Track Plan ideas

IMO, if your layout has a reversing loop, it needs a second reversing loop to change train direction back again without needing to travel backward through the initial reversing loop.

Also, if you're considering industries for the spurs, you might need more space between the tracks to place buildings.

Curious....what railroad is this?  Where is it?  What is it supposed to be doing?  What will its operator be doing?  Will more than one person be operating it?  

Is this a display layout or just for toy train set-up...

How about none of the above? It's just a design in SCARM Garrett dreamed up to see what different tracks arrangements can be done in a 4x12 space. My layout doesn't model anything, it's just an addendum to my wife's display of her Bedford Falls collection of buildings, figures, etc. It's in my back bedroom. Trains just go round and round so I can watch them from time to time while I'm doing my exercises, working on various crafts, etc. No one has to operate it beyond stating the trains, they all run unattended, just the way I like it.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Running a 4x12 layout tells me you don't have room for something bigger. So with that in mind, I think this is a solid plan, especially for scenery. When I built my first layout it was 6x8. My main goal was to learn how to correctly scenic a model train layout so I could apply those skills later on. I think this give you you a lot of those opportunities. You have a tunnel/mountain, valley and bridge, and storage tracks, which are vital for a small layout when you have a decent roster of engines or rolling stock. 

The only thing i notice that could be a cause for concern is the 3 switches by the reversing loop and one storage track. This certainly increases your chances for a derail on your mainline. 

Dug through some archives - I think these could be adapted to 4'  x 12'.

Moonman posted:

Dug through some archives - I think these could be adapted to 4'  x 12'.

I recognize the first track plan from Lionel's old track planning book.  It's a good operators track plan, especially for operating accessories.  

Dan Padova posted:

Moonman posted:

Dug through some archives - I think these could be adapted to 4'  x 12'.

I recognize the first track plan from Lionel's old track planning book.  It's a good operators track plan, especially for operating accessories.  

Good try, but it's Model Builder- Jan 1941

The second is pre-war Marx - not positive on the date

John C. posted:

Curious....what railroad is this?  Where is it?  What is it supposed to be doing?  What will its operator be doing?  Will more than one person be operating it?  

Is this a display layout or just for toy train set-up...

It's the G&R RY. -Got'em and Run'em Railway, located in spareroomville, US of A.  It delivers beer. The operator will be handling the throttle and having an adult beverage. Yes,there will be one more person, but they will be having an adult beverage and hoping that they can handle the throttle.

It's displaying the toy trains that were recently purchased.

Moonman posted:

John C. posted:

Curious....what railroad is this?  Where is it?  What is it supposed to be doing?  What will its operator be doing?  Will more than one person be operating it?  

Is this a display layout or just for toy train set-up...

It's the G&R RY. -Got'em and Run'em Railway, located in spareroomville, US of A.  It delivers beer. The operator will be handling the throttle and having an adult beverage. Yes,there will be one more person, but they will be having an adult beverage and hoping that they can handle the throttle.

It's displaying the toy trains that were recently purchased.

Ha ha, that's a good one

Thanks all, I am considering a 4' extension to my 4x8 layout.  I wanted all switches to be on the front side since the back (mountain, bridge) will be along a wall.  I just realized I placed a switch back there.  It was late when I did this and just looked at it with fresh eyes.  Will have to make some adjustments.

Just spitballing with SCARM.  there will be other designs forthcoming.  Mostly space-is-of-no-concern fantasies

DoubleDAZ posted:

How about none of the above? It's just a design in SCARM Garrett dreamed up to see what different tracks arrangements can be done in a 4x12 space. My layout doesn't model anything, it's just an addendum to my wife's display of her Bedford Falls collection of buildings, figures, etc. It's in my back bedroom. Trains just go round and round so I can watch them from time to time while I'm doing my exercises, working on various crafts, etc. No one has to operate it beyond stating the trains, they all run unattended, just the way I like it.

Sorry, couldn't resist.  

Sorry Dave....I didn't realize it was yours...read too much yesterday.  When people ask for input, I just like to have information.  Too many folks still throw circles together and wonder why they are bored in no time flat.

When I see a track arrangement and people are asking for assistance/input, I'm kind of confused as to what they are asking.  

No one knows by looking if the track configuration is for a: display, toy, realistic or some combination.

One thread had a long string of track arrangements that were circle after circle, loop after loop, and the person informed me that they were looking for a realistic switching set-up.  I told the person you should have asked specifically.

I love that program and drawings you do.  Is that the freeware SCARM? 

Sorry John, it's not mine, I was just joking with you and using my wife's display as an example of when a train is secondary and just there because there was a train in the movie without any thought given to something for the train to do except pass through town. That's all it did in the movie and that's all she wants, so that's what she's getting.

Moonman posted:

Dan Padova posted:

Moonman posted:

Dug through some archives - I think these could be adapted to 4'  x 12'.

I recognize the first track plan from Lionel's old track planning book.  It's a good operators track plan, especially for operating accessories.  

Good try, but it's Model Builder- Jan 1941

The second is pre-war Marx - not positive on the date

Carl, you are correct.  However, Lionel's track planning book printed sometime in the '70s also had the same plan, along with many others that first appeared in Model Builder.

Dan Padova posted:

Moonman posted:

Dan Padova posted:

Moonman posted:

Dug through some archives - I think these could be adapted to 4'  x 12'.

I recognize the first track plan from Lionel's old track planning book.  It's a good operators track plan, especially for operating accessories.  

Good try, but it's Model Builder- Jan 1941

The second is pre-war Marx - not positive on the date

Carl, you are correct.  However, Lionel's track planning book printed sometime in the '70s also had the same plan, along with many others that first appeared in Model Builder.

Thanks for info. Good that they rolled up the ideas. I like looking at the older track plans. Some good ideas. The difference today is multi-train running simultaneously. That one, in particular, has clever reverse loops and a different way to use a siding area.

The Marx, bow-tie look, as I call it, is just a nice runner. offers some nice options for add-ons. Atlas uses the same basic shape in their The "New" York Central - layout O-35 display layout that was used at shows like York.

updated track plan with some scenery elements:

red is aircraft beacon

yellow is flood light tower

orange is switch tower

cylinder on track is coaling tower

cylinder next to track is water tower

G,

I deleted the last reply. The 2nd reverse was not a 2nd reverse. Still looking for way to slip something in there.

this is a new 12x5 track plan I dreamed up.  the foundation is the oval at center right.  I added on two reversing loops such that all switches are in the front of the layout and reachable if something gets derailed.  I also added a passing siding around the left side reversing loop