Advice/ideas for a kid friendly layout

Mike,

Glad to see more people wanting to get their kids involved in this hobby, it is a rewarding one for sure.

A good place to start looking in case you don't find the answer here would be to go back through some old lionel showroom layouts, or demonstration layouts and pick one you like.  I can't name any sources off the top of my head, but a little searching will get you what you want.

Anyways, I'll take a shot at helping you out with an idea for a layout:

The unique thing about 3 rail, O scale trains is that the center rail is isolated, so that the train can go through what is known as a reverse loop.  A reverse loop is where a train goes through a switch, make a 180 degree turn on a curve, and comes back through the same switch, going in the opposite direction.  With 2 rails, extra wiring is required, but not in 3 rail O scale.

The point of this being brought up is that with two reverse loops, connected by a single section of track.  With Lionel fastrack, this set up works almost perfect.  almost all of the rack you need is there already, you will need switches though to make the reverse loops.  I'd use manual switches so that the points can be thrown by the train when it runs through the switch.

advantages of this set up include:

• Ability to reach every point of the layout since the layout has two lobs about 4X5 feet and a connecting track between them.
• Two trains can run at once, and to save space, one can be on top of the other.
• The train will actually go through the loops in different ways, in a cycle.  For instance you see the train go clockwise through a loop, then on the next pass back it goes counterclockwise.
• There are no sidings, but you are still making use of switches so that later one, you can reconfigure the layout to have a spur or two by moving switches around.
• The layout is expandable and easily able to be made in sections, so if more space is needed, you can take apart one end of the layout.  

I will try to include a track plan below in a different post to clear any confusion from my rambling.

cheers, James

here is the basic track plan for one train.  each lobe would be about 4'X5'  actually slightly smaller.  you can go around the corner if you want, or you can just have the two lobes connected to each other end to end.  I personally like designs like these because they can be manipulated, or modified easily.

BTW, a second train can run on another loop either going around the outside if you have space, or by elevating it.

depending on how big you want the layout to be in the end, you may or may not need to get a couple filler pieces online or at a train shop.

Also, if you want, wait for a day when the kids are out of the house (if this is going to be for Christmas) and just start fiddling with pieces, until you get something you like.

Other advice about the layout's construction, allow about 4" of table space around the track everywhere so a train doesn't take the plunge, but rather just tips over.

keep the table low (maybe about 32") so the kids can see and interact with the trains and legos.  

If this space has no carpet, get an area rug so that the train, if it falls to the floor, has a little bit of cushion.  The rug also absorbs the loud sounds the trains make, and make sitting a lot more comfortable.

Everything stated above I recommend, but there still like guidelines, so you can take what you want, if you want any of it, and make it work for you.

Once again, good luck.

-James

How can two run at once on that layout without the potential to run into each other?  Seems to me if one train got ahead of the other they'd collide either at the switch or meet head on on the straight away?

As to the reach problem crawling on floor and trying to wiggle yourself into a hatch 32" off floor not pleasant task so instead put layout on swivel wheels with two of them with a wheel lock on them then the reach issue is mute for you.

as for having a train pass over the other the simplistic way is to do a third loop above the other two lower tracks crossing at 1 or 2 places above the 2 lower level tracks.

"also for the dad were running wide open on curves". use a 4" wooden border so trains are kept on layout table and not on the floor this was used in my mid 50's childhood Where I always wanted to see How fast the engine could go around the curves!

$oo

I'm sorry Mike, I forgot to elaborate.  What I meant is that you could have two loops of similar design, one on top of the other, in order to have two trains running at once.  If you don't want that, there was a story in a similar magazine to this about Kid-friendly layouts.  In fact, I think it was the cover story of Classic Toy Trains in 2008.  If I could, I would refer you to O gauge Railroading, but I'm not a subscriber to that magazine, so I don't know what's in that magazine.

Also, to address the access hatch problem, 32" is pretty low to be bending over, so instead of trying to have a big open space, it might be helpful to make the loops as compact as possible.

I know the general rule of thumb is that wider curves= less trouble, but we are talking about toy trains, so 36" diameter curves will work in this case.

Finally, no one has to take any of my advice if they don't want it, it's your railroad, you run it how it suits you

Cheers, James

One of our first layout attempts was similar to what James described.  The train went around the town under construction and out to the lighthouse before looping back and reversing direction.  My son really enjoyed it.  It worked very well.

I took a video of it and will try to post for you when I find it.

Mike, I would suggest that you build a 4'x 8' layout for starters. That size is easy to build with one sheet of panel material, and you can leave a narrow aisle at the back for better access. You can always expand later if you want to.

Cover the table-top with blanket material of suitable color, and you can loose-lay your track on top. I've done this with my current layout project, using an old army blanket. The material helps hold loose track in place, cuts noise, and provides instant ground cover. Loose-laid track is easier to change around and that is part of the fun for kids, to make different arrangements of track. And that will be easier to do with access around 3 sides of a 4'x 8'. Don't feel that you need to pick a "permanent" track plan at this stage.

Allow enough room around the outer circle of track so that if a train falls over, it won't fall off the table. The floor should be carpeted anyway, preferably. Kids like to run trains fast.

You said you have an assortment of two different track systems, so you could use one for a separate oval around the outside. That's an easy way to have 2-train operation, with two separate circuits. Attached is a sample track plan of what you might do in the space of a 4'x 8'. I have not worked out this plan for details in fitting of standard pieces.

This site has lots of track plan ideas for different sizes of tables: http://thortrains.net/ 

Second image shows a 4'x 8' table in your room corner allowing access on three sides.

You can do a lot with 6x9.  The only constraint will be that the kids will not be able to reach the middle  so a couple of pop up holes in the middle may be fun for them.

This is what I fit in 6X10 two years ago, but I would make it higher off the ground if the kids are going to crawl under to access the middle

I dont have a track plan, but it was all 036 curves and switches.  The kids love the Trolley cause it reverses when it bumps into their hand.

Ace,

Up from the depths...I really like this plan. Is there an easy way to modifiy it for o-27 and o-42 curves? Thanks.

As for spurs, kids like spurs.  i wouldn't be afraid to include them.  Just put them to the middle so that if it does run off the track it's not to the floor.  I have FasTrack lighted bumpers and my 9 year old has run his trains into them with some force and the trains have taken it.  Locomotives usually stay on the track, light freight cars can pop off.  If you go with the FasTrack earthen bumpers, the trains should do the same, stop and maybe fall on their side.

I didn't notice any mention of accessories. On my layout, I borrowed an idea from the big layout in the Train Museum in Riverhead, Long Island. I have alot of accessories on my layout. I installed the controller switches for the accessories all around the layout so it makes it very interactive. I did it mainly for kids, but adults love to walk around the layout controlling the various accessories in front of them. I don't allow little kids to control the transformers/power, but this gets them involved in the operation of the layout in a real fun way.

Young kids like pushing vehicles with their hands.  If you can give up the real estate, you might consider making a roadway all around the outside of the layout for that purpose.  I've done that with a portable N scale layout, and it's very popular.  As someone mentioned, it is well to leave room anyway, to allow for fast trains tipping over.  This would thus serve two purposes.