5X12 S-FASTRACK BUILD IN PHASES: with 4% Grade & 2% vertical easements, and hidden staging. WITH SIMILAR O and S 5X9 LAYOUT PLANS.

Finally back to the S scale project.

I have my rolling train table down stairs to my 12x20 space, with a light framework constructed on top.   The 5x12 layout space is big compared to the 12x20 room, as I anticipated.

Here the framework of 2x2s.  Creating two halves of 5x6, which seems to be OK for moving around, so the layout will be easier to transport at some time in the future.

With the foam sheets temporarily placed on the framework:

Big!  Looking forward to conquering this space with my layout design!

Wondering if it would look better if I conceal part of the inside loop in tunnels.  To mask the obvious two-loop aspect of the layout:

Not sure about these tunnels.  I'll let it stand for now.  Layout Base:

The out and back, from the yard, spiraling out, then up the grade, around the elevated loop, and repeat on the way down back to the yard, is almost 2 scale miles of run.

I think the long elevated track leading into a tunnel is an excellent scenic effect. It creates more work for you but could be worth it.

@AmFlyer posted:

I think the long elevated track leading into a tunnel is an excellent scenic effect. It creates more work for you but could be worth it.

Tom, I am coming to agree with you:  the scenic effects will be cool, and I hope, worth it.  I am also liking the road running through a cleft in the mountains on the right.  I think that will look good and interesting, and with a surprise: that the road also crosses the hidden track, with trains occasionally flashing through the gap.

The weak part of the design remains the three hidden turnouts, and the long run of hidden tracks at the top.  I have no concerns about the front turnout, it is close and easily reachable, AND I plan to have a "drape" of black cloth that covers the face of the mountain, and I will just pull back the drape for operating sessions when I want to verify the position of the turnout points.

I am thinking of using a camera inside the hidden trackage at the top of the layout, at the upper right.  Pointed so that I can see the turnout indicators and the position of the points, and pointing down the long hidden staging tracks.  To display the image, I am thinking of a small screen mounted above on the upper right mountain and tunnel, camouflaged to look like a billboard.  So I can just look at the billboard to see what is happening beneath.   Maybe I can toggle between the hidden trackage camera and a variety of traditional billboard images.  Just ideas at present, but I have used a small micro-camera before to view trains.

I have hidden turnouts with, obviously hidden track. A major advantage of the LCS with an iPad is the position of every turnout is shown on the screen. As a backup to that and to also get block occupancy detection as well as turnout fouling indication I have small panels in the edge of the benchwork with relevant indicators for all hidden track and turnouts. I decided against cameras because it would have required quite a few. For amusement here are a couple of pictures.

Extremely cool, Tom, I am impressed!!

Can you tell me about your turnout fouling indicator?  As you know, I am concerned about "stuck" turnouts that switch half-way but indicated one direction or the other.   Thanks, Ken.

Considering a re-alignment, with the grade up on the second track from the bottom and left.  For continuous running without operator intervention, this gives me the outside loop, and then plus either the inside loop, OR, inside return loop up the grade to the elevated return loop and back around.  More interesting to have a train circle up and down and around while another runs the outside loop through the long tunnel.

This revised grade up is a continuous 3.5%.   Could go 4% with 2% easements, but have not worked that yet.

I will need to be able to detect and switch the turnout, as the O scale FasTrack does.  Perhaps that can be tied to the polarity autoreverse device.

Here is the revised base level.

Some terrain details:

I might use these from Z Stuff for Trains to detect and switch two turnouts: one turnout at the top of the grade, and the other at the bottom of the grade turnout.

Just ordered one for testing, 5-7 days for shipping.

It seems they are designed to have a normal or default direction on the turnouts:  they send a signal to return the direction back to the default setting after the train has passed.   

So perhaps straight-through is the default: when a train approaches from the diverging leg of the turnout, the turnout switches (gray wire).  After the train has passed (and another 4 seconds), the white wire is turned-on to return the turnout back to straight through.

Ken, what I mean by turnout fouling is that the engine or the last car is clear of the turnout so when the turnout is thrown a train on the other track will not hit the stopped train. This is provided by IR devices between the ties. My turnout position indication does not verify the points are tight against the stock rails. Since none of the hidden turnouts are ballasted this has never been an issue with the Tortoise operated points. Block occupancy is by a standard induction based circuit board.

I received my sensor from Z-stuff For Trains.  Its small.  I have not yet tested.

The new train board foundation is coming along, in two sections 5'2" x 6'.  Many other things have drawn my time, so progress is slow.  The foundation grid is done, and the foam sheets glued on (I will use screws if additional strength is needed), using Gorilla Glue penetrating clear glue.  Seems solid for now.

Still to do is the grass mat for basic cover, and then wrap the edges with black duck tape, before I can lay down any track for component testing.

Here is the framework that fits on the rolling table, two sections 5'2" by 6'.

Foam surface ready for grass mat and edge treatment.

One half of the layout almost finished, with grass mat and edge treatment:

Ken-Oscale, I have been in total awe at your work over the last several years.  You are greatly appreciated for the advice and skills that you have.

Thanks for being so ready to share

BAMBAM

@BAMBAMMorris posted:

Ken-Oscale, I have been in total awe at your work over the last several years.  You are greatly appreciated for the advice and skills that you have.

Thanks for being so ready to share

BAMBAM

Thank you BamBam, and I appreciate interacting with you on the forum.

I haven't forgotten about this layout, though construction was stalled.  I am currently balasting the FasTrack.  No pics yet.

hi Ken i have been a member a very short time and new to trains i love this o gauge 5 by 9 layout that i can run two. i want to build it in 3 rail fastrack could you tell me where to find the track sections inventory. i got a few books but have not found it

love your work

thanks Rick

I know it’s taking me some time to get back but I’m in no rush and we got to use the layout over the holidays. All the electrical problems and track problems have been corrected now. Thanks to you gentlemen I’m now looking for ideas for the track supports I’ve seen so many on this forum so I have some more decisions to make