I wish that I had the space to build this layout from a March 1942 Model Builder with all Atlas O 90 inch diameter curves. I would modify it by adding two passing sidings and a small yard so that I could run opposing trains and operate a couple of accessories.
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Plenty of running there.
On my small 5x8 layout I have 2 loops and one siding. Plenty of room for interesting scenics to showcase the "Good Old Days" of the 1950s. In fact, I've told people that what I have is a diorama of the 1950s, with some trains added so I can call this insanity a "hobby".
Big John, I live near Philly, in Media. Email me if you want to stop by. After 12/8 would be great. Then you could see my 2 Christmas layouts as well.
Of all the track plans Lionel had pictured in their track planning books, I would have to say the 4 x 8 over and under doggone plan was probably their most ingenious. It fit on a sheet of plywood and had plenty of running for a small space along with room for sidings to accommodate operating accessories. Here's one version of it.
Dan Padova posted:Of all the track plans Lionel had pictured in their track planning books, I would have to say the 4 x 8 over and under doggone plan was probably their most ingenious. It fit on a sheet of plywood and had plenty of running for a small space along with room for sidings to accommodate operating accessories. Here's one version of it.
Dan,
Would you happen to have a better, (sharper) copy of this track plan you could post. I am very interested in building a slightly enlarged version this layout. However, I can not read any of the print on the plan. On my computer, all the printing is somewhat blurred, and even enlarging the view on the screen does not help. I even tried using a magnifier to help these old eyes, but still can not read anything.
Thanks,
Jeff
Does anyone know what layout book this plan came from? I would like to find a copy that is more clear, so I can read the words and part numbers on the materials list. Thanks.
Jeff
Jeff, this layout was shown in the Lionel Track Planning book. The one with the blue cover. It's a paperback book that is about the size of a magazine. I'll try to find a better picture of it and repost it today.
Here is my favorite (5x9). Thanks to Paul for grabbing me a copy of this out of the CTT October 2013 issue.
And I'll be a monkey's uncle. Made you guys go hunting for a layout of this plan (as it was behind a paywall) and searching for books today, came across the back cover of the CTT's "Track Plans for Lional Fastrack" and lo and behold ...
https://images-na.ssl-images-a...es/I/81MJhyoxBuL.jpg
Looks like this runs off of one transformer. I assume it has to be a honking powerful one with a long bus line and lots of feeders underneath.
Dan Padova posted:Jeff, this layout was shown in the Lionel Track Planning book. The one with the blue cover. It's a paperback book that is about the size of a magazine. I'll try to find a better picture of it and repost it today.
That would be great, as I do not have a copy of that planning book. I really like that design, and may build my grandson's layout into that plan.
Jeff
If it is this book, be aware that the designs may, or may not be accurate. Hopefully the book has been edited. Years ago when I tried putting these layouts into RRTrack. many didn't even come close to closing.
As for FasTrack, this is a layout that I always liked...
I didn't ask whether or not Jeff is using Fastback or tubular. I'm familiar with the tubular layout for a 4 x 8 sheet of plywood.
Jeff, try this link,
http://ctt.trains.com/~/media/...%20Track%20plans.pdf
Scroll down to the "INDIANAPOLIS AND HARTFORD CITY RAILROAD" plan. It's much more clear than the picture I posted in my post of 11-18-17
Thanks Dan. I can make copies of this info now. I am building in 027. However, I have a 5x9 table already set up with a simple layout for my grandson to run. I want to build a more interesting plan to keep his enthusiasm up. This "I. and H.C." looks like something that will hold his attention for a while. I am going to fiddle with the design a little to see if I can build it with a little wider curves. I have a bunch of 042, (I think), that I am using on the current layout. With the extra length and width I have, I may be able to widen the curvature on some of the curves while still keeping the original design mostly intact. We are running Postwar Lionel, so I don't need really wide curves anyway.
Jeff
That sounds like a plan Jeff. Keep us informed with pictures.
Dan Padova posted:Jeff, this layout was shown in the Lionel Track Planning book. The one with the blue cover. It's a paperback book that is about the size of a magazine. I'll try to find a better picture of it and repost it today.
Here is a similar plan from the 1975 Track Planning book:
I wouldn't say this is my favorite track plan of all time, but it's one of the most intriguing.
