An oval of track can be fun. In fact some very very large trackplans are basically ovals if you straighten out the track.
But it also is nice to be able to turn your trains around; if nothing else, then at least to see the other side of the train.
The most famous way to do this is with a reverse loop; and we like to brag that in 3-rail trains, we don’t need an artifice to reverse polarity.
Other methods of turning trains around are: wys, turntables, and fiddle tracks, using your fingers.
A big advantage in turning trains around on a 2 or more tracked mainline is to be able to run the trains neck and neck or to run them passing each other.
A friend of mine with a very elaborate 4-track layout has no means for turning his trains around! But yet, he still enjoys the layout.
My VRE train also doesn’t have a way to turn itself around so we simply go in reverse.
I am part of the list that of people who lifts up the trains with my fingers and turn it around. I do not have any revering loops. Part of the reason is on the down side of my grade, it is on a block with lower voltage to prevent run-a-way trains. I did design it so part of the layout have trains running parallel and one part can have trains passing in opposite directions.
I have always had dual line in a part of my track plan with switches to allow the train to move over to the other track which reverses the train. The new layout has a reversing ability on both levels.
I have a two loop track plan with the loops connected with a Ross dbl. crossover. On the inner loop I have a “S” spur connecting the opposite sides of the loop. The curves are a bit tight for my scale E8 AA but I don’t reverse that much.
A dead end branch line going to an upper elevation terminates with a reversing loop. Only a couple of my engines can negotiate this branch due to grade and curves. The line is only to serve a coal mine with associated village. I usually have my 0-4-0 picking up and dropping off hoppers or pulling a 3 car consist of baby Madisons.
Don’t worry about that Tony. I don’t design layouts where you can’t turn trains BOTH directions. Some layouts are simply too small to allow reversing, and that’s OK with me. But on a layout that is large enough, I think that it is uncalled for to not provide reversing in both directions. With the folded dogbone design, it is very easy to do. Just provide crossovers at the loop ends, and instant reverse loops. That’s what I did on Frank’s.
Tom, would you like to be able to reverse your trains? I looked at your plan a long time ago, and I think you could do it with a couple of quick changes.
A lot of the classic designs frustrate me greatly, when they allow turning in one direction, essentially trapping the trains. This is one of the things that kind of bugs me when I look at a number of the plans on Thor’s website. Some of the designs are very nice, but some have the “one way” flaw. Why bother to post those, especially when gearing the site to newbies? I guess we should let the newbies decide and find out for themselves.[swg]
On my monster layout, the turning will be possible, but not obvious. The entire layout is really just two giant reverse loops connected by a single track. There will be a few wyes, but they aren’t really intended for turning the trains, though it could be done.
My layout has 2 reverse loops to allow me to change the train around and then change it back to its original direction. I also have sidings that come from different directions which requires this.
Mark, add another switch at the top of that diagram and it will allow you access to the inner loop from the other end of the layout. Then you could “short cut” through and go back out in opposite direction. Just an observation.
I like that plan Mark, but actually you don’t need to turn the entire train in order to access all of the sidings. All you need to do is “run around” the cars and pu***hem into the sidings that are facing the wrong way. You do this operation on your passing sidings, and I see 3 of these on this plan. That’s what real railroads do.[swg]
I have always been a big fan of “the turntable from heaven”, but will integrate a reverse loop if at all possible.
I have built an O31 wye before with Lionel O22 switches, and still have the necessarry “fitter” section somewhere should I ever wi***o use it again.
There are a number of easy ways to integrate reverse loops into common layouts. With a figure-8, a tangent that connects to to both circles will give a wye in a sense. With the common oval, simply placing two identical switches on either side of the oval, and connecting them across the oval will give you a reverse loop.
I think you have the right idea Ben. Actually the simplest form is just the loop to loop. This plan only requires 2 switches. After that the sky’s the limit.
Bingo Dave!!! I think that Thor has posted them just because they came right out of the manufacturer’s manuals. That doesn’t mean that they are “good” plans. Of course everyone has different ideas about what constitutes “good”. My theory is that I want as much flexibility as I an get in a “TOY TYPE” layout for the number of switches I can afford to put into it.
In my layout I’ve a more classic european type of railway. I have an oval with a few sidings and a run around track. I thought about reversing loops, but space is too limited; in that case I should have used the 027 curves all across my layout instead of only at the sidings, which I didn’t want to.
I have a ‘U’ shaped layout with two main lines. The inner line has a double reversing loop and a crossover. All this is situated at the bottom of the ‘U’
Any layout larger than 4 x 8-foot should definately have at least one reverse loop. Not only does it make things more interesting but it adds another dimension to the layout when you see your trains going travelling in the oposite direction.
Another exciting feature to consider incorporating on a larger layout is the Ross Double Crossover.
I added one on my last layout and it was the best feature of the layout.
I have a turntable and two reverse loops, although schematically one could argue that there really are four reverse loops (I may use that someday when I want my layout to sound impressive [:)]). I would love to have a wye, but sadly I don’t have space.
This topic, or a question about the subject, also appeared on either the Atlas O or OGR Forum a few months ago. My post on that topic mentioned John Armstrong’s “reverted loop” which he used on his own famous O Gauge (outside third rail) model railroad and mentions in one of his track planning books (published by Kalmbach).
John’s design could be described as a curved wye with holding tracks. It does not allow continuous running like a conventional reverse loop, but is a space-saving measure & can be disguised by scenery.
I think it’s an interesting idea, worthy of study by people interested in layout design or who have a space problem at one end of their line.
I saw a diagram of a reverse loop using a 45 degree X-over rather than a single switch. The train returned on a second track/siding and later rejoined the main. Pretty neat way of not “trapping” and train on a reverse loop I thought.
This is one of those really great topics for toy trains!
My wife thinks I’m crazy, but when I put a virtual layout together in RR-Track I just stare at it for long periods of time, running trains in my head. I usually tweak the design until I can visualize reversing trains, accessing all sidings from all other sidings, either engine first or consist first, and visualizing how trains will pass each other. I think hard about the size and nature of the consists I will run. This is simply a little 12 x 18 around the room set up. If I had more space I think I really would go nutz!
I’m sure the design process will go on long after the first track is laid. Thank goodness for rusable, sectional track!
