been watching and reading this for the past few days, and seen this evolve.  I like a lot of it.  Well done.  A question I would ask is what kind of operating do you want to do?  You have a lot of switches, are you looking to do a lot of switching operations or are you going to be a looper, watching your trains run around the tracks.  My view is that if you are going to be a looper then all those extra switches just equal extra expense, and extra time for not a lot of real estate.  Said another way - how many cars do you think you can store on those sidings?  My guess is fewer than you think, and I ran into this same issue.  I have two yards on my layout, and mostly they are used for on track storage as I am a looper.

John

Thanks so much, John!

Good point about the purpose of a model RR.  When I work on a design, I try to incorporate as many good things of all types into a layout, but often with a theme. 

This layout's them is to improve, enhance, and modernize a classic layout from '52.  It is limited by the O31 minimum.   I am trying to make the best I can, out of the signature aspects of the original layout, which I deem to be the interesting cross-overs between loops, and the space between the mainlines (which I made the most of with a passenger boarding track which is also a train staging track).

It doesn't have wide sweeping curves (nor did the original), but it does allow five trains on the layout, and a small yard.  It doesn't have a big yard (the original had none), but it at least has a small one (11+ 10" cars).   I can be fun for train running, with the inside figure-8, reverse loops, and the passing track, and multiple trains (not present in the original).   One can do some switching operations, taking a small train out from the yard and servicing industries (not in the original).  The layout does have a rational for passenger trains, and a place to stage one (or two, if using the Connecting RR, enhancements from the original).

Also, I realize that O gauge is expensive, and that each enthusiast will make their own decisions about what is worth adding a turnout for, and what they decide to skip.   I show what can be done, then each person will customize as they see fit, and that is how it should be. 

None of the turnouts are useless - perhaps the turnout in the upper right that extends the connecting RR, is the weakest function.  Perhaps the next to go would be the turnout making the fifth short yard track.  After that, eliminating a turnout eliminates a useful and important feature.  The layout superintendent can make the decision about which feature they can live without.

Regards, Ken

Here is the latest version, with minor tweeks and enhancements:

Ken,

I thought this was for you, your layout, hence my questions.  Given your reply, I better understand what you are looking to do.  This layout is similar to the one that I first made with two loops and a figure 8 in the middle for reversing action.  I had some extra switches and so I was able to see how short the yards were going to be - holding 1-2 cars max before buying more.

John