Help with expansion of Fastrack 4X8 Layout

I like having a crossover in the middle so I moved one yard line to the opposite side and attached them with two more switches. The curved siding is longer and you could also curve the opposing one as well. I had to add the inverted quarter curves which could be problematic, but it kept me from having to alter your existing inner and outer curves. I also noticed you had matching pairs of 1 3/4 inch pieces on the inner curves. You know those make excellent center rail isolators because the red wire is easily removed from the bottom. It just means you could shut off the curves while working with the sidings.

Mike,

Thanks for the reply and ideas.  Splitting the sidings to the top and bottom of the layout did increase the length of the yard tracks even without curving around more with the quarter curves.

The revised plan attached somewhat compressed my "downtown buildings, however the layout did provide room for a few more buildings (Mel's drive in diner and an Esso gas station).

As always, I am still "over-thinking" what will work best.  Another 6" in depth would be wonderful, however, it really isn't available.

Well, I found that I can actually add another 5 inches to the depth of the board making the "final" layout 58" X 112" (4'-10" X 9'-4").

This will allow me to add another freight station and a movie theater plus another track segment to my "yard" to give me adequate parking space for the passenger cars when I am running freight.  I also pick up a lot more parking space at my passenger station.

I think that I will begin buying track for the attached.

'Let me now if you have any further suggestions.

Thanks.

I've seen that layout on YT and can not get that to work on a 4x8.

Riverrailfan,

I was able to lay out a 4X8 version in SCARM using Fastrack, however, all of the curved sections were 036 45 degree with a straight section at the outer loop ends.

The sidings were way too short to fit any reasonable number of passenger cars.

The passing section where my station was to be placed was also very short.

After developing the expanded plan I deleted my 4X8 SCARM layout or I would be happy to share it with you.

Curved sidings never work well. The answer is to have (one or more) rectangular extensions five foot in length (maybe longer) by at least 12 inches wide with two tracks that can be stored and attached to the main layout.  It is connected to live rail by a switch at one of the corner turns. You put it on and take it off. When I had one it had folding table legs, just like a card table. You can semi-permanently hinge it to the main table, with a folding leg inside,if you like.

'Still "over-thinking" the layout, however, it is getting closer to being finalized (see attached).

I could use some help from the more experienced regarding the use of uncoupling sections or tracks.

On this layout, is there a need for either 5" #6-12020 or 10" #6-12054 uncouplers and (if so) where would you place them?

I am getting ready to place an order for track.

Thank you.

Hi HMorgan125,

I have a couple of questions about your plan.

Do you have a specific accessory for the short siding at the top right?

Is there a reason you want to cross again at the top?

I am just thinking about reducing the number of switches.

I don't like the wiggle of the 036 turnout-to-turnout cross over. I moved the crossovers to ends off the curve. It makes for a few more small fitters or custom cut straights, but it will be a lot smoother. The pic and SCARM file attached.

Carl,

Thank you for taking the time to reply and to offer a great suggestion on moving the switches out to the corners.

I have eliminated the top cross and the short siding at the top right.  If I need another crossover between the tracks, I can add it in the future as I have changed the track plan to have room to duplicate the crossover switches at the bottom of the layout on the top portion if they become needed in the future.

I really appreciate your input.

I looked at your 30-67699. It is 68 3/4" in length. can't get one siding that long, so I split it into two. Need an uncoupler track to split the consist. The LC engine has an electro coupler for the final cut.

Clockwise running, stop before siding switch. Cut train one from engine. Through switch back into siding and collect both halves of train 2. Pull it out, crossover to outside, back up past switch and cut it. Then past switch, back into inner, hook to tr1, pull it past siding switch, back in, cut at half, push into one siding, out of siding, back into siding 2, cut with engine coupler, leave siding, go around and collect train 2 with engine coupler, line all switches and run the main.

I used 072 for the angle. The grey shows the roadbed for clearance check.

Carl,

It took me awhile to reposition the building that I had planned for the layout to work on your latest revised track plan, however, I feel that is was really worth the effort.

Everything seems to work well and your new plan does everything that I wanted with less switches and at considerably less cost.

The plan still fits on the 4'-10" X 9'-8" space that I have available and I could still add a few inches to the longer side if necessary.   The whole board will be mounted on casters so that I can move it away from a wall along the opposite side from the station for building and any (grandchildren-caused) mishaps that may happen.

I have attached a few "snapshots" of the layout as it now looks.

Thank you very much for your assistance.

Howard

Howard,

That's a nice looking table. I was just thinking about actually operating the train as you described earlier, when I made those changes.

If you are making your own buildings, try to use the right-click, group objects feature as you build. Then, you can select the building as one piece and move, rotate, change vertical position, etc. easily.

Be cautious about leaving gaps when using FasTrack. Too wide will pull on nearby tracks and too long will try to push apart in the corners. Do you have the FasTrack Lengths .pdf? I have attached it, in case you don't. It has all the combo's of track to get the length needed.

Post a picture sometime during the build. Good Luck!

here is a link for structures O gauge structures built by the SCARM community.

Scarm Hi-Railers

Also, in the SCARM Layout & Image thread, there is  a section where some structures were offered by OGR forum members

And some locos

Detailed 3D models of locos

have fun!

I used the layout in the Jan 2015 OGR, (Cisco). I set it up in one day on homosote on the basement floor for the grand kids to build up when they visit my wife in CT. This was my first layout using fasttrack turnouts. I found that my MTH GP9 shorts out on the turnouts; however, the camelback handles them well. The Mianne benchwork should arrive within 2 weeks for them to start the building process.

Have you considered adding a siding (or two) that leads into the corners, adding more switched of local industries. This generally does not take up more room, and gets the trains into the unused corners of the layout. the sidings may only hold one or two cars, however I find this enough if you enjoy switching on the layout.

Another option is to make the roads at an angle to the sides of the table, which may increase the illusion length of the road moving thru town. This would also allow you to place the road crossings away from the switches, where you can then use the fastrack road crossing track sections.

Looks like a good layout.

Joe K

Joe K,

Thanks for the suggestions.  If I can find a more inches of length, I may add a siding near the water tower planned for the lower left corner of the layout (gold cylinder in the attached optional version).

As to putting the roads and "town" on an angle...I am still looking into this, however,  the large MTH passenger station (blue roof center bottom of layout) really makes this a challenge.

Howard

Finally started on the benchwork...the layout will be 61 inches X 115 inches (all of the remaining room space available) and the entire "table" is set on three pairs of 2 inch locking casters.  The casters have already been a big help in completing a "mock-up" layout to test the track plan and to begin to run the initial buss wiring.

Photos of the final layout and the first two day's work are attached.

Next up will be the purchase of the three remaining switches, plywood top, and Quiet Brace (or other sound-proof track underlay).

Howard

Nice work on the movable table.

Will this be next to the main layout to look like part of it?

Carl,

Thank you for all of your help on creating the final track plan.

The new layout will be totally separate from my main (permanent Christmas) layout as I will be trying to fashion a 1953 New York Central theme on the new table.

I had looked at connecting the new layout to the existing setup, however, I could not work out a way to get back to the existing track from the new table without a lot of modification to the earlier setup.