1st "Real Train" w/ Son - FastTrack Help Please

PerryD,

    My father played Santa with my train when I was young, the platform was in the living room with the Christmas Tree on it, in simple oval to start with, might want to let your son have just a Christmas layout to start out with, then expand from there.

PCRR/Dave

We still set up a Christmas train layout every year.

Here are some FasTrack plans to consider: 4x6, 4x7, and various sizes. 

Larry

You may want to check out this website http://www.thortrains.net/ great site for small layouts and other ideas.

Here are two offerings. A 4' x 8' and a 5'4" x 8'. Have him make his own tunnel to start.

One is modified from an old Lionel O layout, the other is modified from an 027 layout. They grew in size using FasTrack, I kept 036 turns.

Search for "twice around the tree" in the forum posts for something interesting and temporary for the holiday by adding to your starter track.

Hi, 

Thank you! I am going to try for a 4x8, how do I do the levels like in the designs? I can see the track sizes in the attachments, but what do you use for bridges and other items?  

And are the standard curves the .036?

Thank you all, I'm just trying to learn this quickly!  We did a regular layout last year and now that he seems to be interested enough to build the table and expand I am going to do this with him.

Rydog,

An elevation gets to be more complicated on a small table. There's not much length for a climb and descent. You just place a bridge under the track and color underneath like water. Then you lose switching for reversing the train. So, it's deciding which elements that you want more on a small table.

Search the forum for 4 x 8 layouts. ACE has some nice examples with elevations using 031 & 036 curves. The FasTrack Book and The Big Book of Lionel have FasTrack layouts.

If I recall, there were a few plans submitted to you. If you mean how to you construct the supports for a second level, that can be done several ways. Look at some of the large layouts under construction and observe the different techniques.

We design small layouts all the time for customers. Send me an email at mrmuffinstrains (at) att (dot) net and I can send you some track plans. We also sell track, the elevation piers, etc. 

thanks.