DoubleDAZ posted:Mark, I always get concerned when someone says they have a small space where they want to run O72 curves, especially for a passenger train. Unfortunately, O72 doesn't leave much room for anything else when it comes to things like logging and coal operations. Since your better half suggested joining up with the ceiling layout in the other room have you considered expanding the ceiling layout into the new space and using it for your passenger run? You could come into the new space where there'd be a cityscape on the wall, perhaps with bas relief storefronts, etc., and a passenger station. Moving the larger equipment off the main layout would free it up for the logging and coal operations, perhaps on separate levels. Using O54 or even O42 curves gives you a lot more space for loop2loop, folded dog bones, etc. Here's a very early design I did for 10.8x12 using O31 ScaleTrax to show how much or how little track will fit that space. I don't have it in SCARM, but could convert it easy enough and change it to GG/Ross O42/O54, but I offer it just for idea value. FWIW, the bridges were going to be lift-outs and the blue would have been a fold down panel.
Dave,
I do recall this plan that you were doing before you decided to make the plan for in the garage instead. I was captivated by what you were putting in a room the same size as mine. Also, it was very much like I had envisioned in my mind. Please hold off converting it to SCARM for now. I may ask you to later. As you can probably tell, my preliminary plan I attached at the beginning of this topic has a resemblance to yours.
AGHRMatt posted:Hi Mark.
I've done designs for small rooms that support O-72 down to 10x10. Spurs could be added to the straight sections as desired and the layout could be re-done as a single lap tri-oval. This particular one is 48" radius (O-96)
Matt,
That certainly is what I was thinking for an upper level. As I look at it more, a 27" Premier J pulling four 70' cars will always be on curves. I'm not saying that is bad. I just want to ponder all possibilities, including running the big trains on the Ceiling Central RR which already has some straight always. Thank you as always!!
