This is a layout design concept presented for ideas and feedback. I do not have a specific layout / space in mind, just trying to talk about it in the abstract. This is a concept to increase the length of a mainline in limited space which is often a problem. The goal is realistic operations, rather than display, but with longer running mainline times. The idea is to use one or more loops that a mainline train would follow several times to extend running time and distance. I have imagined a passenger railroad as an example. Imagine a hypothetical railroad that runs from City A to City C, with a station (B) in between. The numbers are units of distance (ie miles or whatever). The top drawing is a schematic of the railroad.
The second picture shows the hypothetical railroad translated into a hypothetical layout. A train departs terminal A and then enters the mainline extender loop at distance 2. It goes around the loop three times (or any number of times) and then leaves the loop at distance 10. After a stop at the station B, the train enters another extender loop at 14. Again it goes around the loop three times and leaves the loop at distance 22. Thus the run time would be much longer than leaving Terminal A, going directly to station B and then directly to terminal C.
The loop would probably not be a circle like the second one is shown as that would look poor. Depending on the layout space, a larger loop would be desirable for appearance. There might be some automation involved to count the number of revolutions of the loop and throw the switches. This would get very complicated if the mainline is two directional. A passing siding would probably be needed on the extender loop. A double track mainline would also be very complicated with trains crossing the opposite mainline to come and go from the loop.
Has anyone ever tried this concept. Thoughts, ideas, suggestions?
Bill
