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Hello, back into the hobby after 30 yrs...Have purchased a lot of my trains, but now time to build the layout.  I have a very large garage but can't use it all.  What I can use is 15' deep by 13'wide.  Also, if I was facing the garage from the outside...down the left side I can give about 14" wide by 17' long to tie into the 13'w X15'd section.  Thought this could possibly be an area for a yard to back the trains into off a main line. 

 

So, any idea's or suggestions for a layout?  I've seen some of you come up with some great things for others that asked questions, thought I would let some of you help me figure this out.

 

Locomotives I have and need large diameter curves for are as follows:

 

Lionel Union Pacific Vision Big Boy #4014, Lionel Legacy AC-12 Cab Forward #4294, MTH GS-4 #4449, MTH Northern #844, MTH Challenger #3985.

 

Engines I have are:  MTH F-7's Black Widows A-B-A, MTH E-6 A-B-A UP City of SF, MTH E-8 A-B-A SP and UP, UP Centennial #6936

 

I am running a lot of MTH 18" passenger cars and normal freight cars.

 

So, I need large diameter curves for a more realistic look and less chance for derailment.  I would like to have something to include mountains as well as shoreline.  Bridges and tunnel.  Maybe a small city scene somewhere and a yard.  I want to add coaling tower and sand towers. Diesel fueling station and water towers etc.  Since several trains are Passenger oriented, maybe a station.

 

So, there's my wish list ... kind of..lol....any suggestions and layout schemes from the experts out there?  Best track and switches to use?  I'm ready to start.  Thanks for any help and suggestions offered...Bob

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I agree RR-Track is a good design program and it will also tell you just what you need for track parts.

As far as Track choice there are many, I personally am using MTH Scaletrax on my New Layout. It has the smallest rails made in O gauge and the easiest to bend Flex track pieces. Note the Flex needs to be soldered at each joint prior to bending to maintain the curve even. There is a limitation to this type of track: Switches; Only O-31, O-51 and O-72, plus #4 and #6 in left or right. However, You can mate Ross Switches to Scaletrax, just put normal 5mm load roadbed under the track and 2mm cork sheet under the Ross Switch. The railtops line up nice. Also the rails of both are actual rail shape, the Scaletrax rails are a bit smaller but most folks won't notice.

Now, for design I suggest a walk through liftgate or such and an around the walls layout. This accommodates the largest curves and gives the most track length for a given area.

Last edited by Russell

Yes, that was my plan to build it around the walls to maximize the running area and allow for big curves. I've been told a lot about the Ross switches and Scaletrax.  Sounds like the right way to go.  I've seen some members ask for ideas on layouts and members sent diagrams of their take on a nice railroad.  I'm modeling Union Pacific and Southern Pacific.  So, I guess I can go get the RR track program and come up with something, but I would like to see ideas from some of you who have been at this awhile.  I'm great at flying, hunting and fishing...could help anyone with these items, but I'm a complete rookie here...uncharted waters you might say.  Any schematic drawings would be great.  Thanks

Boeingman,

    Rich is right on the money, build around the outside walls as much as possible, however he did not go far enough, pick track that you can run both Tin Plate and modern post war trains on, you may want to run Tin Plate Trains someday, with your more modern stuff.  The wider you make your engineering build spectrum, the more and different Trains you can run on your layouts.

PCRR/Dave

Bob, I would love to play with your track layout if I had an extra week or two.  If you click on any of the three track plans on the bottom of this page you will get an idea of how many decisions have to made by every layout builder.  My preferences were maximum running capabilities and ability to have all my stuff on layout.

 

Your main area can start with 7' and 6' diam. curves to run 2 loops then add turnouts and go from there.  If you go "around the wall" you will need people access bridges .  The odd track pieces are for copy paste and the straight lines are for clearance spacing.

 

Here's your start for the main area with 7' and 6' diam. curves.

 

 

OGRbob

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Thank you for your reply and suggestions.  This basic two main configuration was my initial look.  Looking at your bottom left though, I plan to run a straight 14" wide board straight down the next 16' to 17' of the garage and place as many rail sidings in there that it would allow.  Would kind of be my staging yard. Possibly a front side and backdrop of a Station.  Put the long passenger trains in here. Also, from that same corner going to the right lower corner of your drawing would be my two rail access bridge.  Saw your web page.  Looked at your pictures...that's what I want!  Also, going back to that left lower corner again...I thought of a Y there and also benchwork that would go from that corner to the upper right corner, with a 33" round table there and a staging area for my diesels and locomotives.  Want to leave enough room though to walk around that upper right area so that I can access the rest of the layout.  I believe I have decided on Ross track and switches. Their turntable and roundhouse.  I obviously have a lot of reading and studying to do to learn how to lay roadbed and track and wiring.  I want to put enough power supplies at whatever intervals too, so as to have enough power to run an occasional UP Double header excursion train with my full complement of 21 cars....yep...I like big!!!! Emphasis on "Occasional"  I've decide my lower bench work will be through a friend who works with metal.  He will weld my bench work and have awesome wood framed diamond plate doors to hide boxes and my other man cave stuff.  Wood tops can then be bolted onto metal frame work and wiring grounded there too.  I already had tons of outlets installed into garage in anticipation of doing a railroad someday.  Power supply plug in will not be a problem.  All my walls and ceiling and garage door are all insulated a lot.  I have ac or heat vents installed in there too and floors and walls are finished just like the house.  The beginning look is great...now time to build the dream.  Thanks for taking a shot at my design.  It's very helpful and I'm grateful.

Thanks Dave, Truly though, I've focused on just a few of the trains I've seen personally throughout my years.  Don't want to get too crazy here and spend $$$$ I don't have.  Just want a nice railroad to enjoy myself or with someday grandkids...also, my neighbor...EX UP engineer who ran the 844 and 3985 as well as the diesels when Steve Lee was running the Historical UP Program. Thanks
 
Originally Posted by Pine Creek Railroad:

Boeingman,

    Rich is right on the money, build around the outside walls as much as possible, however he did not go far enough, pick track that you can run both Tin Plate and modern post war trains on, you may want to run Tin Plate Trains someday, with your more modern stuff.  The wider you make your engineering build spectrum, the more and different Trains you can run on your layouts.

PCRR/Dave

 

Last edited by Boeingman
Hi, I thought I was dropping you a response to your drawing, but it went out to all.  Just check out the posts on this topic...my response to you is there. Thanks for helping.  Bob
Originally Posted by Susan Deats:

Bob, I would love to play with your track layout if I had an extra week or two.  If you click on any of the three track plans on the bottom of this page you will get an idea of how many decisions have to made by every layout builder.  My preferences were maximum running capabilities and ability to have all my stuff on layout.

 

Your main area can start with 7' and 6' diam. curves to run 2 loops then add turnouts and go from there.  If you go "around the wall" you will need people access bridges .  The odd track pieces are for copy paste and the straight lines are for clearance spacing.

 

Here's your start for the main area with 7' and 6' diam. curves.

 

 

OGRbob

 

Last edited by Boeingman

A couple of questions:

 

  1. What are the overall dimensions of the garage area you want to use?
  2. Are you looking for a basic "run the trains around" build or scenic elements? If the latter, you probably want to look at either Atlas, Gargraves, Ross or ScaleTrax as these have a better look and will be much quieter than FasTrack.

 

There's an H.O. layout concept called "Heart of Georgia" aka H.O.G. that translates into 16'x18' in O scale that features broader curves with room for scenery. The shelves in O scale would be 24" deep. Here's an RR-Track rendering using MTH ScaleTrax with #6 turnouts and flex track.

 

Heart_of_Georgia

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