Introduction

RIGHTTIREFIRE- first welcome to the forum. Great bunch of folks ready to offer help, support, and occasionally criticize your work. I have a similar path back into model trains but mine went from HO to O. I had a huge layout as a kid, two actually, that went into boxes when I got married and moved. I always kept a loop of track under the tree each year since. Fast forward to a few years ago when I finally convinced my better half to let me carve out a small corner of our small basement to build a layout. It's 4X8 but it satisfies my train bug and let's me keep the trains running year round. I have since bought way too much stuff (finally slowing down) and having a blast with one of the best hobbies around.

My point is that you may be able to do the same. Don't let the space constraints keep you from enjoying the hobby. Lots of great track plans for small spaces available. Don't be locked into ovals either. Shelf layouts along the wall can be fun too. If reversing loops can be fit then switching and running can be accomplished in relatively tight quarters.

I like what you are doing with the double loop for under the tree. My one suggestion would be to mount the track to either plywood or rigid foam board. It will help keep the track straight and also up off the carpet. Gives you an opportunity to do a little scenery around the tracks too. You don't have to use full sheets, just cut pieces wide enough to hold the track and make it in sections that can be easily assembled and then stored for the rest of the year.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

Paul-

Only a handful of stuff left me.

RSJB-

This is definately a KISS situation. But with o54 and 42 it exceeds the panel size already. The kid isnt all that interest but likes a train for Christmas, but wasnt interested in setting it up or running it. 

Plus Im a saltwater aquarium keeper and would rather set up a second tank then a dedicated train layout. 

With that in mind i do plan to have a nice set up for about 3 months a years assuming the cat wont godzilla the layout, she had a thing for the trees last year

righttirefire posted:

After some extensive thought. The picture has 13, 10" straight track. If O42 requires 12 track lengths to make a circle, 270 degrees would be 9 track lengths plus 15" on each end to the crossover. I might make the loop without the "snake" biting its tail. Or I may need to remove 1 car, November cant come soon enough

Ah, I forgot about loop type limits on length.

Note that table layout above is only 23" X 31".  Bending rail to a new size isn't really too hard. I don't think any of those would have issues on 0-22 or bigger.

Too bad, you have to slow down buying. I saw a operating Santa's submarine flatcar .

•   You might need a siding for a second engine and train eventually. Maybe a station with timed auto-stop cabability?  And/or an E unit /relay to aleternate which train runs ? You could build a timer, or alternating, or multi-train "yard ladder" system for 3 or more locos, and/or go with e-bay electronic modules, etc..  This kinda stuff isn't that hard or costly really.   

  No trolley ? The bump and go trolley has some action appeal that might be more attractive to kiddo. Same with Maintenance of Way "critters".

  Maybe kiddo might have an eye for someting a little more realistic or something he could push to it's limits and roll over a few times.... i.e.... a toy that if broken won't cause a big stir (cast postwar steam and heavy steel-plate Marx are ideal imo...cheap & nearly bullet proof.), Or one that might lead to more interaction with the trains, (like an operating gantry crane? A crane is a very useful accessory with more play appeal than folks expect...they only need to try one to get caught up in the challange of it.  Like the crane coin op games at the store. ;)

Righttirefire.

In sickness and health. . don't see divorce . you have ..MTS. 

M odel T rain S yndrome...

Hi Mike,

You are the right track working on the Christmas train year round. Many start in July that enjoy changing up the track plan. The twice around is a good track plan. 

You can get a longer train in using a 45° cross that enlarges the inside circle. 

When the missus changes the furniture, you get to start over because the tree has to be moved. It keeps the layout planning interesting.

Some have a large year round Christmas themed layout. 

If you use the forum search or advanced search tool for "Christmas" or "Christmas layout" search terms and such you'll find some cool layouts and discussions.

My Christmas train is the conventional Lionel North Pole Central freight with the expansion pack and  a new MTH lighted Christmas tree flat car. it is almost 10' long. I went to an oval with a bent end. Family and guests remember the train, not the track plan. The long train received a lot of comments this year. I also added a bump and go Christmas trolley. I have the Polar Express layout that is year round in the basement.

Keep it up and create memories for the family. Change it up and have some fun.

Welcome to the forum.

Garrett76 does a new version each year and has a couple of nice long candy trains Check out his wordpress blog.

Forum member DougieFresh changes each year with a nice display.

The train is out!

Well my twice around crossover christmas layout got met with resistance today. Apparently she forgot we agreed on the layout earlier in the year.

 But we weren't expecting an addition to our family either, so with 6 weeks left until a new hatchling shows his face. I simplied the christmas layout. 

Another christmas past and the layout expanded, so did our family, we welcomed a baby in Jan 2020, already a train fan!

031 oval with a couple switches and an 042 oval.

Added a couple new cars this year, still hunting for some cars.

Righttirefire, please take a look at THIS.

@Rich Melvin posted:

Righttirefire, please take a look at THIS.

Rich, you're absolutely right and I appreciate the advise. Tune in for the next update, christmas 2021.