Can you help me solve my track puzzle?

Here is my question for the above photo. I think I can move the bridge down and to the left. I want to run the trolley line which now ends in a bumper across the bridge and have two parallel tracks. The curve shown is 0-36. What would be your best solution? Note that the trolley line closely parallels the edge of the table and cannot be moved. Any ideas?

It seems like you are looking for concentric curves. The outer curve will need to be larger than the inner curve, and since you state the outer curve is O-36 (smallest concentric size), it isn't really possible. However, if you were to use O-36 on the inside trolley line, and O-48 on the outside main line, concentric curves become possible. However, you also have to worry about equivalent degrees on the curve. You current picture shows a single O-36 45 degree turn. To get a concentric 45 degree turn out of O-48, you need one full 30 degree curve and one 1/2 curve at 15 degrees to get a total of 45 degrees. Also, with tight curves that close to the bridge, overhang clearance is also an issue to consider.

Change the curve to O 48 and use and O36 on the trolley line

But the bridge doesn't look to be wide enough to have 6" spaced FasTrack.  You could use O31 on the trolley, but will have to play with it for track spacing and clearances.  You could also look at mixed O48/36/31 curves to get what you need.  Nothing says you have to only have constant radii through the turn.

Michael:

If I understand the photo correctly start by dissembling the inner track. Then extend the trolley track with O36 curves then place the bridge appropriately. Once done start working with the curvature for the inner track to see if it is in deed possible to curve it into the bridge using O36 or O48 track. You can use O36 by placing short straights where needed.

You will need to move everything else up out of the way though.

Joe

What does the other side of the bridge look like? More curves or straights? If the bridge can be moved away from the curve it may be easier to accomplish your goal.

DMASSO posted:

What does the other side of the bridge look like? More curves or straights? If the bridge can be moved away from the curve it may be easier to accomplish your goal.

More curves...

Is there such a thing as 0 flex track?

Michael Hokkanen posted:

Is there such a thing as 0 flex track?

Gargraves makes an O gauge flex track, but you need adapters to go to/from Fastrack at each end - probably not your answer.

http://www.gargraves.com/flextrack.html

There is also Atlas O but only the 40 inch track.

I solved the puzzle. I added an 0-31 curve but backed the new trolley line down a little to make it work. I have test both trains at the same time crossing the bridge and it works! 

With a similar situation, I went with a shared line and anti collision blocks by tying two turnouts to switch in unison and relays for corrosponding power drops on blocks before each turnout. No command made it pretty easy. I think no command on the trolley line could be used similarly too though more complicated.

Just another option should this not work out for some reason.

Good luck!

The problem was the arc angle of the curve required for the converging tracks to meet.

It appears that you were able to change the angle of the bridge track at the top match 45°.

If you get stuck again, O48 has the smaller angles of 7.5° & 15° that you can mix with O36 45°, 22.5° & 11.25° to achieve arcs to fit.

Then, adding or removing straights on the converging straights will align the curves.

The ace in the hole is cutting some out of the center of FasTrack to make custom lengths or arcs.

You can use a protractor and compass to figure it out when you don't use track software.

Thanks, and to all, my deepest APOLOGIES for the toasted tootsies that show up in the picture. Never saw that coming.