Polar Express Layout

I looks premade from a layout bulder like T.W. Trainworks.

It is its a layout done by the company that you mentioned.  I like it and would like to do something similar for my kids.

I posted the links to the you tube video of TW Trainworx designing and building the layout. There is a photo of each stage with the track plan on the floor. There's also J. Smith's youtube video of it running.

 

Keep in mind that they are designers, artists and builders extraordinaire.

 

from reading the pdf it's 8X35

 

8' x 35'  would  be the entire layout. The PE section appears to be 6 1/2'or 78" by ?. He runs the scale Berk which requires a minimum of 054, but the scale cars wouldn't look right on that, so I would guess the track is 072 outer and 060 inner.

 

Thank you everyone youve been a big help!

That's the scale PE/PM Berk.  The cars and Berk are rated for O-54.  I have run mine on Fastrack O-48, but they like the O-60 and O-72 curves much better.  

if you look at the pdf and transfer it into scarm the outter is 84 the inner is 72 the polar part is located inside of that so I would guess 54 or 60

 

 

Ok, this is close 8 x 19~20 depending on the scenery.

moonman on the pdf the lower Chicago mains are 84 and 72 so and the polar fit inside of that so they would be probably 060 or 048 loops but the scale loco likes 54 so more likely 060 and 054. I took what you made and it doesn't fit inside the lower outter loops of the Chicago loops.

 

I tried 060 but it doesn't fit either. here's why I add the lower Chicago area the article says the layout is 8x35 the biggest curve is 084 so with that said the outter loop would be the 084 and it fits the drawing like in the pdf. the 072 inside of that the next area the polar shows it's inside the 072 loop but 060 doesn't seem to fit.

 

I think I have it

 

here you go it works out to be 17x6

Here is the large radius rendition 084 and and 072 FasTrack. The other part of the layout seemed to be Atlas and this was FasTrack. Once you see the design you can adapt it to any curve radius

 

This is a great looking plan. I may go for it and just add an outside oval to run two trains.

 

What are the cross over angles please for the above design?

BigBoy4014,

I can't tell you the crossover angles. The spiral elevates , the crossover is elevated and the inner reverse loop is at the same elevation. Look a few posts up for the links to the design and build and then the youtube video of the actual layout or the .pdf on a story of it.

 

I suppose you could tweak the layout to crossover in the center.

OK, thx..

 

I can't do elevation due to my layout constraints at this time, but I imagine I can make a very similar level plan with cross overs...

It looks like a 90° at a curve joint will work if you change the approach a little.

Thank you everyone for your help. Unfortunately I think this is too big for the space I have available. I'm curious what it would look like if it wasn't elevated and 5' wide if it will have just as much action

It would look the same. Just use 048 outer and 036 inner, and 048 switches. Iy just needs to be 12' long.

 

I really like this plan. Looks very interesting. Does any one know if a turntable and roundhouse would fit in the reverse loop. I was thinking O60 O72 for the curves to fit the space that i have. Thanks for all the help.

Randy

The pinched shape of the reverse loop would limit full use of the turntable. (a track at every stop) You would also have to sacrifice some length in front of the roundhouse to have an engine sit outside of the doors.

There would be other sacrifices, too.

The expense and effort to build a facility like that deserves an area of 36" x 96".

Look at some of the photos of RH\TT's built on the forum. You will see what I mean.

It's the centerpiece of a layout. Design it, and fit the layout around it. That's my 2¢.