Show me your small layouts

When it runs just jiggle the handle ...

Thanks for all replys so far. I have com to the conclusion that I can arrange something like this. The layout will be on 2pc of 4' x 8' platforms to start with(Green area).

The orange areas are still storage areas. But that will be solved.

And the I can extend with som industrial areas, a yard and a trolley line.

Black is the bottom of the Chimney. A problem is that the ceiling in this basement room is very low. around 6'. I'm of average height and I can stand straight up in my slippers but touch the roof with my hair i I have boots on. But slippers are OK in the trainroom

of course this layout is very small, but it points out a design technique that has some advantages...

most people like to maximize the mainline length by running track parallel to the edges.  this makes not only for the most boring layouts, but it also leaves you with very small triangle shaped corners you're usually lucky to be able to squeeze a gatehouse into.  you can see this effect in the lower left corner above.

in the other corners, the track plan has cut them short in a few different ways.  this opens up more real estate outside the loop which allows you to add some visual breaks to the scenery.

regarding your ceiling... if you can't easily raise that, you might consider lowering the floor?  a 15" (two cinder block height) trench for the operators area could yield some interesting advantages to building and operating the layout.

good luck...gary

Hi Berra, Do you envision having as much track as possible or having considerable, deliberate space reserved for scenery? I'm just curious.

FrankM.

Thanks,

The ceiling is directly on the bottom of the house. And most of the basement stands on Bedrock so a trench is out of the question. 

Frank,

To be honest I want both  But I know its not possible. As much scenery as possible with interesting switching and continuous running of one or better two trains..

I love the trains themselves, of course, but I am not enamored of watching them go in circles for very long. However, I have a feeling a whole lot of us derive great pleasure from investing our creative efforts into crafting our little worlds. For me, the creative enjoyment never gets exhausted. And sharing what I have crafted to show the trains at their best with others never gets old. That's just my humble opinion. Like you stated, I want them both, too.

FrankM.

I find your perspective here interesting, and I would share with you that such an arrangement is exactly what I decided to effect everywhere possible on my layout. The reason for having as much of my mainlines close - right up to the edges - as possible to the front edges of the layout was, in fact, to provided interest by having each guest's experience with my trains as intimate as possible - as close to them and the layout's edges in front of them as possible. I wanted children, in particular, to have the ability to have a train run right next to their noses

Now, one might caution, that with the trains operating that close to the front edges and people that there is the possibility of a child reaching up and grabbing a train and/or knocking it off the layout. I considered that. For me, it has been well worth the "chance." I expect the parents of such guests to be vigilant over their children as they interact with the layout, and I have developed the technique of blasting the horns and ringing bells when a train approaches the front edges; hence, very near somebody's person. Since 1995, no fatalities have occurred, to trains or pedestrians.

(I offer this personal perspective, here, as something further for Berra to, perhaps, consider, not to challenge you, Gary.)

FrankM.

Every track seen in the foregrounds of these views is along a front edge of the layout/viewing aisle, and well within reach of children.

On the right side of these two photos, one can see that available front edge of the layout, marked by the vertical army-green fascia, with its three mainlines right up next to it...

I have made a sketch. The blue track is a 042 oval on a upper level.

The orange track is a lower level 031 switching district with the possibility for continuous running.

I love that lower level. Looks like lots of possibilities! Unfortunately for me (also restricted space-wise), it is dependent on using part of the other 4x8.

Tomlinson Run Railroad

Hi Berra -

Floor space for my first layout was limited, too, so I designed and built a small layout measuring 3 by 11 feet.  All of the curves are 031.  Since your available space is another foot wider, you could easily modify this to include two independent loops linked to each other. (This layout was featured in the OGR magazine run 220 "O Scale In Small Spaces" section.)  Just some ideas that may give you some inspiration for a design of your own.

Have fun.

Mike

Consider adding "more shape" to the elevation too.

