Hello Everyone,
I'm getting re-started in the O-gauge hobby and will have a 5'x10' blank slate to work with. I have a coal tower, log loader, and an operating milk car platform to incorporate along with 8 or 10 turn outs and and about 10 operating signals. I have other things to use, but the ones listed are essential. My switches and curves are O54. Any and all ideas are welcome and appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Larry
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Hi.I don't think 10, 0-54 turnouts are going to work on a 5x10 layout.You need more room buddy.Nick
You might have to switch from the 0-54 to get it to fit, play around with it and see what works. I don't know what type of trains you are running, but I have two main loops, each 0-36. The outside loop has no switches or obstruction of any kind so I can run my prewar pickup shoe engines. The inner loop has all of my operating accessories.
I started with probably 6-7 switches but pulled almost all of them back out as the layout progressed. One, I realized I couldn't run the older stuff across the switches, and two, while everyone tried to convince me to add switching capabilities, reversing loops and crossovers, I never used them. So out they came.
CTT did a running article on a post war inspired layout that I think would meet a lot of your needs. It was compact but featured a number of operating accessories.
You can fit a figure 8/oval in the space, but that's going to be it. Even then, you'd need to cut 4 tracks to custom length and it would use only 4 turnouts. The straight sides would be right on the edge too. You could add 6 more turnouts by replacing 6 curved pieces, but the straight sections would lead to nowhere. The bottom line is you need considerably more space to fit your requirements.
You might try using some layout planning software
AnyRail lets you download and try for free up to 50 pieces of track. It will at least give you an idea of the space you need with the track and accessories you have currently.
I think you might be surprised at how fast you fill that space up
http://www.anyrail.com/index_en.html
dive right in!!
have fun>
come on in the waters fine!!!!
The response by Popi is beautiful and right on!
the 5 X10 foot space is somewhat limited with the 054 track, but not hopeless. The five foot depth allows only one loop, possibly with an outside loop or maybe even one on each end. The center area can also accomodate sidings from either one or both sides to accomodate your accessories. In either case, Popi said it best, dive right in, the water is fine! There is also another free software out there it is called SCARM you can download it and play to your hearts content on figuring out your best layout possibilities. Good luck and welcome back. Chooch
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