S Scale Track Planning Suggestions

[texasdon]

Now that everyone has me strongly considering S Scale for my new home layout, I would appreciate any ideas or suggestions about track planning and about what sorts of track plans might be available for adaptation to my available space.

Could someone help fill out the following general layout design guidelines table?

Minimum practical curve radius:
Good practice curve radius (what will look good and handle most equipment):
Center to center track spacing on curves:
Center to center track spacing for straight tracks:

I suspect there are other things I should know, but forgot to ask about. Feel free to add any that are appropriate.

Does someone make track planning templates for S Scale? Alternatively, could I use my HO Scale template then blow up the plan 50% to reasonably reflect S Scale (87/64 = 1.36, so 50% should be generous)? I would like to have a good general idea of how things will fit, but I am willing to adjust during construction. I do not plan to have a lot of complex track work, so this should be sufficient for my purposes.

For this layout, I have available a portion of an unused bedroom. The space available is about 9 feet x 12 feet with walls along the west and south side of the space. The other two sides are access to closets and space for a work desk and some file cabinets, so they can be considered walkways for the layout as well.

I would like a layout which features industrial switching with a small yard and engine service area. I will set the layout somewhere between about 1960 and the early 1980’s, so I will use diesel switch locomotives and 40-50 foot cars for the switching areas. I would also like to find a way to have a continuous run “main line”, possibly double tracked, as a place to just run some trains including possibly passenger trains. I do like the idea of an A/B unit pulling a few passenger cars. I know this is asking a lot in a small space. I feel I should start looking at everything I might want then make compromises as I go. I want to strike a decent balance between operating interest and attractive and realistic scenic setting for the railroad.

As always, I appreciate everyone’s ideas and input.

[BoxcabE50]

Don-

I'm looking at a similar available space. I have about 10' by 14' potential. Plus one wall may be nudged out for a future closet. And doing that could add possibilities.

This could be an interesting topic.

:D

Boxcab E50

[Greg Elems]

Good questions Don and Ken. I think layout planning in S could be done like any other scale. Get a ream of paper, pencils, erasers and a compass. Draw your area that you have to work in and start placing lines. As for templates for switches, there maybe some available. It has been suggested that HO could be used, use # 6’s for S scale #4 and HO #8 for S #6. IIRC, the S templates I’ve seen were for the AF crowd.

Let me dig through my links, and see what I find. Also, as you said, S is larger than HO, find some track planes that interest you and look in the size proportionally smaller.

For my layout area, I’m looking at approximately 14’x19’. I don’t want any duck unders so I planning on a folded dog bone layout in a U or C shape. There will be a hidden staging yard on the back side. Trains will leave the yard and run to my small yard for servicing some industry and a branch line. A manifest will set out and pick up cars and move on to the staging yard. A local will build a train in the little yard and leave for the branch line. The branch line will climb up to go over the staging yard and have industries to work. Another engine will switch the yard and work the industries plus an inter change. There are tow friends who will operate with me, and if I want to go solo, it won’t be too difficult to keep track of the trains ran. These fellows are into HO, so when we get these layouts finished towards completion, we will have a round robin operating sessions.

Hope this helps.
Greg Elems

[BoxcabE50]

Originally posted by Greg Elems:
Let me dig through my links, and see what I find.Looking forward to whatever you find. Plenty of interesting stuff to think about in what's being posted.

:D

Boxcab E50

[ 23. August 2003, 04:07: Message edited by: BoxcabE50 ]

[Greg Elems]

In my searching, I came across this link.

http://www.kissmethodinc.com/

They sell layout design templates for HO, N and O. Judging by their add, it looks like the same templates are used for all three scales. If so, then the turnout tools should work straight across the board for HO and O. If that is the case, then it would be a matter of figuring out the S scale ratio. Even if you don't use the circle tools, the turnout tool would work for IMHO. Any idea's here. As a side note, I have e mailed them to see what they have to say.

Greg Elems

[texasdon]

I agree with Ken that this should be an interesting topic. I have come to really enjoy and appreciate Trainboard.

The Kiss tool looks interesting. Greg, I think you are correct that they are simply using a fixed set of proportions for turnouts, etc, and you adjust for scale by changing the x"=1' factor. S scale might prove to be something weird (haven't done the math yet), but I suspect you could find a standard architects scale that is close enough. It may not be exact planning, but it will let you test ideas and work out a basic plan before you start construction. I usually don't plan so precisely that it all fits together exactly as I hoped, so I adjust during construction.

We could also consider one of the PC based CAD programs for layout design. They are not too expensive, and they can probably work pretty well provided 1) you are comfortable working in that environment (I do it for work sometimes and don't mind CAD), and 2) the template library has the right S scale track components (may have AF but not scale stuff).

I agree with Greg about avoiding duck-unders if at all possible. I am considering a U shaped industrial switching layout. It would not have continuous running, but I am willing to live with that. A dog bone layout like Greg is considering would be nice an provide continuous running.

Keep the discussion going, this is really interesting.

[Greg Elems]

I just received an e mail from the K.I.S.S. people and they told me that the angle for the turnouts is the same regardless of scale. It is in the angle. With that in mind, it will work for any scale you draw in. I think I will order one and start playing with it. Actually, if you decide on a certain radius, and 3/8th of an inch is the scale, then that radius doesn't know if it is for S or O or what ever. The problem comes in with the distance between tracks and that can be scaled in when you draw. Anyway, I'm still looking for the standards I saw some where that tells the recommended track separations.

Greg Elems