Twice Around the Christmas Tree

quote:

Originally posted by dkdkrd:

Problem...

No 6-12051 45 degree crossings.

Distributors all out.

Lionel sez.........next April!

DukeGG1,

Referring to the pic around the Xmas tree.
Would you please post the #of straights & # of curves required?
I would like to do this for my layout.
I will need to add more track to what I already have and I do not want to over purchase, as you may know, fast track is not cheap.

Thanks,
Bill B.

Heres the 5x8' version To shorten it, just take out 2 straights on each horiz. run.

To continue, there are:

1 45 degree crossing

5 1.75" str

4 4.5" str

15 10" str

3 5" str

16 36"r curves

Guy

The photos gives me "food for thought" though, you know how slow us rednecks are

down in the steamy south!!

I am working on the "ole girl" trying to convince her that maybe this year..."I could??"

We'll see.

p.s.  my jack russel, Pip drives the golf cart...well he steers.!!

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?

Here's a 7' x 7' variation for FasTrack

It appears that someone sells the Lionel FasTrack track as a package.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LIONEL...ck-NEW-/310530437518

It's not me. It was a free layout idea. snip snip.

The "old girl" won't give in, so....I purchased one of those Lionel L30162 Thomas sets

and if when we get it (me and the dog) we'll put it together in the area where we usually

put the Christmas tree and (dog thinking here...) then that'll convince her!!

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.

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.

Thanks, I figured they must be causing some difficulties. Nice configuration though. 

It's running well with a max of about 7 cars.  Any longer than that and the turnaround loop is too short.

Thanks Michigan and Ohio Valley for the plan. I modified it a bit to reduce the track count. It requires making 3 fitters from 10" pieces. Photos and detail attached as well as a SCARM file. It's a 6' x 5' now.

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.

Nice track plans everyone!

--Greg

Thanks, again, to Keith for his initial post.  I used that plan last year with success.  With these follow-up inspirations, it looks like I might be in the market for some additional Fastrack!  Now, where to put the sofa???

Here's some that I worked on.

Those are some interesting plans, I do like that first one.