Kind of like that?

Good idea.

I especially love this...


where you've managed to keep standard R1/R2 spacing and alignment at each end of the "parallel" curve with assorted switches, weird and wonderful track assortment and also easements! Very neat.

- Herman

Ah yes Ak, the old Eureka, Shasta & Great Eastern Railway. Nice out and back plan with the option for continuous running. I like 82 and 84.

Cheers
Roger

Well, your recent Granite Gorge & Northern interpretation in C major, I mean C track, encouraged me to follow your path.


Yes, so do I, but one needs rather a garage space for those.

:0/

Soothing it is, kind of like solving crosswords puzzles. About plan 82: I am intrigued by the space and face saving solution to have the return loop "under-pass" the stub terminal and serve the freight yard. As usual in the book, ramps are audacious, but that can be overcome.

Plan 82 inspired poor man´s Toledo module on 1 x 2 m, gradient 5% down and 3.5% up

---

Edit - reminds me of Bilbao´s Abando train station - see attached aerial photograph.
2017 01 ETS bilbao Abando_V08-REFUNDIDO.pdf (4,987kb) downloaded 77 time(s).

I posted this in another thread, but for the sake of completeness I think it should be cross-referenced here.

Further centralising filing.

Up to now I was in the pursuit of:
(1) a pike offering a long main line run together with the capacity of storing and displaying most (if not all) of my rolling stock;
(2) lightweight modular pop-up methods for easy dis- and re-assembly.

I am pleased with the current twisted multi-level behemoth. However, I like puzzling, tinkering and fiddling around. So for a long time I was pondering over the ultimate ideal layout approach (for people like myself). I do not mean to implement this right now, maybe it will never materialize. However, I want to be prepared as moving houses (or rooms in houses) is a latent thread/threat in my life.

Drawing on my experience, I dare to say that on my layouts one does only focus on one scene at a time, the eyes travelling with a moving train. Thus, I believe that a simple sophisticated single level layout equipped with a central divider (at least 1 ft tall) suffices to fool oneself. I try to stay as close as possible to a 2 m length limit, as this a guarantee to fit into most spaces (a standard European single bed mattress measures 2x0.9 m). The concept:

In an ideal situation access from three sides would be possible (top/left/bottom). As a compromise, full access from two sides (top/left) would work with the central divider mounted diagonally for maximum exposure of the yard ladders.

Passenger trains would be short, or divided into two segments when parked on the stub spurs. Freight trains: The reversing loops allows for multiple locos + 12 (or more) tin plate box cars + caboose. The sidings can hold at least 7 tin plate box cars (max. 9). Since the entire train would never be visible, size doesn’t matter, I expect.

Multi-tasking: The double track could function as - surprise - double track/lap siding/main line vs. switching lead.

Outdoor mock-up exercise - the dimensions are 122 x 222 cm.


The track plan - never mind the gaps.

The 241xx piece represents the customized C track segment presented here (post no. 288): https://www.marklin-user...d-innovations#post637494

Edited by user 12 September 2021 08:35:50(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

In that case the track plan could be condensed (to 115 x 200 cm) and simplified.



Crossover positions can be changed as one sees fit.

More info: In the condensed version, the ruling grade would be ca. 3.5%. Of course stretching the surface would decrease the gradient and allow for wider curve radii. To benefit from the open range scene 3, layout access would be needed from two sides.

Front(al) view:

Lateral view:

Further to post 221, elaborating on scene 3 vistas from the rear. Cinemascope - the open range stretches over all levels .

Edited by user 04 December 2021 14:35:55(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Simple carpentry, semi-shelf layout on 110 cm x 200 cm baseboard.


Front view (open range), track rising from 0 cm to 28 cm, upper view block optional.


Rear view (2 stacked shelves, 26 cm height difference between tracks), upper view block optional.


The only concealed and tunneled section marked in red.


Ramp lengths between levels (= 270 cm each) allow for easy grades. Minimum siding length in this configuration = 255 cm.

Edited by user 11 December 2021 09:35:13(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Hello AK,

The 3D image has an added connection in bottom left on the outer circle to ensure that a train can run on the base level round-and-round.
That gives the option of running 2 trains on the layout simultaneaously.
Very clever use of the sprung turnout feature.

Kimball

Inspired by the Atlas track plan HO-8 from Book #9, size reduzed to 175 x 175 cm (if laid out on L-shape surface) by using mainly R1 radius curves.

The twisted mainline measures 11 m in length. Now, if I can find room for a yard...

Edited by user 21 August 2022 13:03:16(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Maerklin sprung C track turnouts allow for "mechanic automation".

Since my 20 year old C track turnout springs still work flawlessly, I consider this to be maintenance-free.

Iteration 1: Replace one of the 24640 crossings with a 2462x double slip switch, thereby allowing to turn a train into any direction, back and forth.

Iteration 2: Add three short sidings. To quote the description by Atlas about their track plan HO-8 from Book #9: "This layout accommodates very long main line with three passing tracks. With such a longline, you will want to work out a simple timetable, first for two trains running in opposite directions, then later for two trains following each other, with the faster one overtaking and passing the slower at the different sidings".

Iteration 3: Add long sidings, thereby creating a triangular layout shape. This allows to run longer trains. With the help of the double slip switch both dog bone operation and continuous runs are possible.

P.S.: Actually the yard is located in a return loop.

Not needed, as having only one 2462x as per iteration 1 (while keeping one 24640 in place) does already the job and enforces an extended a main line run (which is what I want).

Mirrored, double slip turnout replaced by Hostenträger crossing, diamond crossing placed in center of S-curves plus easements introduced at beginnng of curves, new yard location proposed.

Surface (outer legs) infllated to 197 x 214 cm.

C track inventory:

001 24064 3
002 24071 6
003 24077 7
004 24107 1
005 24130 17
006 24172 4
007 24188 4
008 24206 6
009 24207 2
010 24215 2
011 24224 1
012 24230 10
013 24236 2
014 24330 5
015 24360 2
016 24430 4
017 24530 3
018 24611 2
019 24612 2
020 24640 1
021 24649 3
022 24671 1
023 24711 1
024 24712 2
025 24912 9

Edited by user 24 September 2022 10:36:38(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Curves matured on 170 x 225 cm.

Further to the principle outlined in above post #231 on how to make a train change the direction of travel back and forth without throwing any switch, here is an twisted alternative for limited space conditions using two "semi-Hosenträger" configurations. As before, sprung turnouts allow for "mechanic automation". Like that both straight track portions see a train traveling into both directions.

Edited by user 13 December 2022 10:38:20(UTC)  | Reason: Inserted a missing “a”.

In the background part of a viaduct in Z gauge, it's over 5 metres long. Maybe some ideas there. The vaiduct has an aluminium hollow extrusion inside.

I like the first version for play with standalone steamers.

Quite nice, a pity can't see the other pictures, I presume one has to sign in to see them. Wouldn't mind seeing pictures of the staging yard.

Thanks.