I saw this layout in the 1970s in a Branch Brook store in Hazlet, NJ. For those not from New Jersey, Branch Brook was a small chain of stores that sold pools and summer items in the warm season and trains and billiards tables and Christmas items in winter. In the late 1960s and 1970s it was one of the only retail stores you could go to that truly made an effort to sell Lionel trains.
The layout is interesting to me because, among other things, it features two 45-degree crossovers and along with the 90-degree crossover. As a kid, I stood in front of it watching trains run and I still didn't have a good sense of how the flow worked, even though they were running right in front of me.
The layout is also reasonably compact, as the above shows. With O27 track, it can fit on a 4x6' board (which is how I originally saw it).
I've always wanted to extend the top part and put a Christmas tree just above the 90-degree crossing.
Another fun topic, Mr. Stanley.
Steven J. Serenska
As for FasTrack, this is a layout that I always liked...
That's the nicest 4x8 FasTrack layout I've ever seen.
Pete
Favorite plan is HO for 4x8, flex track and 22" radius snap-switches. Good length on the branch line, good switching potential. Could be adapted for O on a larger platform. for HO.
Pete
Pete,
I like that one.
Texas Pete posted:As for FasTrack, this is a layout that I always liked...
That's the nicest 4x8 FasTrack layout I've ever seen.
Pete I agree, but your layout design rendering doesn't show the double-siding (or off-board interchange) at the right side of the photo. That's an interesting feature that should be preserved!
Serenska posted:I wouldn't say this is my favorite track plan of all time, but it's one of the most intriguing.
I saw this layout in the 1970s in a Branch Brook store in Hazlet, NJ. For those not from New Jersey, Branch Brook was a small chain of stores that sold pools and summer items in the warm season and trains and billiards tables and Christmas items in winter. In the late 1960s and 1970s it was one of the only retail stores you could go to that truly made an effort to sell Lionel trains.
The layout is interesting to me because, among other things, it features two 45-degree crossovers and along with the 90-degree crossover. As a kid, I stood in front of it watching trains run and I still didn't have a good sense of how the flow worked, even though they were running right in front of me.
The layout is also reasonably compact, as the above shows. With O27 track, it can fit on a 4x6' board (which is how I originally saw it).
I've always wanted to extend the top part and put a Christmas tree just above the 90-degree crossing.Another fun topic, Mr. Stanley.
Steven J. Serenska
I've not seen this one before. It packs alot of running into a small space. You can make it even more interesting by the careful placement of tunnels. Using a 110 graduated trestle set, you can just about make it work. Starting at the left or right side with the lowest pier, pier "A" will be at one of the 45 degree crossings. Then you would use a 111 set to get to the other side, then decent down. Of course the three crossings would be eliminated.
This is my Favorite Track Plan, justifiably because it is the one I built 39 years ago and still love. It has a turntable and reversing figure 8 and can run two trains on each of two loops. It is portable and can be moved from house to house if moving is required or put up in storage leaning against a wall of garage/car port if used seasonal.
Picture of Main Control panel showing my favorite Track Plan - Red and green buttons are for Marx switches and blue buttons are uncoupling sections. Black slide switches are for switching off and on each blocked section. The whole layout is blocked except for switches.
To see my five page topic on OGR on how I built this layout and the $10 scratch built turntable check out the link below.
https://ogrforum.com/...ra-027-layout?page=1
Charlie
I always thought this one would be fun to set up on the floor, put two or three locos out there, assign a switch to 4 different people, and keep the trains moving without any mishaps.
Serenska posted:"I wouldn't say this is my favorite track plan of all time, but it's one of the most intriguing..."
You got that right! This one is a real knuckle-ball, twilight-zone of a plan that when you mentally trace it makes you dizzy! It would be cool to watch in action...
∞ O
I'm just easy 
Ted Sowirka posted:Texas Pete posted:As for FasTrack, this is a layout that I always liked...
That's the nicest 4x8 FasTrack layout I've ever seen.
Pete I agree, but your layout design rendering doesn't show the double-siding (or off-board interchange) at the right side of the photo. That's an interesting feature that should be preserved!
I don't care for 'em, and they were not in the original track plan as it appeared in the magazine.
Unless you're plugging the layout into a larger setup it's a needless expenditure for a useless pair of overpriced FasTrack switches. I see it as a stand-alone layout, which is how it was designed.
Pete
Pete,
Where did it appear originally?
12 monkeys posted:Pete,
Where did it appear originally?
Was in OGR magazine a couple years back. Saw it when I still had a digital subscription.
Pete
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