planning the NorthWestern Railroad - a rough start

I think I know what you are trying to do, but you need a little more room. Also, would you consider doing the "trolley" with an elevated track?

@John in California posted:

I think I know what you are trying to do, but you need a little more room. Also, would you consider doing the "trolley" with an elevated track?

ooh i actually like this plan even better as it has more crossovers which the more crossovers i can have the better.

would this plan be easy to do in lionel fasttrack as i've already picked it as my preferred track system?

I created this plan for you with SCARM using FasTrack. I don't have any experience with Lionel's O60 switches, so I don't know for sure that this plan will work... it may need some tweeking. Anyway, I have attached a SCARM file for your reference.

that is an interesting plan.   However, I don't think  it can reverse the train back to same oval.   It will reverse the train from the inside to outside or vice-versa, but I don't think  you can reverse the train on the outer loop back to the outer loop.

@John in California posted:

I created this plan for you with SCARM using FasTrack. I don't have any experience with Lionel's O60 switches, so I don't know for sure that this plan will work... it may need some tweeking. Anyway, I have attached a SCARM file for your reference.

i don't have Scarm the file isn't working

i clicked and got a whole mess of jibberish code

Cody, here is John in California's plan.  Click on it to see a larger version.

@Bob posted:

Cody, here is John in California's plan.  Click on it to see a larger version.

thanks

how much dollars in fast track is that and can i take this plan to my hobby shop and get the track i need?

Cody,

If you search the internet for SCARM, you will find that it is a free download, but you can only use it for "free" up to a set number of pieces of track, either 50 or 100 pieces.  Then, when someone attaches a plan created by SCARM to a post here, you just "right click" on the file and download it to your computer (Windows only, though).  SCARM will let you open any file, no matter how many pieces were used, but you will not be able to make changes and save them if the "free" piece limit is exceeded.

Chuck

@prrjim posted:

that is an interesting plan.   However, I don't think  it can reverse the train back to same oval.   It will reverse the train from the inside to outside or vice-versa, but I don't think  you can reverse the train on the outer loop back to the outer loop.

That is correct, it cannot reverse onto the same track, and that is deliberate. The idea is that northbound trains travel on the outer track and southbound trains travel on the inner track. When a northbound train reverses direction, it becomes a southbound train and needs to be on the southbound track. If there were more room, there would be crossovers so one train could pass another train. The small size requires that either you have crossovers or you have reverse loops. You cannot have everything in a small layout.

@paigetrain posted:

thanks

how much dollars in fast track is that and can i take this plan to my hobby shop and get the track i need?

List contents: All parts in the project

No.	Image	Number	Name	Scale	Producer	Pcs.	Note
1		350	1 3/8" hRB	O	Lionel	12	Half roadbed
2		6‑12014	10"	O	Lionel	8
3		6‑12015	O36 45°	O	Lionel	2
4		6‑12020	5" Unc	O	Lionel	2	Uncoupler
5		6‑12024	5"	O	Lionel	4
6		6‑12025	4 1/2"	O	Lionel	2
7		6‑12026	1 3/4"	O	Lionel	6
8		6‑12042	30"	O	Lionel	4
9		6‑12043	O48 30°	O	Lionel	12
10		6‑12050	X22.5	O	Lionel	2
11		6‑12051	X45	O	Lionel	1
12		6‑12056	O60 22.5°	O	Lionel	24
13		6‑12059	Bmp	O	Lionel	2	Bumper, wood
14		6‑12073	1 3/8"	O	Lionel	16
15		6‑12074	1 3/8" noRB	O	Lionel	2	No roadbed
16		6‑81946	RT O36 R/C	O	Lionel	2
17		6‑81950	RT O60 R/C	O	Lionel	2
18		6‑81951	LT O60 R/C	O	Lionel	2
Total:						105	Tracks count: 105

Note: The half roadbed and the no roadbed are included with the O60 switches and the 22.5 crossing.

thanks guys for helping me

now i need the space and money to make it happen not only for the track but for the wiring, base 3 , ZW'L and the rest of the trains i need to complete my roster which will consist of 25 engines but as far as cars go i have no idea.

plus i need to upgrade my conventional engines to TMCC

I guess i need to start making a lot of money fast because some things i want for the layout aren't cheap and some i may have to really hunt for.

I did not understand that the goal was to reverse onto the other track to maintain directional running.   I read the part about reversing direction wrong.     I thought I read that a certain loco required only 060 track so I assumed that the outside reverse loop had to connect to the outside main.

there are actually 5 other scale items i plan on getting for my layout roster

the AEC set and GP9B

the 2 special forces ES44AC's from 2022

Norfolk Southern 40th anniversary set

i'm essentually trying to build a dark themed layout inspired by the darkness of Batman , yes Santa is there and he carefully drives through the night as there are more naughty people than ever, and aliens, monsters and the underground societies of darkness

and there is a shimmer of hope as Fenix Starr the great female engineer with the help of Batman and Al Bowlly's ghost brings justice to the dark crooks and creatures of the layout.

oh dear it seems i have to start over again

THE VOICES IN MY HEAD ARE BEGGING FUTURE ME TO BUY A TRIPLEX

PLEASE HELP THE MIN CURVE IS O-72

i am spineless