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 23 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