"heritage operations" - running standard gauge to its limits

I think the shear size of standard gauge keeps many folks from running more complexed layouts; especially once a table comes into play. Of course wives may be a factor as well An anti collision/anti derail system wouldn't be hard though. Isolated rails as triggers (or the Marx O isolated rail cover/wrap..Robert Grossman Co. of Ohio... a thin metal strip with two sided tape to insulate it. I think it may be big enough), or lionel pressure triggers under ties, or even modern infrared detectors, could all be used to achieve what you ask. I did a whole room once with a reverse loop, stop blocks, and automatic switching to vary routes somewhat. It was O, but I don't see how size really matters here; the focus being on operations. I also have a C&F plan saved I liked for the wildness of it. I'll try to post pictures soon. I can't yet as the attachment tool is failing to show up again. It might show after I post this; it might not...???

Not...and I didn't type that as a solid block of text either.

..ok, there it is....finally.

And this is a smaller version by former(?) member Ace. I think less switches get used on this. I'll have to look for the original.

This is what I used to have in the living room. The auto turnouts orientation could be switched to normal by toggle, but here they oppose each other. If one switch is thrown by anti derail, the other switch follows suit. E.g. it comes into B on the deviation, the A switches to straight. The train takes A and circles to A's deviation, A anti derail changes to the deviation AND switches B to straight.   The result was an alternating  path. (The manual turnouts we're for when keeping the engine away from seating was wanted for guests.... except for MY swivel seat (think of Archie  Bunker on that seat, lol)

Sure you can do it all, though "daring crossovers" and the like generate angst for the operator... You really dont want to "Gomez Adams" standard gauge after all. I have a big loop with no switches for the "suspect" trains with large gears, or for drama free highball operations... A second loop that uses Ross switches in two reversing loops, and a 3rd loop with a double crossover for some diamond banging fun.  I would caution you that when standard gauge picks a point it gets ugly REAL fast.  I had a Shelley 4-4-4 pick a switch point and took the entire train 42" to the floor....Rendering it ALL to the scrap/project pile.  If you HAVE to have switches, use Ross. Best design yet.

Adriatic, those are some interesting plans.  Ace had some really creative track ideas, I miss seeing his posts. 

This track configuration has been shared on the forum a few times.  It certainly offers opportunities for block control and needing to keep your hand on the throttle, switch controllers, and block power switches.  It's roughly 10' by 6' in O31, I'm not sure how large of a space it would need for standard gauge.

 

Hello all ....loops for carefree operations ....switches and cross overs for the spice of life . 

 

here is a link to see the C&F layout mention above in action 

 

https://www.facebook.com/Tinpl...os/1529511920444634/

 

 

ok so if you still fell up to more than looping ..Bill Walthers  ( yes he was all about standard gauge before O).. please see posting at 

 

https://ogrforum.com/...-bill-walthers-attic

 

 

also he wrote a whole book about it in 1932.... "Signal and Control Manual for Miniature Railaways"   by W K Walthers ...electricity stills works the same way  so go for it 

cheers Carey 

 

 

   I miss him too. He is doing other things lately, but still kicking strongly this last spring from what I could tell  

  Stop blocks set to protect from mistakes might be prudent. "Train A must cross point A for train B to continue" etc, etc. Lots of wiring, but better safe than sorry; eh?

  I thought of a drop off of a layout and preference for the floor, but didn't want to jinx or even mildly horrify with that thought in print . 

  At some point a shelf queen is a good thing historically.  But I can't be a hipocrate.  Personally, if you gave me a mint Model-T,  I'd likely enter it in the Baja to see for myself how tough they were.

  If it runs and belongs to me, I'll run it hard till it protests in some way. 

But I'd still downshift and brake early near the drop offs

GO FOR IT!

In addition to all the sage and helpful comments above, if you plan to run your trains on an elevated layout I recommend you consider adding a fascia to the edge of your layout, similar to the concept used by SGMA.  It will eliminate any concerns you might have about your trains falling to the floor.

Bob Nelson