Hello everyone. I'm going to use this thread to chronicle the build. With a basement in hand, and a 3 year old into trains, I get to proceed and start rekindling the hobby! We're starting small, with a 4x8 table built based off a Lionel YouTube video. The track plan is @Ken-Oscale 4x8 Cisco from OGR 275: https://ogrforum.com/...icle-in-ogr-run-275, which I plan to expand into one of his L or U shape designs such as this one later on: https://ogrforum.com/...k-layout-on-two-4x8s. Long-term plans involve a finished basement and dedicated, but reasonably sized train room (but at least big enough to accommodate an O72 loop), someday.
This layout will run TMCC and LionChief equipment, all semi-scale, powered by a Postwar ZW with fast-acting circuit breakers and TVS diodes as the forum recommends. There will also be Lionel operating accessories such as the Sawmill, Icing Station, and 497 Coaling Station, the early 2000s reproductions that Lionel made when I was a kid. Assorted other items as well - gateman, crossing gate, rotary beacon, etc...stuff like that where it fits. Building a small tunnel somewhere would be nice, but it's a tight layout and I'm not sure if we can squeeze one in (maybe in a corner somehow).
Right now, I have two design options for the inner loop. They are both from Ken - one is the original 4x8 Cisco with no modifications, other than to make the outer loop a full compound curve, which he details in his book and uses in his newer designs, and deleting the loop crossovers for now to save on the cost of the switches. The second is from the inner loop of his L shape layout linked above, which I worked up using AnyRail and should fit okay within the same perimeter compound curve outer loop. I think the first option provides ample room for the accessories, the second more sidings for switching and storage.
Anyway, I am excited to get started and will post about progress here. Probably not the most interesting thread since we're going small for now, but I appreciate any feedback and encouragement anyone may have.
I'll post the two plans here for now, to see if anyone has any comments or suggestions. Just assume there is a full oval perimeter route on both, with an O44 compound curve (O48 and O36 sections). (I just started and haven't purchased the full version of AnyRail yet, thus limited to 50 track sections). I also know I'm living a little dangerously with the outer loop going to the very edges of the table - any recommendations on installing some sort of border/lip/fascia etc around the edges of the table would be appreciated.
Thanks everyone.