Today I was running trains on the layout and to be a little different I thought I would run them in the opposite direction than I usually do. I ran them clockwise. For some reason, as always, it kinda bugged me to run them in the opposite direction than I usually do. I got to thinking back to all the layouts I have had in my life and I remembered that with every one of them I mostly ran the trains anticlockwise. Even with the larger layout I have now, where I sit in the middle of the room and they run all around me, essentially they still run anticlockwise. I am the kind of person that hates routine and loves change but for some reason this ones got me.[%-)] My question is why does my brain care what direction my trains travel in and do you always run your trains in the same direction? Are you a clockwise or anticlockwise kinda guy???
50% of the time the A line goes South and B goes North. But I do know where you are coming from. When I am in a store, I walk on the left side like I was driving.
When I was a teenager, my layout ran clockwise. But, that was because I had too many derailments when I went counter-clockwise. The grades were too steep. The track probably had kinks, too, and I didn’t know how to tune up the turnout points to keep things on the track.
Now, I make sure everything runs both ways. Usually, I have one train on the passing siding going one way, and the train on the main line going the other, so it’s just a matter of choosing which train I’m running to determine which direction around the layout they’re going. The layout extension will have double-ended staging for the same reason, and a second reverse loop so I can easily have any train running in either direction, without awkward backing or, heaven forbid, resorting to the 5-fingered turntable.
You see, being able to run in both directions is a matter of pride now.
Interesting question. I have a double track - one in each direction and a loop to loop mountain line. Not much help their either except! ! I usually run both loops counter-clockwise. I thought that it was because the spurs work slightly better that way. Perhaps there is some hidden deep psychological meaning there instead? Probably not.
My previous layout was a folded dogbone with a couple of cross-overs so trains ultimately ran both ways.
The current layout is incomplete so it’s effectively point-to-point right now, but once it’s all around the room, they’ll still go in both directions – gotta get the MTYs home somehow!
Think about it. If you’re modeling a historical American prototype road, the odds are that it was built east-to-west (yes, yes, I know there are exceptions) because that is the way this country was settled. On any standard map east to west is right to left which, on an around-the-wall layout, would lead to construction from east to west and if operations follow construction the empire would operate initially so that the result would lead to …counter-clockwise train operation.
Once up and going the obvious operation would be in both directions lest excess of motive power sit idle at one terminus, resulting in revenue loss. Zero sum game!
See, didn’t need a psychologist, just a logician and historian. Oh, and bean counter.
vell, you zee, dis ist a problem dat hass existed zince railroads were first invented. it hass caused much consternazion amongst de orichinal railroad designers und enchineerz. avter mutch conziderazion dey dezided dat dey shouldt build der railroads point to point und not in a zirkle. dey make more money dat vay too.
I’m happy as long as my trains are running in a horizontal position and not a vertical plunge towards the deck. I think maybe you need to install a reversing loop.
! I usually run both loops counter-clockwise. I thought that it was because the spurs work slightly better that way. Perhaps there is some hidden deep psychological meaning there instead? Probably not.