This was started to keep me away from the shelf layout, and out of the basement.

The 1st version, I found myself bored quickly with the upper level in an oval loop.

I'm really starting like this now.

My favorite view is slightly lower and left of The Scarm program 3ds camera.

   The controls are on this side.

(I like "tied to the track" views).

   But the intended main view was the from the broad side, nearest the window. 

(I cant get a wide enough shot from there to show it well, but that view holds the "snakes" for viewing)

Ace has some great big, little ideas here   VVVVV.

   You could fit two of these

 I love the last one. https://ogrforum.com/t...ts-in-o-gaugeo-scale

Here is my smallest. An Easter themed layout. I made it for a OGRforum micro layout contest a few years back. The curves are o16.

Ha, ha. Too funny!

Currently I'm a small department of one though I am actively interviewing .

That was far and away the most creative one in the contest. As for mine, I had the largest radius in the 13sqft limit at 48" (O-96)

MdMikey, this is awesome. My layout is 3.5x10 and I've been stuck on doing more with it.

I went with Atlas 036. I had been contemplating replacing it good old tubular and just going with the classic Postwar look. 

Thanks for sharing and giving me some ideas. 

Thanks for the compliment.Here are some more photos of my small train layout.

Here's a link to pictures of small(ish) layouts I've seen over the last few years:

  https://www.pinterest.com/rich...model-train-layouts/

I've been thinking about creating an O-27 version of the layout found at this link, and I was thinking I might even be able to cheat and make the top loop tighter than 27, similar to what my friend Silver Lake did with the streets track (or just by chopping O-27 track):

  http://www.lloydslayouts.com/g-scale-layouts/

Lastly, here is a recent picture of my "almost-micro" layout.

Clearly I have a thing for small layouts!

Best...Rich Murnane

Hi Silver Lake,

    The Porter and tight curves, what more could you ask for?   I love it!

BTW, who makes those yellow ore cars you used (or did you make them yourself)?

Keep up the good work!

Take care, Joe.

Thanks for the kind words guys. 

The yellow cars are K-line 19th cent ore "jimmies".

HI  Silver Lake,

   Thanks for the information!  They are a good choice for use with the Porter!!!  Look great together!!!

Take care, Joe.

Thanks I was always curious why K-line packed them with the Plymouth and not the Porters. The plymouths came around the scene years after the jimmies were gone. (So did the plymouths if you want to split hairs.)

This is my 5' by 8' southwestern switching layout.  Sand on the layout comes from my front yard in Tucson and is held down by diluted white glue.  Cactus are carved out of balsa wood.  Switching operations are done with TMCC controlled locos.  Fastrack makes for very smooth operation.  Structures are mostly kit built. Have a few repro American Flyer accessories, a few K Line, and a Walthers oil derrick.  Also have a number of small K Line speeders and diesels that are conventional control.  They are strictly for running and watching.

You have a really great layout!!!  Thanks for sharing the photos and the information!!!!

The layout is 4'x 8' with a 3'x 4'extension in the front.The track plan features a double reverse loop,which give lots of different running patterns for such a small layout. 

Thanks all for the inspiring pictures of "small" layouts. 

And yes I got inspired. Saturday morning I went to the lumber yard. And this morning I started laying tracks. I had to change the track plan to fit the available track. Picture below is the status this morning. I have run the first train tonight but I will wait with pictures as the lighting sucks in this room. And here it's 9.00 pm and no natural ligtht.

Thanks so much for posting your track plan and extra photo's Dan, yours really is an amazing layout....

Berra, you don't fool around, looks like you're well on your way...

Mark

This is the current status. The track covers an area of approx 4' X 12'. I have tried running a few switching moves and I'm satisfied.

Great "small layout". Has everything one wants from a layout, running, switching, and scenery. Great job all around. Need to see more "real" small layouts.

Tooting my own horn here a little, but you can see my small layout starting on page 30 of the October CTT!