Track versus scenery

Dave - only you can make that call.   With that much run (20' on the straight aways) I would put in 1 loop and scenic it as you have enough trackage to run 2 trains on 1 track.   On one side put in a passing siding to store the freight train while the passenger train passes as well (or run both at same speed for hands free running).  You can hide the far straightaway under a hillside to make the layout seem bigger.

-Greg

@Dave Ripp. posted:

i'm a looper guy at heart and have been working on a double loop 66 x 240 inch layout. 054 Outer O42 inner with some sidings in between. My dilemma is scenery and building space versus the 2 tracks. I look at Melgars 5 x 9 single loop OGR 304 and can see my possibilities double if I drop the 042 but I love running passenger and freight. Any single or double loopers please reply.

I think you could have two loops with Atlas O-63 and O-54. The O-63 would come close to the edges of the table but you could substitute two lengths of O-54 into each semi-circle of the outer O-63 loop to give you some extra clearance at the table edges. Possibly do the same with two lengths of O-42 inserted into the inner O-54 loop. Operationally, the outer loop would be at least O-54 and the inner loop would be almost O-54. Then run the freight trains (mostly 40-foot boxcars) on the inner loop. This would preserve the area inside the inner loop for scenery, although it would eliminate the siding between the loops. I opted for a single loop on my 10'-by-5' layout because it looks more realistic. In my opinion, many O gauge layouts have too much track and not enough of the "rest of the world" (towns and countryside). With twenty feet of table length, you should be able to have both.

MELGAR

MELGAR, Thanks and I'm sure you've heard this but your single loop layout is both stunning , inspiring and a great use of space.

The unfortunate bottom line here is that you are the only one who can decide what you prefer more.  I wish I had an easy answer but most of us have gone back and forth over the years as to what we prefer.   My advice if you are truly torn - go with the extra loop.  It's ALWAYS easier to tear up track to replace with scenery than it is to tear up scenery and lay more track!

I also wish I had Melgar's modeling skills!

-Greg

I really like Greg's suggestion, one loop with a passing siding. Not many of us have the real estate for 15 feet of straight track. With most turnouts you should be able to have 11 feet, or so, of useable siding.

Dave, if you haven't already, consider using easement tracks on your oval loops.  With very little gain in overall width of the oval footprint, your trains will look better and run smoother.

For instance, on your outer loop, maybe use a section of O60 at each end of the O54 curves.  Or maybe even O72 instead.  You can even use a pair of O60 switches (or O72 switches) as the easements to create a whopping long siding on the outside of the loop.  Good chance(?) that would still fit within the 66" limit on your table width, depending on your track brand.

Naturally, you could do the same thing on your O42 inner loop.  Use O54 easements.  Or maybe even O60 easements.

As an example, I have a 6' x 16' layout table.  Using MTH RealTrax, my O54 outer oval uses both O72 and O82 easements at each end of the oval (i.e., O82-O72-O54-O54-O54-O72-O82 for 180° curve).  Out-to-out width over the gray roadbed measures just a tad over 63", which very comfortably fits on my 72" wide table.  My 18" passenger cars look and run really well on this combination, and of course shorter stuff looks & runs even better yet.

With "all you can eat spaghetti", there is no room for the salad!

The one case where it seems reasonable to fill a layout with track is if you decide to model a yard and nothing else. That can make for an interesting model railroad that can also include a loop, but it might not allow for running trains at mainline speeds and also preclude scenery other than the railroad itself. Just my opinion.

MELGAR

I have a similar dilemma but it’s loops versus operating accessories. My layout will be 6x16 with a cutout for transformers. I wanted to nest 054 & 042 loops with mostly 042 switches to support accessories and store engines. I think I can live with one loop and a long siding to hold a second train but am wondering how to get by without a second siding to swap out the trains. I’m confident I will figure something out but it will take a few compromises. All part of the fun.

@MarkVB posted:

I think I can live with one loop and a long siding to hold a second train but am wondering how to get by without a second siding to swap out the trains.

If you have a single siding you can swap trains by separating the track plan into four blocks. Siding is one block. Main line between the two switches (next to siding) is second block. Then divide opposite part of main line into two more blocks. That should work to swap out the trains and park either train on the siding.

MELGAR

Thanks Melgar. That’s kind of what I was groping toward.