Here is my current layout. It uses tubular 3 rail O gauge 31" Diameter track. It has 2 levels and 2 reversal loops. The latest addition was the 4X4 sheet of plywood to accomodate the new Log Loader. I used an old DOS version of Autocad to draw it, then printed it out and scanned it to a .jpg. Initially, I had been trying to get the most out of a single 4X8 sheet, then added a 2nd 4X8 sheet. All 3 have folding legs, so they can be put away for the summer.
This is the layout as it was in March 2008, prior to adding the 4X4 section. Before that, I had the (2) 4X8 sections joined along their long (8 foot) side. That was a mistake. Using the “L” shape allows easier access. You do not need to stretch more than 2 feet to reach anything. I had planned to upload the last single 4X8 layout, but that used an upramp which did not meet Lionel’s recommendations.
Looks like a lot of fun in a compact space. I especially like the idea of folding legs so you can move it when necessary.
Great job.
Scott
Wow this gives me a lot of ideas as I didn’t realize 8X 12 could do so much as I’m looking at 8’10" X 10’ 10" for my laout with the exception that where your last 4’ x4’ piece is I would have to move that over as thats where my entry door and closet door is. but I see a lot of possiblities with that thanks for sharing.
If you’re interested in getting more tracks into that yard, here’s a way that might work for you:
Follow each of the left-hand turnouts across the top of the drawing by another left-hand turnout, then a 45-degree left turn. From the curved outlet of the second turnout put a 22 1/2-degree right turn followed by a 22 1/2-degree left turn. This will give you tracks with a 5-inch spacing instead of the 6 1/2 inches that you have.
Nice design Bob M!
Really like the design, I like LOTS of switching, I may need to steal some of your ideas! Looks like lots of fun!!! Don’t forget process photos.
Hello, I am using (2) 8x4 and (1) 4x4 too for my christmas layout. I have 4 main lines: a passenger line, freight line, gang car line, and an elevated budd car line. All postwar lionel, i have 22 accessories on the layout, with (12) 022 switches, 8 USC track sections. Using terminal block is great for my layout. They made is less confusing and easier to wire up everything. I use (2) Z’s,(1) KW and (1) ZW to power everything. Looking to get another KW and Z soon. I also use a log loader and all the other log accessories and coal accessories. yeah, switches i think is what makes a nice layout, must have a lot of switches to make expansion possible. thanks.
Yes, that would give me more sidings, but each would be shorter. One compromise I had to make in this years setup was that I lost the very long turnout at the extreme left of the March version. As a result I can’t fit my full 4 car passenger train plus the 2 (AA) Santa Fe engine in any siding.
Sounds like you were able to get more in this space than I was. When you say 4 main lines do you mean you can run 4 engines at the same time? I’d like to see a sketch of those tracks.
One thing I am struggling with is whether to scrap the incline to make room for more tracks on the upper right board.
Process photos? Do you mean construction details?
Yes, I can run for example: My S.F. ABA with 5 passengers cars (2530,2531,2532,2533,2534) on the main line, My 50 gang car on the smaller line, my 400 and 404 budd cars on 1 line, on the elevated track, and my 726 berkshire on the freight line. It all works great. I do not how to post pics on here, and i dont wanna attempt to try. Sounds like a lot of work to post pics, wish they had a better way, like cut and paste onto reply or something like that. thanks.
My big problem would be over $450.00 for fast-track switches … OUCH !!!
Just connect the main line one track in from the left edge. That’s only 3 inches from the outside track and will let you recover the entire leftmost track for your long siding.
Thanks, I started doing that last night. When I get more switches, I will use the “2 LH switches in a row” method you suggested to get more sidings. They do not all have to accommodate the longest train. On one earlier design, I had one siding which could only allow 1 engine. I had run the “main line” outside for esthetic reasons (Today it would be feng shui), figureing (sp?) that sooner or later I would not be able to have all cars on the layout at all times.
The president of Trinity College plays with trains! This is a picture of his basement layout as it apeared in the Hartford Courant today. I like to see other people’s layouts to get ideas from them.
I notice he uses the same “scenery” method that I and several others do: Paint the table green, and plop down some houses and trees. My excuse for not doing some “real” scenery is that I change the layout a bit each year. I had seen an excellent treatment for the gradual incline I have, but will not do it because I may eliminate the incline next year.
He uses the same safety 2X4 around the table that I had until recently. His is better than mine in that it is painted grey to look like a cement wall. Mine was green. I have since replaced it with see thru fencing.
The O-22 switch in the foreground is missing the red/green dome over the lamp. Someone should send him one if they are trying to get their kid in Trinity College.
He uses an “S” curve in the foreground. My collection of cars won’t allow that.
Love his bumper sticker. Wish I could see the whole layout, it looks huge.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3463/3200725829_90d068582a_o.jpg
While I am online, I will post another layout that I am studying. This one appeared in the 1957 Lionel Catalog as an artists rendition. Years later, someone tried to see if it could actually be realised. The short answer is that it could, with only minor changes. I think the first one was on the back page of the catalog. It uses (2) 5’ X 9’ tables.
Notice the front cover of the catalog in the lower left corner.
What I find interesting about this one is that it uses a gradual incline along the back, so as to not interfere with other tracks crossing (through) it. Then it just starts down gradually around the lower right section, and joining the mainline at the lower left. In each case the incline is outside of the other tracks. I would need to redesign it to fit on 4’ X 8’, and get rid of the “S” curve.
Here is a link to the article where these appeared.
http://www.tcaetrain.org/articles/collecting/TEXTBOOK_PART4/index.html
Neat photos, Bob. The Trinity president sure prefers a more ‘tinplate’ look to his layout. I love it. That '57 layout has been featured in a CTT - look carefully at the artists rendering - there are pylons in the middle of track and other tweaks that need to be made for it to work in ‘real life.’
The layout is evolving, albeit slowly. As I mentioned earlier, I wanted to move the upramp out of the “Main” or original table, as it blocked access to that area. I got an idea from the 1957 layout I posted earlier in this thread. The result follows. It took a couple of tries to get the ramp right. I believe in the cut once, then measure philosophy of design . The 1st attempt resulted in spinning wheels and thrown tires. For the second, I did calculations to ensure that each track section rose only 4.7%. The first two at the lower level have 5%, but at that point, most of the train’s weight is not yet on the slope.
Tracks 33:
After running this setup for a while, I noticed that switches 1 and 3 did not do enough to justify their existence. For 2 switches, all I got was 1 1/4 straight tracks between them. So I hauled them out and added siding Number 10, in anticipation of a purchase of a couple of interurban or MU units which I plan to repaint and put “Long Island” decals on. They should look great pulling into the elevated station platform I added. Notice that the layout Evolves. There is no “Intelligent Design” Involved. Siding 11 just happened because switch 2 was already there. Someday I hope to find something better to do with switch 2.
Tracks 34:
This latest layout makes me wonder about the need to have one siding for each train (or consist). So far I have provided room for every engine and piece of rolling stock I own. From seeing other peoples layouts, they store much of their collection in “bookshelves” hanging on the wall. With this in mind, I remove
Here is the layout as of today, November 23, 2010. It keeps changing as I get new ideas for it. This has less sidings, but has more main lines, with parallel tracks. The long passenger trains look a lot better along the rear edge of the table. I added a couple of GarGraves O-42 switches and an uncoupling track. I plan to add more GarGraves tracks as time allows.
