Update 1953 Showroom Layout with Fastrack

Hi Ken.

Excellent work.   I like that a lot!   I love taking the classic layouts and adapting them to modern track and operation.

Thanks David, I appreciate that!   Its fun for me, like solving a puzzle.

If I was to start a design from scratch, I would probably work on something like these two 6x16s.   But I can see why someone might prefer and enjoy the showroom layout design!

Great, as usual.

dennis32

This variation gives the inside (small) loop a bit more room to run:

This version might be better.  No O31, more spurs, bigger inside loop.

Two trains can run continuously, without operator intervention:  the small inside loop, and the O60 figure-8.

Reverse loops in both directions.  A good bit different from the starting design, but better?

Ken, yes I agree.  It is like solving a puzzle.    I have a ton of the Classic Dealer Display layouts from Roger Carp's book in various stages of design in RR-Track using Fastrack....and some tubular where needed for classic accessories.

Someday I may even get to taking the design and build one

I like the original layout track plan with one exception.  The "S" curve created with the two 022 switches at the front of the layout.  

I also can see the advantages of Ken's Fastrack designs.  So many to choose from and so little room or time.....LOL

I've been designing a post-war type layout for two years now.  Must bite the bullet and pick one.   

Dan Padova posted:

I like the original layout track plan with one exception.  The "S" curve created with the two 022 switches at the front of the layout.  

I also can see the advantages of Ken's Fastrack designs.  So many to choose from and so little room or time.....LOL

I've been designing a post-war type layout for two years now.  Must bite the bullet and pick one.   

Dan, you are right, and that 'S' curve is central to the original design of the layout. I have reduced it a bit in degrees of curvature.  But...

I have also looked at replacing it with O60 turnouts, but that makes other issues harder to solve.   I might try separating the turnouts so its not so much of an 'S', but just two turnouts in opposite directions.

This junction eliminates the two turnouts creating an 'S' curve, but with the same connectivity.  Even less remains of the original concept.

Here, for the junction at the bottom left, I substituted two O72 'Y' tracks, for a much smoother 'S' curve on the O60 up-and-over figure-8 mainline.   The Violet big oval mainline is now O48 (will run O42 equipment).   The blue tracks are O36.   

Improved:  all of the Violet is O48 min, will run O42 equipment.  O42 can also run the O60 over/under figure-8.   Just the O36 cut-off to make an interior circle is O36, which is just for continuous running of O36 and traditional equipment, LionChief and the like.   

I like this color scheme better:  Green=O60 min.  Blue=O48 min.  Violet=O36.  Red (none) = O31.

4% grades to reach the light green bridge at 5.5".

Described as a 6x14 O48 Lionel FasTrack layout (runs O42), with the O36 cut-off, and the ability to run O54 on the over/under figure-8.

Additional spur ideas:

Perhaps some would prefer to have the O31 inside loop for running:

Turned-out to be a "solution" at all O48:  (with the over-under at O60min with 4% grades)

Perhaps with an On30 narrow-gauge loop on a mountain at 8" in height.   Shown as Kato Unitrack at 17" radius.  Access hole in the middle of the mountain: 2'x2'. An O36 FasTrack loop could be substituted.   Three trains running without intervention at the junction or crossings.

On the O gauge: O42 and smaller runs everywhere; O54 runs the over-under.

This version gives the O60/O54 run more to do, with access to four spurs.   An O54 loco can be parked on one of the spurs.

A second access hatch option on the right.

Here is an interesting addition: a reason for the layout to have an elevated line: a connection to another railroad and a spur (at about 7" in height), all at O60 minimum diameter (with a tunnel).

This would be an interesting and fun RR to build and operate.   Perhaps operate as two RRs, interchanging: the elevated green RR that descends into the valley below, making a connection with the blue RR running through the valley.  With some shared tracks, or trackage rights.     The minimum center-rail spacing is 5" at the tightest point.

Nice job, Ken!

Peter

Always loved this layout - thought it was one of the ultimate bowl of spaghetti dealer displays

Really like what you've done - Thx 

Some scenery and structures:

Adding a connection to another RR or branch at the bottom, leading into a hidden staging track.

Working out a couple of ideas:  1) have the On30 do something useful:  industries off of the oval generate ore and timber, which cross over the O mains to the other end of the layout, and are transloaded to the 3R O-gauge.   The O-gauge at that end of the line, has a mine.   

2) re-align the staging at the bottom, partially hidden, a connection to another RR and an interchange track.

Adding more structures and some scenic details:

More scenery details:

Design notes:  I am pretty much satisfied with this interpretation of Lionel's Showroom Layout.

1. Expanding the inside layout to O48 minimum, running O42 equipment
2. Adding reverse loop connections for the inside, which also creates two operating routes - the inside loop; and a figure-8.
3. Expanding the outside up-and-over route to O60, running O54 equipment
4. Adding a staging track, and/or connection to another RR for interchange (no double-stacks).
5. Adding the On30 for a third operator, and more train action
6. Additional spurs for more operating activity

Limitations:

1. No yard, limited storage, but that is an aspect of the original plan as a showcase for new products
2. I like a layout to have interesting operations, but also good continuous running and train watching without having to focus on throttles.   The outside up-and-over runs one train.   The second train is the On30 which I would set to a back-and-forth run with a pause at each end, rather than just running the On30 loop.  
3. The third train is the inside route (brown ties), which can run its loop on the left (boring after a bit).  The problem is the intersection with the up-and-over.   I am wondering if this inside route could go through the crossing or switch-intersection and all the way to the right end, by either timing so that trains will miss at the crossings, or run this route using conventional control, and making this route automatically pause/yield to the outside (gray track) route.

Ken - very nice work! Does your software generate a parts list?

Sean, AnyRail generates a track parts list.   It needs to be categorized and sorted.   Are you interested in building the layout?