Being able to reverse your train, a must?

I've always felt that being able to reverse direction adds interest and variation to a layout. Beside, with 3 rail trains it can be done without all of the electrical hassles found with 2 rail trains.

can you move the trolley route?  I especially like to use the reverse on my toy train layout. 

Trolly route does not exist on my layout.

 

Also, On my layout, the center rail yard, connects back to the yellow line.  I'll try and modify the image I am working with.

Can you add a connection between the brown and green tracks as I've shown in black below?  You would then have the ability to reverse a train.

 

 

Ok, I asked a friend to modify the picture for me.  This resembles my current attempt, better than what I had posted previously.

 

 

I have no reverse capability, and have never thought about missing it.  Like another poster mentioned, I too am more of a looper anymore.

If the brown, yellow and green tracks are on the same level, you can add a reverse loop by joining the left green spur just below the yellow turnout to the southbound brown track at the "L".

You can also reconfigure the yellow oval and spurs by having the lower brown track right after the blue turnout cross over to meet the upper brown track to form the other reverse loop and have the spurs come off that to the left and right.

You might be able to keep the yellow oval using a crossover, but I'm not really sure how the yellow oval is used.

I think being able to run trains over the entire layout in both directions adds variety. However, not everyone shares that opinion. Although specific trains don't generally go in both directions, engines do, taking a consist one way and then returning with another. I suspect even Amtrak engines service specific routes rather than travel around the country in big ovals. Even scenic trains, like the Grand Canyon Railroad and the Durango-Silverton turn their engines for the return trip. I'm torn about having a loop to loop over an around the wall layout when I get my bedroom space back.  It also looks like you may have some reach issues as the layout stands.

I only had room for one loop (and keeping o72 minimum).  So, changing directions going one way is easy enough.  Then, I made what's called a reverting loop.  Basically, you have to back into the loop until you get past a turn-out that lets you exit going the other way.

 

Backing into the loop is kind of fun, but if you like to run long trains like I do, your rolling stock can't be too lightweight or you will pop a car.  You must also maintain a consistent throttle speed while doing the backing.  It's kind fun.  i suppose you could also disconnect and move the engines to the other end of the consist or perhaps even use different engines.

 

But, you can't get that dog-bone stye auto-reverse with a reverting loop.

 

Mike

Maybe I am missing something but the yellow tracks are basically 2 reverse loops adjacent to each other although both reverse a train coming in from the left on the brown line.  I don't see a way to reverse a train coming in from the right without backing up.

 

To answer the question though, I wouldn't want to be without the reversing loops.  I have a dogbone with reversing loops on each end and basically a single track between them.  There are sidings and spurs but that is the basic plan.  If I want to run a train without touching it, I can make it go out and back, out and back.  I like that better than a loop because it is easier for me to imagine that it has been somewhere and come back than if it keeps entering the scene from the same direction.

The best thing about 3-rail is that wyes and reverse loops are so easy to run. I use this wye and balloon track arrangement on my big floor layout for easy operating variety - something I wouldn't do with 2-rail.

 

Ace...  Out of curiosity, why the concentric turnback loops?

Instead of the cross over going from top left to bottom right reverse it to go from bottom left to top right (also move the spurs to the other side going left) and then add the connection I mentioned from the right side of the yellow oval to the brown track coming out of the elbow going down. That will give you the 2 reversing loops to turn in both directions and allow you put that small yard back in.

It's Grand Central Station! I can park trains there to clear the mainline for other trains. Then they can head out in either direction.

 

 

Back to the original topic: I'm all for adding dual reverse loops to Matt's track plan.

This would work.^^^

 

 

This would work even better. Now you have 2 large distinct loops connected by crossovers. The inner could operate as a figure 8, and doubles as both reverse loops.

Yeah, that makes total sense.  Sorry for the tangent.  

Changing direction? Not too important for me these days of old age and less skills and far less available space. I just use more patience and the old 0-5-0 to change things around if I wish to reverse. On prior, now dismantled, layouts I always had wyes or R-loops but on a small 9x16 round-the-wall attic operation none of that is feasible. 

 

In my case I have found that over the years trying to accommodate the always lack of ideal space and also trying to incorporate everything simply led me to procrastinate and unecessarily delay getting a layout done and trains running. My other misguided priority was laying too much track in the available space.

