Hi everyone, I am working on a layout that has a minimum curve of O72 and I was wondering if any of you guys can help me, I’m thinking about having a yard that can hold around 15 freight cars and a “Facility” where I can put locomotives on my layout when I’m not using it, the dimensions on my table are 8x16 feet, thank you
Replies sorted oldest to newest
First you need to figure out access to the center of that 8', then you can design a yard and "facility" around that. It would help if you gave us some idea of a track plan, i.e. one track, two track, passing sidings, switching, loop, and so on. Try searching 8' by 16' O gauge layouts and see if you find something you like. There are many members willing to help after you try to find something to have them work with you on.
Buy a copy of Ken Hoganson's new track planning book (print or digital). Available at the OGR Store (see menu bar at top on this forum).
You should be able to do something pretty decent in 8 x 16.
@Allan Miller posted:Buy a copy of Ken Hoganson's new track planning book (print or digital). Available at the OGR Store (see menu bar at top on this forum).
Yep can't recommend this enough. A bargain at $10. Great ideas from Ken in here, and definitely some track plans that are close to that 8x16 foot print. I would possibly consider a dogbone, using the full 8' on the ends for the loops and maybe a more narrow center for easier access and interest in the running of the trains. You could run O84 and O72 loops with that much space, I think.
You can fit up to 084 in 8' of width, so you could have two concentric loops of 084 and 072 with a small yard and turntable in the middle.
Here's something I threw together in RailModeller Pro. Mainlines are Fastrack 072/084 with 084/096 easements, but could be swapped for Ross/Gargraves/Atlas/etc. Inside is an Atlas 24" TT and Ross 4-way yard switch. Lionel's Fastrack extended truss bridges are great for accessing the middle area - I have one on my layout and highly recommend them.
It would also be pretty easy to adjust this plan to be a single "twice around" mainline instead of two concentric mainlines.
In general, 072 minimum in this amount of space doesn't leave you a lot of room for much more than concentric loops, though. Have you considered a mainline with 072 minimum and possibly another line with a smaller minimum radius? This would allow you to come up with a more "interesting" track plan that could include reversing loops, etc.
Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership
