Hello everyone, I am new here and plan on building my first layout. I decided on the Great Eastern Trunk. This layout is based on a 4x8, But I plan on expanding it onto a 4x12. Going to stretch out the double main lines, but I need some help on expanding the existing yard or adding another. I also plan on running DCC on this setup.
https://secure.atlasrr.com/mmMOD1/Images/10025.jpg
Thanks for your help.
Here’s your plan.
In a 4x12 why not do something like the Milwaukee Road’s Beer Line from MR?
You can find a copy in the MR trackplan database.
Chris
As Chris suggests why not the Beer Line.
If you are set on the Atlas Plan I am an expert on that particular one. The design goes way, way back. Because of life circumstances, I don’t have a lot of room and need to be very mobile so a 4x8 works for me.
So I am rebuilding and finishing this very Atlas Plan that may father started back in 1961. I look at the plan/layout as a stepping stone to a larger future layout. Its a chance to hone my skills and redo mistakes as needed. I’ll build a larger more realistic layout when living space makes it possible.
One thing that I am sorry I did was finish and install the turntable. It takes up a lot of space especially when using the Atlas Roundhouse. further, the Atlas turntable is small and can’t take Big Steam or most modern engines. Having said that, other members have done a great job customizing the Atlas Turntable to look fantastic. Personally I would get rid of the turntable and put in a more modern engine service facility. I would extend the mainlines on that side of the layout to give more space to the Turntable if you must keep it.
The yard on the other side is also small and you can only fit 2 cars on some of those tracks.
Unless you are really married to this plan, I’d advise you to build something else. I stuck with this because of living situation (very limited space and the fact that 4x8 is very mobile) and connection to my father who left us in 1994.
One last thought, If you do have limited space why not N Scale? You can have a lot more track for the same space.
Good Luck, Derek
Thanks for that idea. I remember seeing a article on that in the layout database. I will have to look into that!
I like beer and I like trains, so the Milwaukee beer line sounds like a match made in heaven. Going to order the the Feb 09 issue to read up on it some more. Looking at the track plan, how do you figure out what you need for track?
Thanks!
John
HI Sir,
wait a minute… you can’t compare the Atlas layout with the Beer Line. The first one allows you two trains running at the very same time, while the Beer Line is an industrial switching layout. One, maybe two engines setting out or picking up cars from the all present industries.
Wait an other minute… You can’t reach in beyond 30" and especially on the Beer line, where all that switching (coupling and uncoupling) is going on, you need to be close to the action. Your layout needs to be accessible from all sides. The space you need will not be just 12x4 but more like 12x6 or 12x7.
Some reading about operational issues and planning problems before starting to build might be a good investment.
Smile
Paul
The Beer Line was a MR project layout a few years back. I very much liked its modular concept, allowing the layout to be rearranged from a loop design to a point-to-point design.
I´d suggest to get copies of those MR issues from Kalmbach.
Just looked it up - the “Beer Line” was featured in the December2208 to May 2009 issues of MR.