Train room is 9x13 can 0-72 be done

It's always helpful to identify any obstacles; windows, doors (in/out), closets, etc. Just to show sizing, here's a quick view of O54 and O72 curves with the O72 raised 6".

Thank you. I think I Am going to have to purchase and download that software. And start planning and throwing together some ideas and get the forums take on them 

As it appears that overhead clearance is not a problem, consider making the grade separation a little less to avoid the "bowl" look. You might even have an opportunity to share an intermediate grade for a couple of tracks for yard or interchange service.  Perhaps a little bit of a climb for outer main, maybe at the farthermost viewing point, for a more dramatic effect.  

I think you have a great opportunity to show us all what can be done in such a space.  I look forward to watching your progress. Have fun!

sickdrummer posted:

Thank you. I think I Am going to have to purchase and download that software. And start planning and throwing together some ideas and get the forums take on them 

SCARM has a trial option good for up to 100 tracks, so you can try before you buy.

Great thank you 

o72 is 72 inch diameter is 6 feet.     so  you needat least  6 feet wide to make a loop.     9x13 is bigger than that in both dimensions.

Is it really worth building benchwork for two concentric loops (and very short straights?)  I would just set up an oval on the floor for now, and concentrate on finding a room for your permanent layout with at least 20' on the long wall.

In my own "faith journey" I've discovered that Premier / Hi Rail is like a pet hippo.  Fun to show your friends but not very housebroken!  Especially because I live in the Land of Short Winters and No Basements.  My garage can accommodate either a hi-rail layout or a classic car, but not both.    First world problems and difficult choices...

How many trains do you want to run at once?  What is on the other side of the wall?  Is it practical to have one 180 degree turn on the other side of the wall? Just two tunnel portals which would lead to about three feet of intrusion.  Enough for a 'fiddle yard' out of sight from the train room.   Are you going to have a lift out section to allow access to the center of the room/layout?  How high above the floor will the main loop be?  Or suspended from the overhead?                          John in Lansing, ILL

To answer a few questions. On the other side of the room is another room. I was thinking of opening up the wall but what will depend on what in in the wall. There might be lolly columns or just 2x4's since right above where the rooms split is the main support beam of the house.  If i did go into the room i did not want to go to far in because i would like to keep that room as a place i can have a couch ,tv etc. It is also where my sliding doors are to the outside(yard).

How many trains would I like to run at once? I would like to have at least two if possible even if once was lower (0-72) and the one above was 0-54 for logging (shay) 

Another thing to not while I was going to have the trains in the 9x13 room in the other room i was going to build a ceiling/shelf layout just to have something to go around the room. 

These are all ideas and since i did not start any work on downstairs yet most of this is up in the air. 

While i have built many a layouts with my father(most very large which is why i have some much premier 0-72 engines) This size while challenging might still work.

The though did come to mind to sell off some premier and replace it with railking but there are a good amount of engines that have sentimental value. 

Since you have a number of engines that need 072 curves, then I would plan for 072 and run them as opposed to selling.  Dave's quick SCARM drawing shows you have a lot of room to work with that on at least an outside loop.

If there's 7'-by-7' or 6'-by-10' available on the other side of the wall, you could punch a hole through and put a helix on the other side.  The train will go into the hole, and in a couple of minutes, come out on the next level.  You could even hide another train in there!

In O scale, I would suggest making the levels about 24"-28" apart in height.  So your helix would have about four turns.

In the main (original) room, you could have a couple of sidings and a reversing loop (probably O54) on each level, that sends the train back into the wall.  Bottom to top, top to bottom, you would have half of a "mushroom" layout (yes that's a thing!)  This arrangement would give you a much longer run, more prototypical and visually interesting than two concentric ovals.  You won't get dizzy watching because trains will pass from left to right and right to left across the long wall, instead of buzzing around your head.  Also you'll have a "walk-in" plan instead of an open doughnut that would require a lift gate, a swing-out section, or crawling on your hands and knees to get inside of it.  That gets old fast!

It's your layout, but I'm in a very similar position with my 18 x 11.5 spare room allocated to trains.  I don't want concentric ovals, so I've concluded that's not really enough area for O72.  After a lot of thought (and money wasted) I think I've decided to display or sell the O72 stuff, and build a much more interesting layout with sharper curves.  My $.02.

Ted, the 2 oval example was just to gauge size, not to suggest any kind of design. I get concerned when folks say they want O72 curves and multiple levels in a space that size. My space is almost the same size, but I’m going with O36/O45 curves for an L” shaped winter scene display layout with 3 separate levels. The trains are secondary to the display and will have simple runs with no switches.

“Ted said, It's your layout, but I'm in a very similar position with my 18 x 11.5 spare room allocated to trains.  I don't want concentric ovals, so I've concluded that's not really enough area for O72.  After a lot of thought (and money wasted) I think I've decided to display or sell the O72 stuff, and build a much more interesting layout with sharper curves.  My $.02.”

I think the key phrase is It’s your layout. Unlike Ted, I like concentric circles. But you need to decide what you like and want. That’s one of the great things about this hobby. Are you an operator or a loop runner? Do you want realism or a toy train look? Basically, no rights or wrongs.

Gerry