Commencing Build: 5' x 12' Fastrack 3-4 train layout

Updated image with a bit more detail on scenery and buildings.

Ken:  How would you expand this layout for a 7" x 10' board.  Keeping all of the elements.  This is a nice layout.

MelvinP

Hi Melvin, well to start, here is a 5 X 15 version:

It really doesn't fit in a smaller width.   If you can live with the 11'10" version above, I would look for a spur to come off one of the sides to build a yard.   

Or perhaps add additional tracks along the front - a siding and small yard.  To make a 6'X11'10" plan.

Melvin, perhaps if we tilt the layout so it runs across at an angle, it might fit in 10'.   I will take a look at it when I have a chance.  -Ken

Tilting the layout only saves about 4" in length: 7' X 11'6".

With sidewalks to allow pedestrians to walk to the grocery store and plumbing supply from the center of town:

Here is a short video of three trains running on the layout on the "twice-around" route.   Watch out at the crossing!

Same layout again 3 trains running, but this time on the two independent mains:   the O-48 minimum outside loop, and the O-36 minimum (about O-39) inside loop-to-loop.

 Ken thanks a lot for your of your  attempt  you're truly it's a good layout genius 

Gosh, I tuned in just to see a train wreck!

I appreciate all of the comments and feedback!   Sorry no train wreck GunRunner, management frowns on that sort of activity.

So here is a minor modification.   I was able to smooth out the approaches to the crossing a bit.   

• The upper approach tracks:  They are still compound curves of O-36 and O-48, but I made a smoother curve with 1/4 sections of each rather than 1/2.   The 1/2 section of O-36 visibly looked tighter as the trains went through the curve, so I eased it a bit with more alternation with the O-48.   This means more sections of smaller length of track, but the tradeoff is good IMO.
• The lower approach tracks were straight going into two sections of O-84.   Now they are straight going into O-72 and O-84 - a negligible change for a layout with O-36 minimum on the inside route, and O-48 on the outside route.

I added four block signals to protect the crossing.   Just barely visible after the forum compresses the images.   I wish we could have higher resolution images on the forum:  my layout images are more attractive and detailed at higher resolution.

Latest version, a bit more optimization:  more easements and better curvature.   The inner route is about O-40 diameter curves (but composed of O-36 and O-48).   The outer route is about O-49, from O-48 with easements.  4.5" track centers.

AnyRail says this is about 1 scale mile of track.

Ken,

Can you supply the track plan details. If possible can you convert it to tubular, or mth track? I have space for a 7 x 12 layout and really like your plan.

Thanks

dennis32

Hi Dennis.   To convert to other track systems:   need a 22.5 degree crossing, turnouts of around O-48 and O-60 (O-54 might work), and then curves of around O-40 and O-48 (or be able to make them up as compound curves of multiple diameters with small sections).   Flex track would help but would be frustrating to bend to O-40 diameter.

Atlas-O and Ross have enough variety of curves and turnouts, and a 22.5 degree crossing.   And flextrack.   So a conversion to one of these looks doable.

Lionel Fastrack has half curves of most diameters, and 1/3 curves for O-48 (7.5 degree sections) and 1/4 curves for O-36.   That gives a lot of flexibility (without flextrack of course) to make up a variety of diameters with easements.

-Ken

Thanks Ken, Do  you have the fastrack track detail list? I have some fastrack, I have no Atlas or Ross track.

Thanks, Dennis

• Track Sections:
  6-12014, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Straight 10".                   15
  6-12024, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Straight 5".                       5
  6-12025, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Straight 4 1/2".                 6
  6-12026, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Straight 1 3/4".                  10
  6-12035, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Buffer/Bumper (Light) 5".          4
  6-12042, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Straight 30".                      3
  6-12050, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Crossing 14 1/4". 22.5º      1
  6-12073, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Straight 1 3/8".                  18
• 6-12055, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Curve 36", angle 11.25º (O72)              4
• 6-12043, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Curve 24", angle 30º (O48)                    10
• 6-12041, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Curve 36", angle 22.5º (O72)                  2
• 6-12015, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Curve 18", angle 45º (O36)                    4
  6-12022, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Curve 18", angle 22.5º (O36)                    2
  6-12023, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Curve 18", angle 11.25º (O36)               12
• 6-16834, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Curve 24", angle 15º (O48)                    11
  6-16835, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Curve 24", angle 7.5º (O48)                   23
  6-81250, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Curve 48", angle 11.25º (O96)                 2

6-12046, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Right turnout 10". (O36) (remote)                                    1
6-16828, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Left turnout 13 1/8". (O60) Command Control               3
6-16829, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Right turnout 13 1/8". (O60) Command Control             2
6-16830, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Left turnout 15". (O48) Command Control                      3
6-16831, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Right turnout 15". (O48) Command Control                    2
6-16832, 0 Lionel FasTrack, Wye turnout 12". (O72) Command Control                      1

For Fastrack, it gets to be a lot of small sections, which runs up the cost a bit.  In a hobby of $2000 locos (of which I have none) spending a bit of coin on the track is not unreasonable.

