First layout ever underway

Great start, have fun & enjoy😄

I heard, some time ago, that crafting a layout, which involves so much and such a variety of thinking skills, through all the creativity, planning, problem solving, execution, corrections, adaptations, and imagination, that the whole overall activity builds brain cells, along with other benefits that attend to longevity and quality of life.

You may not believe it now, but you will be sorry when the layout is finished (if ever) and you will miss the adventure of it all, even though you may be exhausted and relieved for a while afterwards.

You will be a very happy hobbyist while you are creating this layout, but you will miss the creative intellectual activity of it all, too, when it is completed.

And to have the joy of children being involved with you in the project, well, that helps turn the whole enterprise into a treasure.

Respectfully suggested,

FrankM, Moon Township, USA layout.

Moonson… kind words and great encouragement.  From Tuesday through Saturday AM this week I'm unencumbered of kids and wife (they will be out of town) and will have ample time to make a big dent in this.  Question is where to focus my attention.  Not having done this before I could use some advice.  I'm guessing that just getting the track and switches laid out, cut to size and electrically solid with block isolation for conventional operation would be my first priority, then make sure my accessories (operating and otherwise) fit as expected.  I would only focus on my lower elevation routes, my outer O72 loop at 7" elevation is electrically isolated from the rest and for now I'd be mostly concerned that I have room to support an elevated track.

This sound about right?  Am I missing anything that I need to be concerned about sooner than later.  All advice is greatly appreciated.

Kirk R 

Looking good! Best of luck with all your free time this week!

Kirk R posted:

Moonson… kind words and great encouragement.  From Tuesday through Saturday AM this week ...will have ample time to make a big dent in this.  Question is where to focus my attention.  Not having done this before I could use some advice.  I'm guessing that just getting the track and switches laid out, ...

This sound about right?  Am I missinganything that I need to be concerned about sooner than later.  All advice is greatly appreciated.

Kirk R 

Hi Kirk, All your conclusions seem sensible and practical to me.

To them, I would add some factors which became (learned as I progressed as a total novice) paramount to me when I first laid track (1994-95) upon my newly built platforms, constructed of 2x4 frames and legs, with 3/4" finished-on-one-side plywood tops:

1. Decide if the primary or sole way you will be approaching every inch of real estate you create will be by mounting (climbing aboard) the layout or simply being able to reach inward, able to access every inch. Believe me. This can become a major consideration, as the layout and you get older.

2. The track must be perfect in every  way, before you construct any mountains,, a second level, or begin scenery. If the track is not commodious to every train you will ever run, you will be unhappy with attempts to rectify the track problems/limitations , later.

3. If you are going to construct mountains, be sure to place the portal/mouth of the tunnels some distance down the straight line of track leading up to and entering the mountain. Do not put the portal on a curve, because later down the line (pun intended) you will have to stand or crawl there to fuss with engines and cars, especially scale passenger coaches, that don't quite pass through the entrance without scraping the sides of the portal. I have only had, and planned on only having, scale locomotives (as you can see here) on any of the ten closed-loops of track on the layout.)

Ex. However, here, with the portal on the right, I broke my own rule about not having a tunnel entrance on a curve, and so, to this day, it is the portal that dictates which locomotives and trains I can run on this line, not my serendipity. Even the steam locomotive seen here comes very near hitting the portal and trim on the inside. Otherwise, for me, I have only been able to run diesels here due to the curved track being at the portal (!)

4. If you will have more than one track entering a mountain, to test how accommodating the prospective curves of each track (in my layout, three mainlines) inside might be to every train you may ever run in there, before the mountain has even begun to be built above the curved track, parallel to each other, place a scale passenger coach on each track, and with your hands on the roof of each coach, gently push them along the parallel tracks, simultaneously. If they do not bump or scrape against each other, you will know if you have a trouble-free line of parallel tracks inside what will someday be a tunnel/mountain that will not be easily accessed for track adjustments., later.

5. And lastly, when you get the impulse to divert from rules you've established or adopted, or from plans for the day, and you want to do something off-script for that session, go ahead and do it. Be whimsical. Be innovative. And impulsive. And spontaneous. Remember, you are not at work; rather, you are at-play. Go ahead and play, Kirk.

 FrankM, Moon Township, USA, layout.

Moonson, wonderful layout and sage advice.  Mountains and portals are a long way off but I understand your thinking.  

Regarding Frank's sage advice on clearances. 

A scale Big Boy overhangs an O72 curve by about 3.125 inches.

The next largest item would be scale 21" passenger cars which overhangs O72 curves by about 2.25 inches.

For those running smaller than O72 curves the next largest item would be a scale crane car.   I don't know the overhangs off the top of my head, but I happen to own a MTH Premier crane and have Atlas track from O27 to O72.   If you would like to know the overhangs to plan for send me an email at the address listed in my profile and I will be glad to measure for you over the weekend.  Yes, my scale crane will make it around a O27 curve going really slowly when coupled to my 44 Tonner.  I tested it out of fun one day. 

-Greg

My #1, #2 and #3 suggestions: 

1.  Decide up front- "scale model" or "toy train" look??  There is no real middle ground, IMHO.  The scale model looking layout is (for me) far more rewarding. 

While the operating accessories are neat, and they capture the interest of kids, to me-  making the layout look realistic (within the requirements to "compress" etc.) is the way to go.  And you CAN get a realistic effect with the compressed "O-Gauge" cars and locomotives.  Plus you can do that using reasonable-size curves.    

2.  The part that adds to the realism for me is a realistic track/scenery/structure mix.  Don't over-do the trackage.  Too many try and have multiple main lines etc., and all within a basement-limited size.  It never looks right except maybe in N scale.  

3.  Get the trains running early.  It's a lot more fun to work on the layout for a few hours, and then be able to spend an hour or so running trains.  I tried building a couple of layouts (HO) as "dioramas"- where each scene was to be done then another added.  Ugh.  

Great insight guys... I'll post as I make some substantial progress.  

I'll be testing my elevated O72 with a PRR caterpillar that I've acquired.  That needs 2 3/8" (from center rail) around O72 curves.  I'll add to that a bit just to make sure.  

Greg... we've emailed before.  We are close so come on over to check the build out... offering cold beer!

Mike... planning for some scale, a lot of post-war/MPC though.  Not looking to make this realistic for now... I lack the time and patience.  Maybe upon retirement!  Did get 3 engines rolling so far... basically to confirm my Z4000 works... and it does!

More to come.

Kirk- all sage advice up to now.

The most important thing is

HAVE FUN!

I started my build (small 4X8) a few years ago and I'm having a ball. Don't stress over minor details. This too shall pass.

Bob