Oh no! I'm Having THOSE Kinds of Thoughts Again!

[Bob Bufkin]

Darn Dave, your wife must be a better lawyer than you!

[DKS]

And of course there's Railwire's built-in service. Just start with an idea and see where it can go.

[davefoxx]

I've also found a site, Mike's small Trackplans Page, has some good ones as well.

http://www.cke1st.com/m_train2.htm

Phil

Hi, Phil.  I was looking at that site just last night while I was posting here.  Great site.  Thanks!

[AlkemScaleModels]

With the small space you have I'd consider either a highly detailed diorama or module.

BTW my wife is a lawyer. Nonetheless, she has ceded total control of the basement to me and my projects. Her only stipluation is that when the time comes to sell the house, it has to be returned to original condition. But I suspect that will be a problem for my estate as more than likely I will DIP.

[DKS]

Well, having blown out my knee, I'm kind of stuck at my desk, so to take my mind off the pain I tinkered together a 2x4 rendition of the A&R, just in case you were interested in building a little roundy-rounder. It uses your curved Fast Tracks jigs, plus a left #6 jig.
 

[davefoxx]

Dude!!!  That's really nice.  I like it, because it's not a spaghetti bowl, like some of the small layout designs you find on the web.  Simple, but has room for some ops, and it could be super-detailed.  Fun!

By the way, I was eyeing your Z scale Franklin and Manchster plan last night.  Unfortunately, it will be too big in N scale. 

Thanks,
Dave

P.S. I hope your knee is feeling better.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Dave, have you thought about doing that as something like the Laurenburg & Southern, or the Atlantic and Western? All fun little roads powered by small GEs (I think 70 tonners).

[davefoxx]

Dave, have you thought about doing that as something like the Laurenburg & Southern, or the Atlantic and Western? All fun little roads powered by small GEs (I think 70 tonners).

Hmm. I've been tempted to get a 44- or 70-tonner, but my wife would kill me and I should spend as little money as possible, considering the loss I'm about to take on the townhouse.  Probably the prudent choice would be to build something to fit my fleet.  The more I look at DKS' plan, the more I like it.  A roundy-round is my preferred choice for a small layout.

Last night, I was considering trying to find a way to build a small roundy-round, not unlike DKS' plan with a backdrop splitting the layout, but have the RF&P/C&O interchange at Doswell on one side and something like the Verndon quarry (served by the C&O) or the nearby paper mill (located on the C&O but served by both roads) on the other.  The RF&P double-track mainline would be a truncated line (would have to figure out how to hide this track against the backdrop) and the C&O single-track would be the roundy-round route.

Anyhow, that might be too much for a small layout.  Thankfully, DKS has given me some food for thought.  This is fun!

DFF

[wm3798]

Here's what I'd do.  (And granted, I'm not normal in the least)

If you have some scene in mind that you want to absolutely include on some future layout, consider designing a small module that scratches that itch and can be adapted for inclusion in some master plan down the road.  Right after I bought my house, I started scribbling possible plans for the attic, and they all included a wide river scene with some bridges.



I knew it would be 10 forevers before I could actually get started on the layout, but I wanted to try out bridge track, river bank scenery, a c55 turnout... that sort of thing, so went ahead and built a 36" x 13" diorama.



It kept me amused, and I didn't feel like I was wasting my time on something that would end up getting junked.  (Although I did end up building a 3x8 temporary rig to scratch that roundy round itch...)

Today, it survives, although substantially altered, and provides the critical link across the window to join the two halves of the layout together.


To me, a peanut shaped loopty loop can be a fun exercise, but of no substantial use toward a longer range goal.

Lee

[davefoxx]

DKS,

Just brainstorming here: what if you pushed both of the curved turnouts on the Aberdeen side into the corners just enough to fit a #6 right at the left end and a #6 left at the right end?  The end result would be a slightly longer passing siding and a representation of the SBD main coming straight through town.  Does that make sense?

As for the Raeford side, I like it simple, just as you have drawn it.

DFF

[DKS]

DKS,

Just brainstorming here: what if you pushed both of the curved turnouts on the Aberdeen side into the corners just enough to fit a #6 right at the left end and a #6 left at the right end?  The end result would be a slightly longer passing siding and a representation of the SBD main coming straight through town.  Does that make sense?

As for the Raeford side, I like it simple, just as you have drawn it.

DFF

Funny you should suggest this, as I was in the midst of doing something close to that, only without both #6s.

[davefoxx]

Lee,

Your point is very well taken.  However, for me, I like to run trains, and I can't do that on a module.  I need my roundy-round fix, which is why I tried to build the HCD version of the A&R and why I now need to build an even smaller version.  If and when I can get back to the door layout, much of this little layout could be transplanted (turnouts, buildings, rolling stock, etc.).

Besides, these small layouts work better for me.  I work at a snail's pace compared to many of you.

Thanks,
Dave

[DKS]

To me, a peanut shaped loopty loop can be a fun exercise, but of no substantial use toward a longer range goal.

Except that your diorama module provides no operational opportunities. Plus, the roundy-rounder might not be incorporated into something grander, but it provides a lot of valuable modeling exercise. And the structures could be recycled, of course; or, one could keep the little guy intact to take on the road to shows and whatnot.

[DKS]

OK, so here's what I think you were talking about, Dave? The curved switches can't be pushed out any further than this, because they force the end curves tighter owing to their much larger outer radius. I also wonder about putting the effort into hand-laying two switches that are essentially dummies, unless you were thinking of spotting cars on those two tracks for fun.
 

[davefoxx]

OK, so here's what I think you were talking about, Dave? The curved switches can't be pushed out any further than this, because they force the end curves tighter owing to their much larger outer radius. I also wonder about putting the effort into hand-laying two switches that are essentially dummies, unless you were thinking of spotting cars on those two tracks for fun.
 

Yep, you nailed it, but, oooh, I see your point about the broad radius of the curved turnouts.  Good thinking on your part.  I'm not too concerned about building a couple of extra turnouts, because I really expect, once I get a little more experience in hand-laying track, that I will be able to build a turnout in under an hour.  I think this revision actually captures the essence of Aberdeen.

If possible, I would expand it to 30" x 54" or even 30" x 60", which would ease the pain in the corners.

DFF