Ken, Thank you very much. To cut expenses I will substitute lionel tubular track where I can, and even cut a few sections of filler. The balance of fastrack I will purchase. While it won't look pretty, it will be fun. Thanks again. I just saw you did the same layout old school conventional. Do you have a wiring diagram of that?

Yes, there are similarities with the layout in this other thread: Conventional-Track-Plan, but not really the same.

I don't have a wiring plan for either layout to show.   I have gone to using command control Fastrack turnouts which simplifies the wiring quite a bit.   Lionel is also using the track itself as a power bus to power accessories, so I am looking at powering my lighted buildings off of the track as well (those with low-power LED lighting).

Dennis, if you are cutting sections of tubular track, you can save a lot of small sections that I had to combine to make a straight track of a specific length, so that will cut costs a good bit, good idea if you can live with the alternating track types.   

Dennis, perhaps this will be of some use to you (some of the labels are too small, but cannot be adjusted):

Again, Thank you for all your help and sharing. Dennis

Ken, thanks for posting the track list and the track diagram.

Wally

Dennis, that is just the quantity of each turnout, not a variation.  Purchase whatever type of turnout control you prefer.

I thought to tinker with this plan one more time.  The purpose of this variation is to broaden the track arc that connects the inside loops to the crossing.  These arcs are about O-42, made up of O-36 and O-48 1/4 and 1/3 track sections, which work fine.  But I thought I would look to see what else could be done, and this is the result.

The track section marked with ?? has alternatives.   There is a perfect fit with two 7.5-degree O-48 sections of Fastrack.   But I may decide to cut down a section of O-72 or O-84 to 15 degrees as a custom track section.  Or, I could use a short section of Atlas-O O-81 for 15 degrees, or a section of Atlas-O flextrack for 15 degrees.  Here is the result, though I am not sure I like this version better than the previous version.

Previous version:   Any recommendations?

This is fantastic @Ken-Oscale - looks great!

Thanks Murnane!

Out of curiosity, I took the layout (the most recent version above with the Atlas O-81 7.5-degree sections) apart and reassembled it to see how "perfect"/close the tolerances are.   To my surprise, this entire layout goes together with 1/16" tolerance!  (and 0 degrees tolerance).   Pretty close to perfect.  Other Fastrack layouts I have designed go together with 3/32" tolerance, which is excellent, really.   Fastrack is less "forgiving" than tubular layouts or track connected with rail-joiners, so this is quite remarkable.

Still playing with this design:  I thought that I could make the inside route O-42 minimum using compound curves of mostly O-48 alternating with sections of O-36.

The result looks much the same as the previous version, but is actually an inch or so wider:

This layout design has many good features:  O-42 minimum diameter, two separate loops, a twice-around route, return loops, a siding and some industry.   But it lacks an engine facility and yard.  I thought to add an engine service facility and locomotive storage tracks and turntable.   I enjoy swapping locomotive power at the head of my trains, so this addition will add much play value.

This includes the rather large Atlas 24" turntable, and uses the Fastrack 5" transition track to the Atlas track to connect to the turntable.   The layout space is extended to 12' X 12' with this addition.

And with a small yard on the right-hand side:

Ken-Oscale posted:

And with a small yard on the right-hand side:

I really like the yard on the right hand side here, got me thinking I should move my yard on the attached plan (4'x16', fastrack - mostly o36 w/ o31 on the inside loop).  Note:  each grey box is a 2'x4' separate piece of benchwork which I'll tie together.

Interesting plan Murnane: I like the benchwork box concept, and the bridges to allow access (and good view train watching and viewing).

I am thinking about combining the two yards and bringing them out into the open space at an angle (coming off the O-48 curves at one side or the other).   People could move all around this combined yard, which might fit in a 12' by 11' space.   No time at present to work on the idea.

Ken-Oscale posted:

And with a small yard on the right-hand side:

Ken I wish you did these plans in Standard Gauge because if you did I'd probably be building it now. I'm planning on moving in a few years when I retire and something like this could be made movable easily. Also this plan has no grade which is perfect for early Standard Gauge units that don't get a lot of traction.  What software are you using, I may have to try my hand at making your plan in standard gauge?    Very nice but not too big layout.

Ken O Scale,

  As usual great engineering, I do love your layout Engineering Design work!

PCRR/Save

Hey Pete, I am using AnyRail (AnyRail.com) which I see does have standard gauge track libraries, one for Lionel and one for USA Track.   I have not designed for Standard gauge, no experience with the track or switches.

-Ken

Here is this peninsula idea:

Or perhaps this arrangement:

Ken, Can you give me the sequence and sizes of the curves coming out of the 22.5 crossover? As you stated it is impossible to read. Thank you. Dennis

Dennis, try this close-up view:

Thanks, but on the bottom below the crossover you show 6-12025 x x x 6-81250 x x 6-81250 x x x 6-12025. What are the sizes of x?

The smallest sections are the 1-3/8 sections, the next largest are the 1-3/4 sections.