Trackplan - Sure could use some help

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Folks,

After a long search, I finally decided on the track plane for my next layout. The plan comes from the 2000 issue of Model Railroad Planning. It includes many of the things I would like from an operational perspective, along with the right measure of scenery for HO scale.

I do have a problem however… I’m not sure what the track radius, turnout size, etc is for the plan. To be frank, I’m clueless with regards to how to best take this plan and convert it into an actual railroad. While I think I can handle the benchwork piece, I sure could use some help with the following:

(1) Can anyone assist or point me in the right direction of changing on aspect of the plan? I want to “flip” the left side of the layout to the right, while keeping the walk in entrance the same.

(2) How can I determine the curve radius and turnout size?

(3) What is the most effective way to take the plan, and actually use it as a detailed blueprint to start the build?

(4) I have also attached the plans from my existing railroad. The benchwork and all of the subroadbed is in, but frankly I’m not happy with the trackplan at all, and much prefer what I’ve shown below…

I’m truly grateful for any assistance!

2

You could simply use it as a guideline to making your own rather than copying exactly. What fun is a direct copy? Also note that there are tunnels etc on the plan above.

Is this your first layout? How much are you looking at spending?The example above is going to dig into your piggy bank some.

3

A couple of basics.

  1. The actual turnouts, radius, grades, etc should be determined by what locos and cars you will run. There are NMRA standards that describe this in detail. All that information is on their website at www.nmra.org Of course what you want is usually offset by what you have. So tradeoffs may be in order.

  2. I use a combination of methods to transfer a plan to the actual layout. A yardstick with pencil holes, string, camera tripod to serve as origin, etc. I also use the longer ribbonrail gauges to make sure I keep things smooth. Shinohora makes large radius sectional track which you can use to help layout the track.

  3. If you can, scan this track plan into your computer and use software to flip it to get the left hand side you want.

Richard

4

Thanks folks, I’ve got the budget for the build, thankfully. :slight_smile:

As to equipment - love running passenger trains along with freight, so was thinking about 30" radius as a min…

Also, this is not my first build, but first time where I would have to actually convert a plan from paper into benchwork and then subroadbed for the track…

5

If I were to use this plan I probably would redraw it; pencil/paper or a cad program like XtrkCad. The cad program is easier to move stuff about, abet a learning curve.

From the looks of the bottom left loop-back, I would hazzard a guess that the outside radius is close to 26". As to the frog angle, I suspect that most are smaller than #6. A #6 double crossover using Fastrack is just over 1 1/2 feet in length, so looking at the three on the plan, another hazzard guess of #4 as they are less than a foot in length.

The plan as it exists is pretty detailed and you should be able to position curves close enough to get you started. Keep in mind that a plan is a plan is a plan and there is nothing wrong with changing parts that you wish to your tastes and available area. Also, this is a picture and caste-in-stone so you can print it ( or parts of it ) and use your ruler to determine what goes where.

This was ‘adapted’ from plan #82 so we don’t know if Westcott’s original thoughts are here or not. Find the magazine and go from there. It also should tell you the minimum curve radius and possibly the frog #.

ctclibby

6

hi

you have chosen a plan with some issues.

  1. the minimum radius is 22’ or 24’ ; well below the 30" you like to have. The width of the layout will become almost 17 feet. I am pretty sure the chosen footprint is not the very best. Turnout size will have been #4’s, again far away from the #6’s you’ll need. The length of the layout will have to grow some feet too; resulting in a 23 or 24 x 17 pike.

2)The layout as drawn in MRP 2000 has severe grade problems. On the original one the crossing called Woodville tower was a real crossing, in Joe Taylors version the two lines cross at different levels. Between the 2 points where the lines cross are stations, they have to be level…an impossible situation. Tony Koester must have been sleeping here.

3)the layout has reach-in problems as well, the Union Station more then 3 feet from the edge seems a lot to me.

  1. very long underground tracks to underground staging.

IMAO a major redesign is needed…

Good luck with this plan

Paul

7

Thanks for the feedback, glad I posted this! Guess it’s back to the drawing board… :slight_smile: