STARTED -new Tubular Track layout

Hello,

I also have a small space for a layout.In a small house

The boss said make it work or box it up.

Got to be neat and have order

I going to try raising up the train table a few inches and putting the computer stuff on slide out draws.

The storage is going to under the layout on one side , like a book case on one side.

The file cabinet is going on wheels as not going to in that every day.

Playing around on paper before anything really gets moved around.

When I get a day or two off work .I will try something

Good Luck

Here's a 4x12 Tinplate I built a few years ago.  The curves were O42 and O31 with O22 switches. 

 

PRR  - I'm hoping for more "ACTION".  i.e.  Crossovers, turnouts etc. NO Scenery buy some Operating accessories  - such as milk car, log unloader/loader, coal loader, ets.

Buy, thanks for a peek at your VERY NICE SET-Up.

Larry

tinplate /Lionel track works best for that I think!

Here is my table which is now  4' X 10' with a little 2'  W X 3' extension on the far end, right side.

I'm hoping for more "ACTION".  i.e.  Crossovers, turnouts etc. NO Scenery buy some Operating accessories  - such as milk car, log unloader/loader, coal loader, ets.

I felt like procrastinating last night, so I took a stab at designing a layout to fit your space.

 

The attached is all tubular, uses 031 and 042 curves like the gorgeous layout above uploaded by PRRFan.  It has the following features:

• A crossover
• Two reverse loops
• Two siding areas
• Two concentric loops where trains can be moved from one to the other without the "Hand of God"
• Space for a 456 Coal ramp (always a challenge)

I put a few of the accessories you mentioned above plus some of the ones I like from the Postwar era.  I stopped where I did because I wasn't sure if it's what you had in mind.  Obviously more accessories, plasticville, etc. can be added.

 

I'm not sure it will fit your space exactly, but it's an idea.  Pics below.

 

Steven J. Serenska 

 

 

 

Larry,

      Years ago I engineered an 027/O Christmas layout for the living room, with the old tubular Lionel Track even had some K-line switches in the layout.  Plan everything out and test as you build, especially if you are going to use DCS & Legacy.  Tubular is still a great way to engineer a layout, and actually very forgiving to actually build with, make sure you check each track as you build, especially the pins, use lighted lock ons for your DCS magic lights and run your switches with their own remote power, I usually use a ZW if I a have lots different switches.  Also remember the old 022 switches work best with a short track between back to back switches.  Always test your Conventional switches as you build the layout.

Have fun building your new Tubular layout.

PCRR/Dave

Serenska  -  I really like this layout.  I presume that inner oval is 0-27 rather than 0-31 ????

 

I only have 0-31 and 0-42 curves.

C
RE   Great Track Plan above Pine Creeks layout 

 

Can anyone tell me   1.  is the inside loop 0-31 curves

                             2. Is the outside loop 0-42 on the left side and only the Top right half,

                                 and the boottom R. H is 1-031 switches and 1  0-31 curve?

I'm going to try this plan when my K line track I purchased arrives. And It looks like I will need about 6  0-31 switches

I'm glad you like it.  All the track is O Gauge, not O27.  The inner loop is O31, the outer loop is O42, except for the right corner where I needed to add an O22 switch.

 

It's not an exact match to your table space (it may be off by 1-2 inches), but I was hoping it would be a good guide.  Never be afraid to cut track to either make it fit or to expand the track to take advantage of all available space.

 

SJS

 

1. The inside loop is O31 curves.  All track is O gauge track.  The loops all connect directly.  Click on the image to see a larger version.  The part no's are more easily seen that way.

 

2. Yes, the outside loop is 0-42 on the left side and only the Top right half, and the bottom R. H is 1-031 switche and 1  0-31 curve.

 

SJS

 

I REALLY like that layout.  2 reversing loops, 5 sidings and can run 2 trains at once.

My table is exactly like you have  in you drawing.

As soon as My K-Line Snap-track and shadow rail  come I'll be starting on this layout. I can use my 3 0-42 Kline for 2 of the sidings and 1 for the outside main line.

I'll have to buy about 3 more 0-31's on top of the 2 coming from RMT.  If anyone knows where I can get these I would appreciate being told.  I may have to buy 3  Lionel 0-22 , maybe from Tin Man 3 Rail?

 

Larry:

 

I don't know what kind of train shows are held in Calgary, but that's the first place I'd look.  Good used O22's are fairly cheap these days.  I routinely see them for $35 a pair and believe you could find them for $25 a pair easily.  The last time I bought some, I paid $5 each to a guy who was switching over to Gargraves.  They had no controllers, but I scored some of those at the next Big E show for $2 each.

 

My point is, if you set a budget and are patient and do unseemly things like check under tables at train shows, things will come your way.

 

Enjoy it.

Steve.  Would it be possible for you to e mail me  Larrwen@Hotmail.com  a copy of that 4 x 10 plus 2 x 3 that you posted.  It comes up so small to me I can't make out all the track sizes needed.  I am going tubular with K Line track, same sizes as Lionel Tubular.

 

Thanks 

 

Larry in Calgary

Well, I ordered 4 of the rebuilt 0-22 Lionel Switches from Tinman 3 rail and I am now ordering a 90 Degree crossing and a Unloading/uncoupler track from him also.  My  K-Line track and switches should be here  Dec 22. I will be able to roughly lay out thr track between Christmas and New Years.

 

Can't wait to have some track on the table and run an engine again.

