Track plan ideas for micro-layouts in O-gauge/O-scale

With optional tracks, this is easily expanded.

Wider-radius "easements" improve the appearance and operation of trains on sharp curves.

Ace, great plans for small space contest.

Terminal for suburban MU or RDC cars. Use full-length backdrop for scenic enhancement. 15"x 10 foot shelf.

This can be built as a stand-alone module and later combined into a larger layout.

I've been keeping up with the other post about the contest itself. This is extremely helpfu Ace for folks like me where math isn't my specialty and I want to more involved. It's the idea behind the contest to life for consideration and I'm a visual person. Examples are the way I learn and you did a great job! Thank you, Terry

Ace,

All my plans shown in this thread fit the size limit for the contest. Use your imagination to modify and customize them!

This could be a stand-alone starter layout and later expanded to the right.

A loco and two ore cars work the steeply graded branch.

A through train on the oval sets out and picks up cars at the spur, and lays over in the tunnel. 

This O27 loop-to-loop arrangement is a really tight fit for the micro format. 

Here is one I did with rrtrack5.  The idea is not new: i borrowed it from the micro layout web site.  Its a point-to-point design, where you pick up gravel at the bottom left, then haul it up to the top and dump it for trucks to haul away.  It uses 14" radius min curves, gargraves track and an RCS O54/O31 curved turnout.

Here is a classic Time Saver layout that fits for the micro contest.  I used lots of buildings to make it look like an urban industrial area.

Thanks Swise. I'm thinking it's about time I tried the SCARM software for graphic enhancement.

Here are some module ideas which can be stand-alone micro-layouts, or extended with connecting track.

These two modules together meet the size limit for a micro layout. They can be separated to use as end modules with connecting track added in between.

here's a small layout i like...don't remember where i found it...

howard...north florida...usa

I loved Carl's micro site; I have all his books on old-fashion paper and cd. Outstanding idea for large scale micros...kinda a contradiction in terms but thats the fun. The 2013 Model Railroader design Annual has an indoor G scale layout; the author briefly discusses small layouts with BIG trains as well.  Shelves, switching, interchange...great stuff to think outside the box.

thanks george.

The layout is based on John Allens original design.

Ace, those are all interesting layouts!

I'm not going to have time to build it before the deadline, but what I was going to do for the contest was five O27 circles/ovals, all stacked and offset from one another, supported by very sparse scaffolding so it looks like the tracks are suspended in midair. The final product would have had five trains running in a space about 3x3x3.  I like the idea so much I might get back to it one day.

Keep in mind that in order for Timesaver to operate as designed you need room for 3 cars on your top two sidings and 2 cars each on your bottom three sidings. We built one for our modular club and ours finished out @12' long.

I'd recommend measuring your locomotive and cars (you'll need 5) to get your siding lengths right. Not saying you can't do it, just make sure you build it big enough so you can actually run it. A Porter and 5 Bobber Cabeese should work. RMT would also be a good source for short engines and cars.

Uncouplers on each siding (if you can slip them in) are invaluable when you're running Timesaver.

Gilly

Yea I'm not positive this design actually allows the timeserver operation...

Urban scenery with trolley on oval. Lower level trackage is for static display of passenger locomotives or end cars of trains at an underground station.

Will any of this software handle superstreets 8" radius curves?  I've been having a lot of fun playing with Superstreets track, K-line Porters and Plymouths, K-line ore cars, and some of the Industrial rail short skeleton log cars. 

rrtrack has a ss library:

Here are details on the lib:

http://www.rrtrack.com/html/k-..._superstreets_o.html

AnyRail free version has SuperStreets in the track library. I'll whip something up with it ...

A micro-layout track plan idea using K-Line SuperStreets. I am including the AnyRail file if anyone wants to figure out the track pieces used for this. AnyRail shows 7.18" and 9.54" curve radii for SuperStreets.

I'm learning SCARM track planning software. The 3-D viewing feature is great. This example was auto-sized to 34"x 70" and uses O27 and O54 curves. It might fit the micro-layout format if you can trim it to 28.5"x 66".

I actually built these plans for the micro-layout contest: