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It's almost that time of year. I thought I would post the plan and item list for using Lionel FasTrack on the "Twice Around the Christmas Tree" layout.


For a larger photo, CLICK HERE

Item list for above...

Item list for Twice Around The **** Tree1.rrt

NUMBER DESCRIPTION
(16) FasTrack 12015 O36 45° curve
(3) FasTrack 12014 10 in straight
(5) FasTrack 12025 4.5 in straight
(2) FasTrack 12024 5 in straight
(3) FasTrack 12026 1.75 in straight
(1) FasTrack 12051 45° cross
Total of 30 items costing

Grand total of 30 items
Original Post

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Thanks for sharing this. I'm looking to do either this or the three times around the tree (a guy has a video on youtube showing this. It has some inclines to get one of the loops in the air in order to do the tree trips around).

I'm not familiar with this track planning software. What is the length of each side of the square?

Thanks again.
That's the exact layout I use. It works well.

At the top I added a couple more curves where the straight
is. This year I am thinking about adding a switch on the right
side before it enters the cross over and making a siding
with a dump track.

I'd really like to a superstreets someplace, but haven't worked
that one out yet....
If you need FasTrack, Wild Bill's Trains in Clinton Twp., Michigan usually has every piece in stock. I have yet to go in there and find them out of something I need.

In addition to the pieces I use for my layout, I also keep some track for just messing around with on the floor. I try to keep a few utility pieces around (like the crossover) in case I want to make a floor layout more interesting. While I realize that FasTrack pieces like the crossovers aren't cheap, buying it to add to your inventory before you absolutely *MUST* have it might not be such a bad idea.
I really liked it, but when I tried to do a similar layout using a 22-1/2° crossing, RR-Track would not connect the crossing. Regardless of how I oriented the crossing or how close I had it to the other tracks, it remained ‘red’. No problem with 45°, though. Has anyone tried using the 22-1/2° Fastrack crossing with RR-Track?

Thx

Alex
Well CandO Here's my twice around the tree mod.
I added the curve at the top. and made the right side a little
larger for my little village.

The white stuff you see is 2 X 2 ceiling tile. It helped to fill
the gaps between the tables and I'm hoping it will also reduce the
noise a little. The dark spot you see the the table. The tile gives
me about a 1/2" platform so I think that area will end up being
a wire chase. I'll cover the whole thing in a white blanket for snow
effect. Oh and I'm using all 36" curves except for the lower right side
which is 48" Total layout is 9' X 7'

Bruce...





..
.
Originally Posted by David from Dearborn:
My layout is similar to your twice around the tree layout. I made the design asymetrical with a siding at one end so that I could keep 2 trains on the layout.

Here is my Christmas Marx tinplate layout for this year. All track is 027 tubular.



Hmmm, now where have I seen this layout recently? Possibly in a magazine?

Thanks for the inspiration here.  The house I've been living in the past few years didn't have room for me to keep my permanent layout, so with the traditional double loop around the tree the past few years the kids have completely forgotten about how to use switches, operating track, etc.  So i thought I'd create something a little more complex and thought I'd share the layout.

I really wanted to use the K-Line SuperSnap track I had because it's so much quieter than FastTrack.

I wanted to have a turnaround loop, a crossover, and a turnout with an operating track for decoupling, etc.

I also wanted to avoid using custom-cut track if possible.  I couldn't do that using my 60 degree crossover so I ended up with this set up using the 90 degree. 

The "table" is a King size white fuzzy blanket.  I duct taped wires to the underside of the blanket and cut small slits to pass the wires up to the component.  I used small black zip ties to hold the tracks together.

 

 

Xmas2013Final3D

IMG_6026

Attachments

Images (3)
  • xmas2013final: PNG Image of layout, green circle is tree stand
  • Xmas2013Final3D: 3D view
  • IMG_6026: photo
Files (2)
RailModeller save file for layout
RailModelller didn't have a rail set for SuperSnap, so I made one for the tracks I have.
Last edited by merc4a2
Originally Posted by DoubleDAZ:

Very ingenious. Do the kids have any trouble with those 2 "S" curves?

I'm getting used to it, I'm finding it hard to find a sweet spot on the throttle where it can go unattended.  It either stops on an S or gets going too fast on the outer loop and derails.

 

So far I've only let the kids run a K-Line NY Central loco I have that seems to have plenty of torque to pull cars through the curves but never goes too fast.

Originally Posted by merc4a2:

Thanks for the inspiration here.  The house I've been living in the past few years didn't have room for me to keep my permanent layout, so with the traditional double loop around the tree the past few years the kids have completely forgotten about how to use switches, operating track, etc.  So i thought I'd create something a little more complex and thought I'd share the layout.

I really wanted to use the K-Line SuperSnap track I had because it's so much quieter than FastTrack.

I wanted to have a turnaround loop, a crossover, and a turnout with an operating track for decoupling, etc.

I also wanted to avoid using custom-cut track if possible.  I couldn't do that using my 60 degree crossover so I ended up with this set up using the 90 degree. 

The "table" is a King size white fuzzy blanket.  I duct taped wires to the underside of the blanket and cut small slits to pass the wires up to the component.  I used small black zip ties to hold the tracks together.

 

 

Xmas2013Final3D

IMG_6026

I am so glad to see this thread get new life this year.  The simple 2x around the tree was my layout last year and both my wife and I loved it.  It will be my "Plan B" for this year.

 

I like the above modifications - especially the spur track - and plan to add one to whatever I end up with.  The other thing I am going to try is to have some elvation changes.  What I'd *LIKE* though is to figure out how to do the 3x around the tree and do it with wide enough curves so that my scale P.E. doesn't want to fly off the track.

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