Layout expansion help requested

John, it looks like your new space is going to be connected to your old layout through a tunnel under your stairs with very limited access.  I'm guessing your stairs are at least 36" wide, and with a 30" table right next to them in your new area, you're going to find dealing with any maintenance or derailment issues under the stairs will be quite troubling.

Further, if you want true "reversing" (changing directions on the same track), you will have to build some kind of a "bulb" (maybe 5.5' square) into your design in the new room.  Otherwise, your trains will just be running on an oval that has been stretched, like a dog-bone or a folded loop.

To solve both of these problems, my suggestion would be to break your circle where it completes near the tunnel and build your bulb there.  At 5.5' square, you still might need an access hatch in the center to reach the track on the bulb nearest the stairs.

Chuck

I have access under the stairs to the pass thru under the stairs so no problem there. When you say bulb  do you mean just a loop to reverse travel?

Here's pictures of the pass thru and access to it John

Yes, a reversing loop for one track requires the starting point to be a switch and a loop so that a train on a single track enters the loop in one direction and exits the loop onto the same track in another direction.  You could treat your entire new oval area as a reversing loop if you placed that switch right where your track exits the tunnel into your new room.

Chuck

@PRR1950 posted:

Yes, a reversing loop for one track requires the starting point to be a switch and a loop so that a train on a single track enters the loop in one direction and exits the loop onto the same track in another direction.  You could treat your entire new oval area as a reversing loop if you placed that switch right where your track exits the tunnel into your new room.

Chuck

I was thinking along that line but wasn't suure now I will have to investigate the idea. Thanks John

Don't know if this will help, but thought I'd post it to show what king of track might fit. The blue tracks are concentric and the orange is just to show O31 reversing loops.

I want to thank you all for your input. I have a plan that incorporates ideas from both suggestions. I will try to draw it out later today and post for comments John

Here is the plan and original layout in the other room. John

Looking at the original set of photos and the current layout, should I assume the idea is to connect the narrow bench work on the left to the main table in that room with lift-out/up bridges and also connect the upper bench work to the main table with a single lift-out/up bridge? How large is that main table?

It also looks like you intend to use the current layout for the reversing loops, not a bad idea.

I’m going to try to incorporate your drawing into the sample I posted. I’m not sure how quickly I’ll get to it though, but it’ll be today, hopefully this morning.

Yes the narrow piece is connected to the main with bridges. I will add one more from th wall opening to the small table. The main table is 5x12 the yard one is 2x8 and the small one is 1x9. The main table and the 2x8 join by butting together and pinned in place. I layed out the plan with track and it seems to fit. Not sure where the reverse would take place on the original layout.With the addition of the 3rd bridge it might work. John

John, you’re right about the reversing. When I glanced at the new stuff I thought that was a double crossover on the left, but I see now it’s not. In fact, the way it’s designed, you get trapped inside, so that needs to change.

Do you mean the crossover on the left? If so I can use 4 switches to make it work. john

John, I need to apologize. I had started a response and got sidetracked. We're in the middle of a renovation and I thought I posted it. Anyway, here's what I've got so far. The red line along the top and left, then around the yellow line forms a large loop. Then if you take the yellow switch before you get back to the red line, it forms a reversing loop. The purple line along the top and left through the crossing to the blue line forms another reversing loop back to the red/yellow line. As you can see, there's not enough room for the upper left yellow switch to use the narrow table along the wall unless there's more space on the other side of the wall than just the few inches of wall. That's what I made it a set of 2 spurs with an escape crossover.

Dave no problem I am in a hold pattern till I get the wiring for the yard extension correct. I have a cable bundle to trace out. I like the plan. Will see how it works. As for the side table I have about 3 ' (stair width ) to work with. Hopefully will get a chance later to check out the plan. John Thanks for you time and effort. john

In that case, John the switch and curve could be relocated to the narrow table. I look forward to reading what you think whenever you get around to it. Good luck.

Dave did some playing around with the track last night. With minimal changes to the yard and side table I think I can make it work. The good part is I can use only the 42 and 54 in curves. It will take some cutting track but will be an interesting run for the trains. Thank you very much for the help. I don't think I woul have thought of the arrangement at the pass through. I wll post some pictures when I get the track laid. Thank you again John

You’re welcome, John. I look forward to following your progress.

Done with Atlas track.  20+ Years ago, Atlas had a track software.  Each block, faint lines, is 1 ft square.  Done in a small bedroom, 13 1/2 foot X 10 foot. Note: The closet, bottom of picture.  Room door is lower right.  O54 outer loop, (required 5 ft table width), O45 inner loop.  There were two major additions to this original layout.  One bottom left.  The other, via an Atlas double track bridge, to a remote, (Coal tipple section), of the layout.

Thats a neat plan. I don;t think it will fit my rooms. John

John, based on the photos, here's a fairly close rendition.

That looks real close. What I didn't include is that the yard tracks (2) will be shortened to make room for the return and switch to the table. But it is a work in progress. Thanks  John

I just wanted to see for myself how it would fit. I think you’ll get a lot of enjoyment out if it.

I figured that. I spent about an hour working onthe incline issue and have one track fixed. Will try the other in the next few days. Should be easier now that I know what to expect. John

Well I finally made some progress. Here are the pictures of it so far. Will need to rethink the lift up /or out section.  Not sure how to deal with the ends of tracks at the  hinge end

Check out the build threads by Mike or Mark for ideas on the bridge.

https://ogrforum.com/topic/81819043192051316

https://ogrforum.com/topic/70693071052103592

I think I found the answer in Marks thread just have to reposition the hinges to the top side instead of underneath. Still working on the wiring problem but making progress. Find it slow going but also jumping between track and wiring it is not as boring as sticking to one or the other. john