I have never regarded having a continuse running as a must while I was designing my layout because I had never really paid much attention to it. I realized that I never really experinced it much because things are always running wrong and i nver can enjoy it. today I set up some E-Z track, making sure that the connection were good and using only track that was clean. the trains ran perfectly. I really like just kicking back and waching the trains run. I had a shelf layout design for my layout , but I now think that continuse run is somthing I woudl like to have. unfortunantly, i do not have much space. 4x8 and 4x6 are out of the question. I am modeling in HO scale and switching to N scale is not an option for me. Snake designed a layout for me that takes the shape of a dogbone however it even pushes the limit as far as space. I was wondering if anyone had some ideas? thanks !
OklahomaTrainnut,
I know what you mean. I enjoy watching freight or passenger trains “run” instead of being restricted on “point-to-point”.
Since your space is restricted, do you have enough room for an around the wall shelf type layout? One with a “removable module” or bridge that would still give access to your room’s doorway?
I love to sit back & watch the trains go by, over & over & over.
I also enjoy point to point & if the wife allows me to go ahead with my plans, I’ll be able to incorporate both onto my layout in the way of stub ended staging yards instead of the continuous run that I have now.
Gordon
While I prefer operations-oriented layouts, I’ll admit that being able to just run trains in a circle once in awhile is pretty enjoyable. I can’t really understand the philisophy of some proto-based operators who will only run their trains when there’s an op session. From my experiences, these guys usually don’t run trains during an op session (they’re too busy dispatching or troubleshooting), so why have they bothered building these gigantic layouts? (note: I too am a proto-based modeler, but I’m also firmly in the camp of “it’s a friggin hobby, and these are toy trains. Play with them!”)
My new layout is a three level point to point. But…I made sure that the top level will support continuous running, so I can wander down there and run a train or two just for the sheer joy of it. Strictly point to point layouts are fine if you’ve got a 10-20 scale mile long mainline, but for smaller layouts (mine’s four scale miles, and most of you guys have MUCH less), having a thoughtfully designed circle layout is probably a better way to go. Frankly, I’d loose interest in the hobby if I was forced to have nothing but a 2x10 point to point shelf layout!
In the planning stages of my new layout and can tell you I’m making sure it has the capacity to do continous running as well as point to point. I’m thining a double decked double dogbone layout, such that a train will travel the entire trackage in such a time that when it returns to a point it does not seem out of place to do so. Point to point will be various industries along the mains and on the branches and spurs that can be accessed, only the mains will be continous, once you leave them you are on a point to point status.
Jay
To me the whole point of this hobby is relaxation!.. Sometimes I will just sit and read on the couch and have the trains running in the background. Other times I will be working on the layout and they are running. I have plenty of spurs and a yard so it doesn’t get boring.
RMax
I’ve always been a big fan of continuous-run operations. I can have several train running at once on my layout. I do have a large yard, but I don’t really do any actual switching. The greatest joy I get from my trains is just sitting back and admiring them run around the layout.
My layout supports continuos runs. But since there isn’t much scenery its not that interesting.
Continuous running is rather hypnotic and providing you dont have derailments it can be relaxing. I’m hoping I have put enough diversity into my over sized dogbone figure eight with several long (10 to 15’ spurs) that it will be interesting and allow for some operations.
I’m going into TT scale partly so that I can have a loop in a narrower space.
Continuous running is fine, but I can’t stand continuse running!!!
If a small dogbone pushes your space availability, maybe keeping your shelf type switching layout as is, and temporarily setting up your EZ track loop on occasion might be your best option right now.
—jps
Continuous running is great. Profided you have layed your track carefully so you can set back and enjoy watching and listening to your trains roll by.
One feature of a previous layout I had built was a two-track mainline, in a continuous loop, which was hidden for one half so that one only saw traffic moving in one direction. With this arrangement, I could place two mainline trains into “orbit”, going in opposite directions, and use them to represent the dispatched traffic which my locals would need to stay clear of. Thus, I could operate the layout by myself, all five scale miles of it.
I’m now rebuilding this layout, and I’ve reduced the double track to single, and I’m adding stub-end staging to make the layout much more point-to-point, but I’m still going to include a continuous-run cutoff. Running around the very-long-loop is all that the kid inside me needs most of the time, and I can’t imagine leaving this feature out. Indeed, I purchased a basic Unitrack loop at a recent train show, just so I’d have a loop on which to burn-in my new engines, and I can’t tell you how many days that card table stayed set up in the middle of my bedroom with short trains circling! Yes, I play with trains.
First I think there is nothing wrong with continuous running, (we call it “christmas tree” at our club). My layout at home is 2 main lines one upper and one lower that do connect to make one big mainline with 2 yards (one big and one small) with a few small spurs and a few sidings to boot. So I can run continuously OR I can have a full blown op session for 4 folks in my basement.
But to better answer your question:
If you have/had a shelf layout and a 4x8 or 4x6 is out of the question then how much space exactly do you have to play with?
Continuse run is GREAT! I couldn’t live without it.
well dano99a, I have about 10x14 ft , but it must share space with my bred, nightstand, desk, and shelf. I would aloso like to have room to walk! I am looking for more soulutions, but I have not found one yet. Thanks for all your posts
hmm…try around the room at 50" high, 1.5 feet deep? high enough for a good duck under by the door and over any furniture, yet low enough to see everything.
jay
I would run it along the walls like NTDN suggested, easy to do, and you can still have sidings and a small yard if desired.
I, too am strugging with continuous running vs. no continuous running on a small layout.
No offense to anyone, but I am turned off by seing any track make a u-turn, yet, I have no space for a large layout. My wife and I will be moving to a new house soon, but I must share the garage with my other hobby - my drums!
So, I’ll be making a shelf layout. But I want continous running!
So, I’m thinking about a shelf layout, but with a thin ring of “return track” that wraps around from one end to the other, so I end up standing in the middle of the loop.
I’m going to make the “return track” removable. Who knows, I may never remove it, or I may always remove it.
This will allow me the realistic scenes a shelf layout provides (large radii, no track turning 180degress on itself, etc.), but with the option for continuous running.
A return loop such as this will require a duckunder, hinged section, removable section, etc. It will require something tricky like that.
Also, the return loop section will not be scenicked. Maybe I’ll be able to rig up a timing circuit on it so the train takes some time before returning to the actual shelf layout, where I’ll be able to be doing some switching before the train on the main line comes back to town…
As soon as I find out how to post an image on here, I’ll post a cad image of what I’m talking about.