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Hi all, I'm short on space (4x8 table) and am wondering if I could have an oval with a figure 8 in the middle. Obviously they both wont fit, so I was thinking of using a trestle for the figure 8, but I think the incline would be too steep. The below pics are just a rough idea. I had o27 on the table before, but the trains and some cars aren't happy with the o27 track and switches.

Any and all suggestions are welcomed. 

 

Thanks

 

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Assuming you wanted to use O36 curves, you could do a figure-8 with a 45-degree crossing and keep it all on the flat. It puts the outer oval rather close to the table edges.

 

4x8-figure-8 and oval-2

 

Or raise the entire figure-8 level, and add some bridges and tunnels for interest. 

 

4x8-figure-8 and oval-3

 

This topic would be better to post in the "Track Plans and Layout Design" subforum.

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Last edited by Ace
Some great ideas guys!
Thanks for the help!
 
 
 
 
Originally Posted by Ace:

Assuming you wanted to use O36 curves, you could do a figure-8 with a 45-degree crossing and keep it all on the flat. It puts the outer oval rather close to the table edges.

 

4x8-figure-8 and oval-2

 

Or raise the entire figure-8 level, and add some bridges and tunnels for interest. 

 

4x8-figure-8 and oval-3

 

This topic would be better to post in the "Track Plans and Layout Design" subforum.

Sorry, I didn't realize there was a layout forum.

 

For simplicity reasons, I like the 45 deg crossover idea. Too bad there's almost none available. I found one site that sells them, but the shipping is almost the price of the piece. I have a hard time buying something where the shipping is so high for something so small.

 


 

Originally Posted by Ace:

 

Or raise the entire figure-8 level, and add some bridges and tunnels for interest. 

 

4x8-figure-8 and oval-3

 

This topic would be better to post in the "Track Plans and Layout Design" subforum.


The more I think about it, the more I like this idea.

Thanks for the idea, I think I'm going to run with it!

 

Originally Posted by oldpaddy:
Hi all, I'm short on space (4x8 table) and am wondering if I could have an oval with a figure 8 in the middle. Obviously they both wont fit, so I was thinking of using a trestle for the figure 8, but I think the incline would be too steep. The below pics are just a rough idea. I had o27 on the table before, but the trains and some cars aren't happy with the o27 track and switches.
Any and all suggestions are welcomed.

Thanks


FWIW, I went with a 6x10 for the Christmas layout. I have an outer loop and then a folded figure 8 in the middle with an interchange track that doubles as a station platform.

The Lionel trestles ARE steep, but the engines do fine if not overloaded. I used a MTH 40" bridge down one side above the platforms. I need to take pictures and post them because it's thanks to the great folks here and at the MTF that I got as far as I did and I'd like to share. I have Anyrail, but after numerous attempts it only provided a starting point. I need to commit the layout to Anyrail so I can remember how it went together.

You are using the older tube rail trestles with Fastrack so that may not work to well. IMO the trestles do eat up a lot of feet of layout and with 4x8 you might be better off with crossings.

A couple more ideas for you to consider:

 

Use "easements" on your O36 curves, just a wider radius O60 section to transition between the straights and O36 curves. It improves the appearance and operation of trains through the curves.

 

And maybe angle or stagger the track arrangements on the table to add interest? 

 

4x8-figure-8 and oval-4 

 

4x8-figure-8 and oval-5

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Last edited by Ace
I'm using these but I think those should work as well.  My layout has the graduated and standard trestles, and a bridge.
 
 
 
Originally Posted by oldpaddy:
Originally Posted by ken_vs_ryu:

The mth trestles for fastrack would work nicely. 

Any idea if MTH 40-1047 would work?

6395623_sa

 

On another matter, I was just shopping around when I noticed that bestbuy's website now sells train stuff. Is that new?

Thanks for the great ideas, ace!

This is what I ended up doing:

 

image1

photo1

 

It over hangs the table by approx 1.35", but I secured it and it has been handling the work load with no bowing. I bought the lionel elevated fastrack trestle. I bought both the store had and am 4-5 short. The elevated track layout works great!

They had a good deal on the New York Flyer expansion pack ($80) so I had to pick those up too. Now I need to get a coal loader to load the coal dumper.

The little one loves the new layout and operating track! Thank you to everyone for all the help.

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Nice layout there! I would think about getting a piece of plywood or lumber 3-4" wide under that overhanging track secured with small angle brackets. This would not just be for support but to allow for some sort of guardrail made of cardboard, clear acrylic, or masonite. Eventually you will lose something off the corners as the sharp curve-straight transitions are where derailments occur. A guardrail would keep the trains on the table.

 

Peter

I have a question - what size are the small pieces of Fastrack on the layout with the figure 8 inside the oval? (the first diagram posted by "Ace" in the thread.

 

Specifically, the two small pieces attached to each the 45 degree crossover arms, and the two small (and one larger) piece on each side of the larger oval track?

 

Thanks, Lyle

Last edited by Starhopper

I recently started in this hobby because my grandson loves trains. I bought the Lionel Horseshoe curve set which came with a figure eight Fast Track setup. I put a sheet of plywood and a sheet of Masonite on a couple of saw horses in the garage then covered it with a roll of fake grass. I set up the figure 8 layout, but it was too boring after a few times around the track, so I added four switches and two extensions to the figure 8. That was better, since I could then reverse the direction of the train. Adding a activator track section and buying an MTH log dump car added to the interest.

I then decided to add a trolly line, but I didn't have space, so I decided to elevate the trolly using Atlas O track and two sets of MTH elevated trestles (as pictured in previous posts). Now there is plenty of action to keep my grandson (and me) happy - at least till I figure out how to add another sheet of plywood to the layout.

I have included my final layout. I know it doesn't conform to real standards, especially some of the wiggles in the trolly line, but everything seems to run just fine. The only problem is that I can't add any more cars to the train as the engine almost runs into the caboose on the smaller loop of the figure eight.

By the way, I have been following many of the threads in this forum, and you sure have a lot of super smart and super nice members.  I'm glad I joined.

NrewTrollyLoop

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