A minimum space oval for running two trains

I also live in a townhome, I feel your pain.  If that's really all the space you are able to allocate, I would think hard about using O31 or even O27 instead of O36.  I would also ditch the double mainline for a single main with a passing siding, reverse loop, and "interchange track" to the outside world.  If you switch to Plasticville buildings which are undersized, you can actually fit quite a little town.  I believe a setup like this would give you more variety and play value.  My $.02.

I also had a tight space for a layout.  Rather than providing access to all four sides of the layout, I used Mianne benchwork on casters (with support beams at the top and about 1' above the floor for more rigidity) and pushed a 5' by 9' layout into a corner of the room to squeeze out a bit more room for the layout.  It is on a hardwood floor and is very easy to move away from  the walls to work on the layout or fix a derailment.

Should we assume that the 3 doorways preclude any possibility of an around the walls layout with a bridge/lift out for access to the center? If so, then it seems like you are very limited and this island gives you about 2’ of clearance around each side. It is what it is. That said, I like the symmetry of the loops and for the size, I don’t think you could do much better. At least you can run two trains, spot some freight cars, and enjoy the sounds/electronics (if you have them). Do you have an open wall? Maybe you could install some display shelves to pair with the small layout and make it easier to swap equipment on and off the layout.

If you can spare a little more room, you could always try to squeeze in a loop of O60 for a third loop. 😊

Hi Rob,  I like what you are trying to accomplish.  I like running two trains at the same time, so that gives you a lot of action.  If you can keep one of the corners square and perhaps add a small mountain or curved hill.  You could also get rid of the small siding and add a double track bridge, or two small bridges that need to traverse a small valley, that you have carved out of the foam board.

keep us posted!

@Ted S posted:

I also live in a townhome, I feel your pain.  If that's really all the space you are able to allocate, I would think hard about using O31 or even O27 instead of O36.  I would also ditch the double mainline for a single main with a passing siding, reverse loop, and "interchange track" to the outside world.  If you switch to Plasticville buildings which are undersized, you can actually fit quite a little town.  I believe a setup like this would give you more variety and play value.  My $.02.

This is one good looking layout for a small space.... but what is the size of this table Ted ?   

@Ted S posted:

I also live in a townhome, I feel your pain.  If that's really all the space you are able to allocate, I would think hard about using O31 or even O27 instead of O36.

I agree with the suggestion of O27. You'll easily be able to run 4-wheel truck Geeps and smaller locomotives and 40' scale freight cars.

For example, here's a quickly done 58" x72" layout using O27. (I had to leave out some straights in the figure-eight and the bottom spur due to the 50-piece limit on the free version of Railmodeller.) Admittedly, there are some custom-cut straights, but that is not too hard with tubular track and a hacksaw, better yet a dremel. You have three ovals—two of which can be run independently—four passing loops, two long spurs, and two short spurs.

I too have gone back to O27 track, my space is a little bigger 4'x14' but fast track just waisted too much space. I am looking to have 2 separate lines , a 42" oval and an oval with 42"-27"-42"-27-42". Outside has a passing siding. inside has freight sidings.

I hope to start a post of progress soon.

From the sound of it, you are exactly in 4x8' territory.  I image you could get a 4x8, round off two corners, and butt it against the wall with no door.  Your ten foot minus a two-foot walkway gets you the eight feet, and your eight feet minus two two-foot walkways gets you the four feet.  Everything would be better because I imagine you could stand in the doorways.

There are countless plans for 4x8' layouts.