Which directions do your triains go?

On my double track mainline, I use "Right Hand Running", pretty much like all the real railroads did in the late 1940s thru mid 1950s, which is the time period I model. Only the C&NW used "Left Hand Running".

Mine run horizontal or close to it.

Up and down, but only when the tires need changed !

In loops, so N, S, E, W!

I was going to say "forward" but, a legitimate question deserves a straight answer.

 

I change trains out every week and, if a particular track was "eastbound" this week, it will be "westbound" next week and vice versa.  My signals are, for all intent and purposes, bi-directional so I really don't have a fixed current of traffic.

 

Curt

Round and round and round.

 

Generally the outer loop runs counter clockwise and the inner loop clockwise. No direction arrows on my transformers so no problem of the train not going the same way a reverse switch is pointing.

The inner loop also has four switches so that the direction can be changed or to convert the loop into an 8.

Everywhere west.

Mine follow the tracks.... but seriously.... It might sound odd but I tend run my modern stuff clockwise (into the future) and I run steam counterclockwise (into the past).  Maybe its a sign of mental health issues?  Ha ha

East...... My railroad is based on the New York Central coming into the Bronx. Any train coming into Grand Central is traveling east, even if it was coming in a southwesterly direction.

O gauge is going clockwise and the standard gauge is going counter-clockwise. Every year I switch the two.

On the small "town house" layout, the outer loop goes clockwise, the inner loop goes counter clockwise.

My layout doesn't exactly fall into any of those categories.

 

I have three loops designed to make trains pass each other in "unpredictable" directions and places, labeled in the photo below as A, B, and C with arrows for direction trains go.

 

The outermost loop (A) is 135 feet around and has O-96 to O-72 inch curves and is a single mono-directional loop - it passes up and over itself and loops around once alongside itself (that is why you see it twice in the photo below) but the train(s) always goes around in the same direction as the arrows indicate (I usually run it from left to right).  I usually run two trains on it, sometimes three, spaced out around the loop.

 

Inside of it is a dog bone of total travel around of 96 feet, with 60 inch curve reversing loops on each end connected by a common single track they feed from each direction.: each time a train goes around it comes back the other way on each end, that is why the direction arrows point both ways.  

 

Inside of it, on top, is a my BEEPWorld loop (C) about 65 feet dog bone with 36 inch curves and loops on each end that do not reverse (they feed a common five-rail gaunlet track as their "single track connecting them, so there are no turnouts needed).  It also passes over and under itself so that at some points, such as vantage point in the photo, it passes by three times, trains passing in both directions.  

 

The result is that trains in the middle loop reverse each time, passing the trains on the inside and outside in different directions.  The different loop lengths (60, 95, 135 feet, means that trains traveling at roughly the same speed - I like about 25 mph - will meet (pass each other) at different locations each time they traverse their loops, and with the middle loop reversing itself, sometimes side by side in the same direction, sometimes the opposite.  Variety!

Back in time. 

 

On a more serious note (although the above is true, I'm a steam guy), my usual running direction is determined by the innermost of three 0 gage loops. The trains run clockwise on the inner so they can back into the sidings, one of which is a coal unloading ramp. The middle loop runs the opposite way, and the outer loop goes the same direction as the inner. Only the inner loop has any sidings.

 

The 0 gauge layout is enclosed by an outer loop of Standard Gauge. I don't set a default direction for that, it's whatever I feel like when I put a train on it. 

Trains run Counter-clockwise.  I have the ability to run them in both directions and to reverse them using the double cross-over, but usually run them only in the counter-clockwise direction.  The layout is only signaled in that direction.

 

 

George

The same here except I alternate directions weekly . I do this to make sure everything receives equal flange wear . It works for me . My 2 cents

I designed my layout to integrate with all sections of the table.  I operate by building a train consist and have the ability to move in either direction with connections to all areas of the layout.  So that makes it possible to run on all 4 points of the compass.

 

1.  2 Main line loops that run the length and width of the entire table. 

2.  Inner city loop that runs over 1/2 of the layout

3.  Passenger Station through track which connects with all three loops

4.  Industrial/Factory/coal/farming sidings which intersect the city loop and connect to the main lines.

5.  Reversing wye with access to all three loops.

 

For me the advantage to this is that I do not have to use three finger engineering to alter a consist or place a loco in use.

Just like on a real railroad, the trains need to run whatever direction is desired at any time.

 

The design on my layout is to be able to run either direction on either loop. Cross-overs allow movement from outer to inner and inner to outer. A Wye allows reversing of big engines that will not pass through the inner 054 min reversing loop.

 

Worse case, use the 'ol 0-5-0 switcher...

 

Gilly

The under the bed layout I built is counter clockwise, for no reason other than that's how it ended up, with the train backing onto sidings.  When I get the around the room layout built, it'll be a double main, with the other loop counter clockwise and the inner loop clockwise.  I believe this is the right hand running Hot Water uses.  My yards and siding will be in both directions, with a very convoluted O54 wye to turn everything around that will fit on it.  Anything else that needs bigger turns will either never change direction or will be turned by the HOG.

We normally run counter-clockwise on the primary; clockwise on the secondary. The mountain branch can't make up its mind since it's loop-to-loop.

"4. Does it differ below the equator? {This is a joke folks, referring to the fable that toilets flush the opposite direction in countries like Australia, which is not true.}"

 

There is actually some truth in this. On double main lines, where US trains would pass "port to port", in Australia, ours would pass "starboard to starboard".

