U Shaped 12x12 Looking for Feedback

I have a similar layout, but mine is 8' X 12' with a 2' X 6' section out of the middle, so there is a solid 2' X 4' section at the top.  The track is O-54 on one side and O-42 on the other, with a "blocked" O-42 within the O-54, and several turnouts so I can turn the trains around and keep one in the blocked area.  Hills, valleys, streams, bridges and ponds are future projects.

The O-42 on the left is expanded (added straight in the middle), but I wish I had something other than O-42.  Read the Atlas O statement as to why they did not make O-31 or O-42.  But you have it, so use it.  Also look at woodlandscenics website for ideas about relief, ponds and bridges.  It's expensive, but you can get ideas there.

Attached is a rendering that works.

I like to run several trains, I have no idea how many you want to run. But you have a lot of room if those two wings are 8x8....and I think you would be happier with two main lines. If you have the switches, connect them and have reversing loops also.

 

That was my first impression. I can tell you that this year, for the Christmas garden, I wanted a U. Put down the boards, started laying track, and did not like what I saw.

 

You can view the start here if you want to: https://ogrforum.com/d...nt/12129988025109476

About post 2 and 8 are what I thought it would look like for Christmas. Wound up similar, with great input from a couple of members.

 

I then decided to make it a walk around, turned out much better to me.

That can be viewed here if you wish: https://ogrforum.com/d...nt/12129988025109476

 

Good luck whatever you do. Be thankful you have room to leave it up all year. Mine will come down in a few weeks and be packed up until next Christmas.

 

Greg

Looks like a great start.  It gives me some ideas.  Mine is very similar, but I wanted to run more than one train, so I did a blocked section to keep one idle while I ran the other(s).  The blocked section takes up considerable room.  I also wanted to be able to reverse train directions, and you have done that very well.  My right and left sections are 5' wide, but only 8' long, so you have a lot more square footage.  I wanted O-54 curves, but don't know yet, if that is best.

Unfortunately my wings are only 4x8.  I never thought about running more than one train.  I think that would be a good thing to include for the future.  Any suggestions on how to make that adapt into this layout?

"Any suggestions on how to make that adapt into this layout?"

I did just that. Did you visit those pages with the pictures of the layout?

Started as a U, then made it into a walk-in.

Greg

I see what you did with yours.  I am not sure how I feel about connecting the bottom of the U shape.  That is probably the only option to get the ability to run more than 1 train, right?

 

Well, unless you see something that we did not see when we evaluated mine, I do not see/did not have another option. I wound up putting a hollow core door over that opening so I could run mainlines down the front.

 

I have a thread on changing the lift out to a hinge out if you want the links. If you do a search, you will probably find it.

 

If you plan your track now, so later you can fill that gap, you will you will have loads of mainline to run on. I have about your same size setup. Just came in after running trains for about 2 hours. I REALLY WISH I could leave this one up all year. Neat track plan.

 

Best of luck, get at it. Greg

Greg, looks like you are using MTH track.  Are you satisfied with it?  What is the tightest and widest curve on the layout?

My U layout is only 88 sq. ft., compared to 112 on this one, and the wings are 5 x 8, so I could use O-54 curves, but I didn't leave enough room for sidings, without eliminating props, so maybe I'll expand it as you did.

Thanks for your very informative reply.  Don't have any good pics.  Agree about the MTH - I have tons of it, and it is nothing to write home about.  O-42 is smallest I have, and most is O-54, because I have gotten into MTH Premium cars and even the railking passengers don't like to run on track smaller than O-54 (look awkward).  Don't have any premium locos though.  My objective is to replicate 1940s and 1950s railroads in my area (Texas), so I have T&P steam passenger, MKT Alco diesel freight with standard O consist and UP FEF freight with MTH Premium or Atlas 1/48 scale consist.  I'm not a purist 1/48 scale yet, but leaning that way.

I am a retired attorney, and have flown airplanes for many years, but am at the stage in life where I need a more mundane hobby besides airplanes, which are a money pit.  Howsomever, I have figured out that model trains are not so mundane, and are also a money pit.

Have the best day you can.  Bob

https://ogrforum.com/d...nt/12129988014194613 check out my post. I have the same setup. I have an elevated section running two main loops with a yard area. I connected one end of the U with a removable bridge.