Hi Gauge members,
First post, so please forgive all the lengthy exposition!
While visiting my parents over the holidays, I dismantled my old 4x8 HO layout, packed it up in boxes and brought it back to CA to give to my 8-year-old sons (hence the handle). I have been reading tons of postings on this site, and it has been really amazingly helpful in more ways than I can articulate. Thanks to all of you for your help so far!
We'll be setting up our layout in the garage, and have already begun our benchwork--it's been a great project for the kids to saw, sand and help do the woodwork. I definitely plan to make this a family affair (even my wife wants to get in on the scenery action!). I've been wracking my brain trying to (re) educate myself and figure out what to do with the layout...much has changed in the past 30 years (or so it seems). No more 15" radius curves! And unfortunately, all that brass track has to go...
So far, I've come up with a roughly 6x9 layout, attached below. Forgive the tracks leading to the yards--they're really just placeholders, as I honestly don't yet know how to lay out yards well. I figure that can come later. This is a quick'n'dirty RTS drawing, with the following to help guide you:
--The right side yard would start at about 2" above the base, with the outer loop track rising to 4" to clear the lower track. After the bridge, it would descend to meet with the other tracks.
--The very outside dead-end spur would climb a mountain and plateau.
--The inside loop would lower from the 2" elevation on the right side to 0" under the bridge and into a tunnel, and then when looping back up, would rise again in elevation to meet the tracks coming out of the right hand yard
--The other yard would be at baseline elevation, giving the two yard different elevations.
--I put space for a small cutout since it seems like this size layout would require an awfully big reach.
I'm not certain of the gradients--I believe they're ~4%, but I really should go in and check it out again.
My boys are really, really eager to use my old engines and rolling stock, which frankly are a mishmash. I have a Mantua 4-6-2 B&O steam engine, a small Tyco ATSF switcher, and a few other things that unfortunately aren't working anymore. That's OK--this will provide grandparents with Birthday/Christmas present ideas! We're not going to try to recreate a real line...the creation, scenery development, and running of the trains is what it's all about. Thus, that B&O engine will be running on some very decidedly western US scenery! (the kids want mountains, rivers, waterfalls, tunnels etc...Nazgul's thread has been a huge inspiration!)
So, I'd be most appreciative of any feedback, ideas, suggestions. As I mentioned, this layout is 6x9. I also did a variation on Nazgul's layout (which I think is so much more elegant than mine!) that is a sort of horseshoe that's roughly 5x11. I'll attach that one also.
Thanks so much in advance!
Steve
First post, so please forgive all the lengthy exposition!
While visiting my parents over the holidays, I dismantled my old 4x8 HO layout, packed it up in boxes and brought it back to CA to give to my 8-year-old sons (hence the handle). I have been reading tons of postings on this site, and it has been really amazingly helpful in more ways than I can articulate. Thanks to all of you for your help so far!
We'll be setting up our layout in the garage, and have already begun our benchwork--it's been a great project for the kids to saw, sand and help do the woodwork. I definitely plan to make this a family affair (even my wife wants to get in on the scenery action!). I've been wracking my brain trying to (re) educate myself and figure out what to do with the layout...much has changed in the past 30 years (or so it seems). No more 15" radius curves! And unfortunately, all that brass track has to go...
So far, I've come up with a roughly 6x9 layout, attached below. Forgive the tracks leading to the yards--they're really just placeholders, as I honestly don't yet know how to lay out yards well. I figure that can come later. This is a quick'n'dirty RTS drawing, with the following to help guide you:
--The right side yard would start at about 2" above the base, with the outer loop track rising to 4" to clear the lower track. After the bridge, it would descend to meet with the other tracks.
--The very outside dead-end spur would climb a mountain and plateau.
--The inside loop would lower from the 2" elevation on the right side to 0" under the bridge and into a tunnel, and then when looping back up, would rise again in elevation to meet the tracks coming out of the right hand yard
--The other yard would be at baseline elevation, giving the two yard different elevations.
--I put space for a small cutout since it seems like this size layout would require an awfully big reach.
I'm not certain of the gradients--I believe they're ~4%, but I really should go in and check it out again.
My boys are really, really eager to use my old engines and rolling stock, which frankly are a mishmash. I have a Mantua 4-6-2 B&O steam engine, a small Tyco ATSF switcher, and a few other things that unfortunately aren't working anymore. That's OK--this will provide grandparents with Birthday/Christmas present ideas! We're not going to try to recreate a real line...the creation, scenery development, and running of the trains is what it's all about. Thus, that B&O engine will be running on some very decidedly western US scenery! (the kids want mountains, rivers, waterfalls, tunnels etc...Nazgul's thread has been a huge inspiration!)
So, I'd be most appreciative of any feedback, ideas, suggestions. As I mentioned, this layout is 6x9. I also did a variation on Nazgul's layout (which I think is so much more elegant than mine!) that is a sort of horseshoe that's roughly 5x11. I'll attach that one also.
Thanks so much in advance!
Steve