Layout Help Please

While I do not have a layout program, I can offer some comments since I use Fastrack.

Currently, Fastrack curves are offfered in 36", 48" and 60"plus some larger sizes -- there is no 42" curve.  Since Fastrack has a built in roadbed, a circle of 48 actually needs 54" of space. That means the 4 feet available on the right side and lower left side of your layout plan will not accomodate your desired mainline size.

If you can squeese a bit more space, on the ends, the track plan guys can show you how to do a double reversing loop in.

I think your idea to use Fastrack is good because it has great electrical connectivity which will give you excellent operation

Tony

Up on "The D & H Bridge Line"

Thanks Tony.  See you already have shown I'm very new to all of this...LOL  Ok, lets go with the O-48 (54") Fastrack.  It's important to me to be able to run some of the bigger locomotives that have an O-42 minimum.

The 20' measurement is set in stone.  I can widen the others up a bit to work with the 54" space needed.

Ok, I've been doing some more research.  I see MTH makes Real Trax in a O-42 curves.  I'm thinking that I would like to stick with the 4' sections as I originally planned if possible.  Anyone have any thoughts on going with the Real Trax?

I like the mth real trax, but its very difficult to pull apart, especially if u hav small children. I mostly use it for my christmas layout.  

I also like real trax although there are pros & cons to any of the track systems. Magnetraction does NOT work on real trax-the rails are nickle silver. You can go to the MTH homepage, go to bottom of page and click on real trax icon. And yes, it is difficult to take apart which also is a good thing. The track pieces click togethe a specific way, but after a few times its easy. MTH has "Railware"- free rrt software in their starter sets. Also 031 curves to go within the 042 loop. Happy researching!!

Pete

I think the new MTH track may work with magnetraction as the rails are hollow.

Hey Tweet. ALCO is right about the space for fastrack, but unless you can walk around the entire layout, 54" reach is not a good idea, unless you want to spend a lot of time crwling around on your layout. Truth is, you'll have the same problem with 48" too. Perhaps if you would also show a diagram of the room/usable space we could add a few more comments. JA

I too am a noobie.. working on my first layout.  I am using ScaleTrax and am extremely pleased with it.  You seem to have a similar area as me.  Check out my layout HERE.  Might give you some ideas. 

George,

Here's some ideas for a layout.  Either one allows for the direction to reverse.  The first one is based on your original footprint request.  The second one shaves a foot off the end and top to allow walking access to all the switches.  It's only 12" which is tight but it beats crawling over the layout to get to derailments, IMO.

one comment I had to make about choosing a track system, if you plan to buy legacy and not dcs or dcs and not legacy might affect your track choice.  Simple reason - fastrack has command control switches, if you choose to go legacy and no dcs you can save yourself a lot of wiring mess with command switches.  Downside to those switches, they cost a lot of money (they are great though, I just purchased my first one and love it).  But just thought you might want to consider before you make a track choice.

However, if you plan to go with manual switches, none of this matters, but some of your manaul switches could be a far reach.  All personal preference.  Enjoy your railroading.

Realtrax and Scaletrax both have remote control switches. Both offer switch machines that can move to the off side of the track. The Realtrax switches are anti-derail in operation as long as you have enough voltage on them. They do have connections for Aux Power (14VAC) for switching so I use that. They have O-31, O-42, O-54, and O72 left and right, and O-72 Wye's.

The Scaletrax switches use a passive system for anti-derail, the switch does not throw but the design allows the rail to be pushed open by the wheels and the train goes on thru with the switch springing to original position after the last wheel. Scaletrax has one limitation, they do not offer a lot of different styles of switch.

They offer O-31, O-54, O-72, #4, and #6 in Left and Right side exit.

I need O-72 Wye's and they don't make them yet, I have been told by an MTH rep. they are on the list for the future.

Snowlover; As far as RealTrax being hard to put together and take apart, you missed the trick.  Simply Lift the off end to separate the track pieces. To assemble; Place one piece flat, hold the second piece at a 45 degree angle with the rails touching.

Press the rails together as you rotate the new piece down flat. They will snap together and stay together. After numerous re-connections, they will loosen, if they start coming apart, you can buy clips for the back side that lock the pieces together.

I really like the rail shape on both of these tracks. The Scaletrax is also much smaller  rails than all other O guage track. It makes the trains look bigger.

Scaletrax Flex tracks are also the easiest to shape that I've found. I do not advise a newcomer to try flex as his first shot. It requires a lot more work to lay properly.

Thanks for all of the information guys!!  I may be changing my initial layout plans.  The boss (wife) is thinking about freeing up some additional room for the layout...

Once you've closed the deal with the land lord, let us know and we'll see what we can work up for the track plan.

Ok guys, sorry for the false start earlier.  The wife and I went downstairs together and measured out a section of real estate for my layout.

We agreed on a 8x16 area, no more L-shape.  I've decided to use Fastrack after talking to several people.  I'd like to run as large as possible curves on the outer mainline.  I'd like to run two mainlines if possible with a small yard toward the center.  What do you guys think?  I really do appreciate your help, everyone!!

Since I've been playing around with this throughout the evening I'm going to put them all up here.  Some of these are simply variations on a theme. Six of the layouts assume a walk around space of 16" to make it easy to get to any derailments.  They also have the widest curve of 72".  Some reverse and some don't.

The dog-bone has a maximum 60" curve with minimum 48" curves on the inside.  It also allows the direction to reverse.  This one is the least friendly to deal with derailments (assuming you have walls on the left side, right side, and top) but I doubt if you'll have any on the far corners.  Getting to the upper left switches will be a little bit of a stretch but since these are 72" Fastrack switches you probably won't have trouble with them.

iakobos I appreciate your work here.  I'm leaning toward the top plan.  I like the reversing dogbone design.  I've sent you an email.  Thanks again.

Jody,

I got your email and came up with some variations on the third plan you also mentioned.  Let me know which one you like best and I'll get the parts list together.  There are a few tweaks I need to make to the dogbone.  Let me work on that and I'll post it back up.

OK here's both the corrected dogbone and the wide radius version.