Larry:

 

Sorry, I didn't see this until now.  If you click on the image, it will open up larger and you can see the catalog nos reasonably clearly.  Let me know if that doesn't work and I'll send a larger bitmap.

 

Also, please note that any catalog no. for the track shown on the image that ends with "X" means that piece of track needs to be cut to fit.  (I'm assuming that going out to the hardware store to buy a hacksaw won't be a big deal.)

 

Have fun with it.

 

If you need anything, my email is on my profile.

 

SJS

 

Larry:

 

I should also note that I frequently cut track to maximize the amount of track on which trains can run.  If you look at that plan, you don't need to add the cut track on the inner loop. I just did that to make it bigger.

 

On the lower right freightyard, you may need to cut some of those pieces.  In the one case, the small piece provides clearance for the switch motor.  In the other, it allows you to avoid attaching a 456 coal ramp directly to a switch.

 

Remember, please post pictures as you go.

 

SJS

 

Steve  - thank you.  Yes I was able to expand and print that layout.  When I get my bunch of K-line Super track, there are a bunch of cut pieces with it. But, I 'll go buy a miter box and Hack saw if needed.  I already have a set of small files to de-burr the ends of the cut pieces.

 

Thank-you very much for your help in getting me back into a nice layout with lots of action.  I have a milk unloading car and have a line on a Coal ramp w/car and a 397 coal loader.

That is one of the most interesting and space-effective postwar-style layouts that I've seen in a long time. I'm seriously considering giving it a try. Thanks for creating it.

 

I  am getting frustrated with my layout....how about a design for me...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...amp;feature=youtu.be

Well, my K-line Track & switches and some of the Lionel 0-22 Switches arrived. I'm still waiting on a 90 degree  crossing, unloading track and 2  or 3 more K-line 0-31 Switches.

 

Here is how it is starting to look.

Looking good, Larry!!!

Thanks Carl.  Every encouraging word really helps.   You know, getting up on the table to do track work along the long wall is really tough nowadays.  I have some arthritis starting and all the old bones really start hurting.

Hey - that's a cool layout.  Keep up the good work.  A little warmed up Bushmills whiskey is good for the joints.  Good for before track work, or after wiring.  Get the track put together and trains running and your aches will fade away.  Best of luck.

William 1   -thanks for the great comment.  I find Jack D works fine for me.  Merry Christmas.

Looking good so far Larry! Keep us posted! 

 

Looking good !!! 

Looking good, I really like that track plan!  This is a great example of the benefits of this forum!!

Larry:

 

It looks good and your pictures are great.  Please keep 'em coming.

 

If there are no other comments before then, please have a Merry and Train-filled Christmas. (Or maybe that's redundant... )

 

Steven J. Serenska

Steve  That is a terrific track plan.  Maximum fun in a small space

 

Al

Steve  That is a terrific track plan.  Maximum fun in a small space

Al:

 

Thanks.  Any time you can help a guy play with trains, it's worth doing.  The joy in this will be watching Larry build it all out.  

 

For those who have asked, the idea for creating a double reverse loop by placing a figure 8 within an oval comes from one of the 1950s "How to Operate Lionel Trains and Accessories" booklets.  I don't have mine in front of me, but it was likely this one:

 

I drooled over that book for hours when I was a kid and lamented that all those awesome trains and accessories weren't available in the 1960s.  Anyway, one of the track plans, if I recall correctly from 45-50 years ago, is similar to the one I drew for Larry.

 

When I was a teenager, one of my mother's friends' husbands brought his boyhood trains over to show me.  It was a 2020 686 set.  What was great, though, is that he had a train and accessories pamphlet from the 1930s that had many very wild O72 layouts.  By "wild", I mean either huge or with uncommon mixes of O72 and O31 curves.  He as kind enough to stand at the Xerox machine at his work and photocopy the whole thing for me.  I still have it.  

 

I'll have to dig that one out, now that I'm thinking about it.  Fun.

 

Steven J. Serenska

Looking good Larry. Id pull it from the wall, or turn it around till done with the far side. Can you? Maybe some foot actuated wheels if its too heavy for regular lifting, or sliding solo. 

 

Here is a link to the book in PDF format.

 

https://ogrforum.com/f...83860657/Booklet.pdf

Wow, thanks so much for that.  I haven't looked at that book in 40 years.  What a great trip down memory lane.  I still salivate over all the accessories in there that I want...

 

The layout I had in mind was indeed on Page 46.  I remember tracing it with my finger when I was a boy over and over to confirm that there were indeed two working reverse loops.  Somewhere over the years, I must have noticed that you can build the opposite side of the figure 8 into the opposite side of the oval, which makes that particular part of the layout fit within a 31" space.  It really is a an excellent compression technique for packing a lot of action into a small space.

 

Thanks again for the link.

 

SJS

 

Adriatic  - I'd love to move it but cant.   This 8 ft wide room also houses my computer, office and condo Storage.  Plus all the train boxes. And I have to be able to get out the window in case of fire.  So Once I get the track secured along that wall I can reach the rest from in front.

Steve,

 

Thanks a million for posting that track plan.  It's a really great layout that I hope to start soon with a couple of minor modifications to fit my available space.

 

Jon

Jon  --  here is my start on the plan.  I' just wailing for the 90 degree crossing and more switches to arrive.

Larry,

 

That looks terrific!  I hope to start in February but with a few mods.

Please keep posting your progress, it's inspiring!

Thanks

 

Jon

Have you considered a Topside Creeper? Available from Micro-Mark and Amazon (cheaper).