Train direction of my layout

From point to point. Only rapid transit/streetcar and amusement park lines ran in circles.

Hey, you asked...

There are a number of reasons to run in one direction:

• The layout is only signal-equipped for one direction.
• For operational purposes, all the switches are trailing point in a particular direction.  That makes switching easier.
• The layout has special characteristics or limitations.  I designed a twice around layout for a friend.  Because of the limitations of the room and the size of the curves (O72), one direction has a pretty big downgrade.  The decision was made to have the layout operate so that it goes down that big hill, not up.

My own layout, the PRR Panhandle, is signalled in 1 direction (for the first 2 reasons).

 

George

AS i have read a number of times on this forum,it's your railroad do whatever makes you happy,just have fun !!!!!!!

Toledo Terminal RR Co.  Runs in a big circle. Would make a interesting model RR with plenty of interchange traffic.

 

Clem 

Cool! wish I had the room!

 

Point to point is basically what the real railways do. You might want to consider a short reversing loop, wye or turntable at each end to spin the locomotives around, unless you want to just be almighty and pick it up.

 

Next place I get, I'm running a line around the walls. Point to point stuff is awesome because you can get the feel of one main line, the great distance between the revenue points for the railroad. 

 

 

A loop has it's advantages too, especially for just running, but that does get old too.

Jerry,

 

As most will tell you, with this much room, you have lots of options.  Please note that using your imagination, you can use or combine any of those options.

 

For example, combine an oval with point-to-point operation.  Place two small, separate yards at the bottom of your oval, one on each side of a small mountain range.  Then, you can run point-to-point.  However, also build a tunnel through the mountains that connects the mainline for oval running.

 

Whatever you decide, have fun.

Chuck

Hi all,

Much thanks as always! !!!!!!!!

Jerry 

Point to point is basically what the real railways do.

This was a debated subject in model railroading years ago.  In fact, only a very few railroads are point-to-point.  The Alaska RR, with no rail connections to any other railroad, would be one.  Most rail lines connect with another, at one or more ends, to provide continuous through operation.  So is it point to point where the PRR's lines ended and it turned through traffic over to the SOU????????

 

There are some rail lines, over western passes, where a section of track is one-way due to grades, with the other direction traffic following a different right-of-way.

 

You could, at each of your end points, have trains run into a hidden area, as if they were going of on another railroad.

 

For what it's worth, I recall seeing a layout sketch where the track ran around the room and then returned to the same yard, with the same turntable, as it had left from, but with the track set up so there couldn't be continuous running.

 

As noted above, it's your railroad and you can set it up any way you want.

Due to limited space against 3 walls, only place I can have it, 4'8" deep by 8'6" wide with "L" extension 6' long by 3'8" deep.  I'm building a 3 level layout for 3 trains and 1 trolley run,  all with reversing loops and Realtrax O-31 & Fastrack O-36 curves to fit the O-31 Realtrax curves inside the Fastrack O-36 curves, besides the Fastrack Transition to Realtrax Adapter Track pieces,  the rest of the layout is all Fastrack. Train 1 to run first level only. Train 2 to run both levels 1 & 2 and run same track for incline/decline.  I will run my MTH PS2 Locomotive w/ Cruise Control for this. Train 3 will run level 2 only. Trolley will have stop/start stations on level 3.  8 inches difference between levels.  Powering tracks by 2 MTH Z-1000 & 1 LIONEL CW-80 for trains & LIONEL 30 Watt transformer & Dallee Electronic Stop-Start Station unit for trolley operation. A lot of running in a very small tight area but only place I have to have a train layout at all. O Gauge or No Gauge for me!

Jerry A,

It really depends on how you want your rr to operate. being able to change direction is a nice feature for both display and operational purposes.

 

The wye or the balloon were utilized by railroads. RJR brings up an interesting railroad that is point to point. The Alaska Railroad employs wyes and balloons. What you incorporate may be limited by the track that you use.

 

The ARR, coming from north to south, has a large wye below Eielson AFB. In Fairbanks, they a have a balloon around one of the yard areas. heading south, there is a wye to service the Usabelli coal tipple and Anderson Airport. In their main yard\headquarters in Anchorage, they have a balloon. Finally, at the Port of Seward, this threw me. I had to look at the satellite view to see how they turned the engine there. A clever V shape with a loop near the long ends to create a wye. (see the attached snips from Google Maps.)

 

Back to the beginning...It depends on your track design, where you place the yard, where you have spurs to service and industry or port and which track that you use(type of switches available) that will determine which will work for you.

 

None works also, as previously mentioned.

Again, thanks for all your replies.,

 

Jerry