I am thinking about whether to design a layout that goes around the perimeter of the room or one that is on an island in the middle of the room. Both have pros and cons. The room is approximately 8' wide by 18' long with some irregularities along the walls. I would like to accommodate 72" (Fastrack) curves. What do you think?
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Based on your O72 wishes I think the island is out. 6 foot from 8 foot only leaves 1 foot on each side! I like around the walls layouts especially for operation and with 18 foot length you can plenty of that. Russ
I would suggest a point to point around the room. I don't like duck unders, and with a U-shaped point to point the switching posabilities are endless. I played round with rr track and did a time save using O72 FasTrack and it streached out about 16 feet. Rasy to bend it around a corner. If I can figure out how to save it as a file that everyone can look out i'll post it.
Jim Miller
Havre de Grace MD.
With 072 Fastrack Curves in a 8' x 16' area, for loop running a folded dogbone with access hatches was the best I could come up with. Would need to be a center door entrance to work.
For a point-to-point switching layout, you could do something like this depending where the door is.
I had same width room as you I tried the 072 approach it lasted a year downsized to 054 and am way happier why because I can now have bridges on that 8 foot wide area sure beats an all curve in my opinion.
keep table width 3 feet wide maximum on one of the 18 foot long runs the other stay with a 2 foot wide table trust me your back and knees will thank you on down the road.
If door opens where a table would be instead of a duck under do a lift out or a hinged area that you simply raise up and it allows you to walk through then lower it and your ready to run trains.
the point to point is a nice option unless you want to see a train run non stop at times and even then you can create a through track and still have point to point when you want to just shuffle cars from industry to a holding track.
it's your road the options are as endless as your imagination enjoy.
$oo
Thanks all for your thoughtful and provocative replies. Without 0-72 curves I will likely have to relinquish my EM-1.
I love articulated steamers but realized a while ago that I wouldnt be able to run a Premier min O72 engine on my min O54 13x11 layout. It was then I discovered MTH Imperial articulated steamers. While not prototypical in length, most have the right height and plenty of detail (considering their nearly half price). I run scale freight behind my Imperial Allegheny and it looks great. O54 works for me and allow me to make a longer layout with no duck unders and lots of curves. I designed a huge 65'x40' O72-O82 nested double line layout for my club. Even those big curves didnt do my friends EM-1 justice (didnt look right with enough overhang to clip a sidewall or opposing train.)
I am thinking about whether to design a layout that goes around the perimeter of the room or one that is on an island in the middle of the room. Both have pros and cons. The room is approximately 8' wide by 18' long with some irregularities along the walls. I would like to accommodate 72" (Fastrack) curves. What do you think?
I can't resist a design challenge so I created the design below with RR-Track. Its basically a figure 8 with double main line track. Curves are nested O72-O82 MTH Realtrax. This is a conceptual design and will likely need adjustments for clearances/and FasTrak O86 curves. Yards and siding can be added where you like. Loops cross at 6.5" and the max grade is 2.6%. You could run a pair of trains in opposite directions. Not sure where you enter room but you'll likely need to duck under or create a lift section.
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