Most of us MRRders come to a cross road from time to time, well I’ve come to one here, Today I finished my benchwork, so I’am hindered with the decision to either have reversal loops at either end of my mainline ( dogbone)which are on both sides of my entery way or have a liftout over my entery way, to have a continous run, now since my door opens inward to the trainroom, what would be the best way to go, loops or liftout, any opinion is helpful thanks,[8D]
Trainsrme1
Only do a removable section if the door can be rehung to open outward, and design the section so that you can crawl through it or, perferably, duck under it… In an emergency you don’t want to be trapped in the trainroom
hi,
when you have finished your benchwork it will be wide enough to allow for building reversing loops. So why adding a lift-out?
In HO reversing loops might lead to reach-in or to tight a radius problems. Issues typically solved in the planning stage.
Doors can often be hinged swinging outwards for a minor investment; compared with the total costs of a model railroad.
Smile
Paul
A dogbone allows continuous running - the train passes through the scene in the opposite direction each time it appears. However, reverse loops of adequate size will either be a LONG reach in or require some kind of pop-up access if you can’t get at all sides…
If your access door swings in, the best form of bridge is one that drops down (like the end of a drop leaf table) and is behind the door when it opens. However, keeping it properly aligned could be a royal PITA, especially if you can’t anchor the benchwork to walls or floor. It also requires some form of safety circuit to keep trains from plunging into the abyss if you ever run with the bridge down…
My own layout is a well-folded dogbone, but I have access all the way around the turnback peninsulae and the absolute longest reach in is 800mm (32 inches, close enough.) Originally I planned a lift bridge, to access the central operations aisle, but the situation changed and I ended up designing it out. A vestige of it serves as a dock for cassettes (used for off-layout rolling stock storage/staging.)
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Something else to consider is local fire code and insurance requirements. In order to have reliable operation, a removable bridge across the doorway must be fastened securely enough that trains don’t derail, while at the same time allowing for quick removal in the event of emergency.
It might be advisable to check with your local fire insurance agent and get his/her opinion on the risk of your policy being invalidated in event of a fire if it is discovered that the doorway, an emergency exit, was blocked.
Also take into consideration the admission of family or friends to the room when operating, which will require removal of the bridge. How often is this likely to occur, and disrupt your operation?
If the doorway is modified so it opens outward and you and/or visitors can crawl under the bridge would not be as much of a hindrance as having to remove the bridge before the door can be opened.
Either way, I personally would never build a layout across a doorway.
I had a similar situation a number of years back. I rehung the door and made it a duckunder. Reverse loops would have required a smaller radius and reduced the center peninsula. Since the track was at 58" the duckunder wasn’t too bad. For lower track heights I would make a gate that swings in or out depending on your exact set up.
Good luck
Paul
That’s a bit like asking, “Which ice cream is better, strawberry or chocolate?”
Is this better?
Or this?
The right choice for you will depend on the kind of railroad that you are trying to create, minimum radius, room size, placement and swing of the door, and many other factors (none of which are yet in evidence).
Best of luck.