OK, good answer and quite similar to those who posted answers subsequent to but one must ask: Once you hit the end of your west-most direction, then what?

 

Which direction does your train turn to come back? Clockwise, or counter-clockwise?

 

As an interesting observation, a significant preponderance of layouts O-Gauge Layout's on UTube are CCW, but that only reflects the proportion of those posting the video's, not necessarily a "General Consensus".

 

Regrettably, I neglected to consider anything close to Lee's layout, which requires those of an IQ significantly higher than mine to comprehend, and is admittedly is quite complex (BUT FANTASTIC WORK!!!).

 

Anyone else?

 Round & round double track, two crossovers, inner loop to figure 8 to reverse direction. Gives me lots of action when changing directions and moving trains. Tom

May I respectfully challenge this presumption?

 

"Real" railroads have known and fixed destinations, who's path is limited by legal, geographical, and physical constraints. But, generally speaking, model enthusiast's tend to prefer layouts that not dead-end (or engine running in reverse), or forcing an "Out-and-back" scenario or such (whether the engine leading or not is not really relevant to my initial question).

 

Surely every model railroader has adapted the scale of their layout to fit the constraints of their property, but that truly doesn't change the question I posed:

"Clockwise, Counter-clockwise, or both?"

 

"Both" would obviously include a large and complex layout that allows trains to traverse the entire length of such layout without any inherit preference to the position of sidings, spurs, or such.

 

I find it hard to believe that a very large layout would be 100% symmetrical, is there any definitive direction?

So Tom, if you were to objectively classify your layout, would you consider it an "extended figure 8" (which I don't believe from what you describe), or more accurately, and "out-and-back" through the use of cleverly placed switches to provide that advantage?

For the purpose of this discussion, I find this to be the most interesting reply.

 

The George states that it is "Counter-clockwise", but also states that "...I have the ability to run them in both directions...".

 

However, I would argue that the trailing spurs at switch 1, 2, and 11 define this as a clear counter-clockwise layout (not speaking for the user, only my opinion).

 

Conversely, the spurs at switch 9 & 15 contradict this opinion, which in my humble opinion leaves the final direction up to the designer.

 

Very cool layout...wish I had the space he has!

Just curious but, are you under the impression that railroads only run their real trains in the direction of "trailing point switches"? 

My double track main follows the right-hand-running practice. Apart from one facing switch on a passing loop, and another in a storage spur, all switches are trailing when right-hand-running is observed.

I have a double tracked mainline (oval). I guess you could say that clockwise is westbound and counter- clockwise is eastbound.
My rail yard contains a reverse loop and a wye. When necessary an entire train can change direction by proceeding through the reverse loop. Sometimes an entire train may have to back-up through the loop however that move is dangerous and has a tendency to foul the main. The preferred method is to switch the caboose to the other end of the train.
I try to run my diesels in "A-A" sets so they look good going any direction. But occasionally a single diesel or steamer must be turned using the wye.

Let me clarify........New York Central Rules......towards Manhattan was Eastbound. Leaving Manhattan was going Westbound.

That may have worked for the NYC, but consider the Southern Pacific, i.e. any train going away from San Francisco, was considered an "Eastward Train", conversely any train going towards San Francisco was considered a "Westward Train". Now apply that logic to certain parts of the SP system in California and Oregon, with a train heading TOWARDS San Francisco, but is actually traveling compass EAST! It could get pretty confusion if you tried to match train movements to the direction of the compass.

North by NorthWest !    IBTL !

Hot Water.....Consider a Harlem Division train bringing milk to a dairy on the upper West Side......It travels EAST on the Harlem Division to Mott Haven (really south and/or southwest.....Then WEST on a short portion of the Hudson Division (both north and west) and then EAST on the West side line......I agree, throw the compass away! Peter

Quote: "In track design practice, a trailing-point spur is the more desirable of the two because it simplifies setting out and picking up cars."

Jayjee.....that sounds like a great name for a train movie.....

 

Peter

Since my main freight yard and passenger yard are located in the East, trains travel at the  back of my layout close to the wall heading West into a smaller yard and the tracks close to the isle are heading East.  An aerial view would show trains running counter-clockwise,

as a general rule.  However since my track work has long yard leads and somewhat complex switch placement any train will be able to leave any yard on the same track it came in on and leave traveling in the opposite direction with the same engine on the head, thereby traveling in a clockwise direction.

tinplater's sense of direction here….

 

outer loop = clockwise

inner loop is a folded figure-8, so both directions

upper level will consist of one loop and a bump and go trolley line, will figure out directions on the former when I see trains going round and round and judge what looks good passing over and under.

 

 

I have two loops.  The inner loop has sidings that are set up for counter-clockwise running.  The outer loop can go either way, but I usually run trains counter-clockwise on it.

My layout is around the wall with double loops.  When I face the layout, west is always to my left and east is always to the right (the way it is on most USA maps).   I also use right hand running.  This means that the inner loop is always running east and clockwise.  The west mainline is always counter clockwise.  

 

Trains can cross over from loop to loop so sometimes a west bound train is running on the east bound main and vice versa.  I eventually plan to signal the layout for right hand running.  

 

You can see the mainline arrangement on the control panel.  The west main is in blue and the east main is in green.  Cross overs are in red.  Sidings are black.  Joe

 

 

Counterclockwise.  My layout is above the equator.