 

Obviously it depends on one's personal druthers but more than ever today I priortize getting the railroad built and running. 

And, now I mostly run round'n round in one direction only.

Here is a way I solved the problem......circle! Works both ways.

 

I did not look to see if it would work for you, but check you might get one.

 

Greg

 

That would allow the yard to be modified/resized and a spur could be added in the lower right loop for more interest. The yard in the original post prevented the crossover from being an option, but it works if the yard is abadoned/moved. dding the bypass near the blue turnouts allows 2 trains to run unattended for display purposes, etc.

I think I finally understand.  I'll have my friend mock up the drawing and post again.

 

Cheers!

~Matt

This has helped a lot, I am a very visual person.  I'll have to figure out what additional switches I need.  I have the current design laid down at the moment.  I might need to wait a month to purchase the remaining track pieces.

 

Best!
~Matt

I really like this idea.  Unfortunately, I don't have the room to incorporate it.  The table is in the garage and the only reason I've been able to even fit a table of the current size 8' x 16' is that I drive small vehicles (Mini Cooper).

 

Thanks!
~Matt

Have to? No... but it definitely adds interest and fun to running your trains, especially if you have yard/industries tracks. You'd have to run your trains the same way every time in order to back your cars into the yard/industry tracks. Being able to run trains in both directions with a reverse loop, still allows shoving cars into those tracks after running your trains in the opposite direction.

I like Big Boy 4005's suggestion.  Being able to reverse a train definately adds to the operational opportunities.  If you are asking about it then it's probably a good idea to incorporate the capability in your design.

 

--Greg

Greg,

 

I totally agree.  The only issue I had was that area of the layout was going to be my mountain.  I was struggling to add just a 3% grade in there with the space I have, but I think the versatility of the track supersedes the landscape.  I'll get it up and running and then figure out what I want to do.

 

Thanks to all for the input.  You guys are great!  I'll keep ya posted as I make progress.  My goal is to have the layout operational by Christmas Eve.  The remaining work, I think will forever be a work in progress. 

 

Cheers!
~Matt

Hey, a Mountain is no problem, It just calls for a Tunnel  

 

I'm late getting in here but I'll add this, in place of turning the entire train, make a passing siding and add a small turntable inside the yellow loop. in, turn, out. You don't have to have a roundhouse or an array of track around the turntable just because others do.

You pull the train on the passing siding and drop it, turn the engine on the table, go past the siding and re-connect at the other end of the train.

For observation cars and cabeese, you gotta get fancy with switching, but it can still be done.

FWIW, here are some ideas I came up with. They are not to scale, but I think they would work.

 

Thanks guys, I'm glad you liked it. It's nice to know I haven't lost my touch after a 5 year absence from the hobby. I had to re-learn how to use paint.

 

I did a switch count, and the second version saved a pair. As someone else mentioned, there is room for more sidings / longer sidings.

Oooooo, that's really nice!!! 

 

I'm worried that it won't fit his space. I don't think the actual dimensions were ever stated. It looks like you have about 26' x 15'. I'm guessing he has 16' x 12' roughly. That kind of shortening is going to mess up that beautiful diagonal, and all the sidings that touch it. Are those all 072 switches?

Excellent!  To answer a few questions.  I am currently using RealTrax as that was what my old layout consisted of.  I used mostly 031 and some 042 radii curves.  The original design was someones "dream" layout that I liked.

 

Thanks for the layout Dave.  The one that Big Boy had come up with might be a tad difficult for me to incorporate because of the closeness of the curves near the Crossover.

 

My son has been very excited, so I wired up the Switches and some power taps and set it up to run in conventional mode.  A little more tweaking and I think it will be good as a temporary layout.

 

~Matt

Well, I hope you and your son have some great times together. Please let us know the final layout. I use 31s right now and I plan to add 42s, but I might switch to ScaleTrax before I go any further with my temporary layout. If I do that, the RealTrax will be used for Christmas layouts each year. I'm going to do some more work on what I sent you to see how small I can make it using some 31s. My eventual space will be a 13x21 room with 2 challenging doors and I haven't decided yet if I'll do pop-outs or work around them limiting my space to a 21x13x13 horsehoe from door to door.

Thanks, Greg, I've been following that thread and have made a note of your solution. With some adjustment, it will work for 1 of the doors. I'm thinking of a slide out section for the other door because it opens in and is on an angle. I got that idea from someone else here.