Y'all, I have been in this hobby for a very long time, and I have done my share of track-plans and built a few switching layouts over the years. But one thing that keeps haunting me is the desire to sit back and watch my trains wothout having to attend to them constantly. In other words: a loop. So here is my scenario: I live in an apartment with my wife and 8yo son. I have some space in the 8yo's bedroom. I pulled out my old N scale stuff over the weekend and was just not thrilled with how small it is. So now I am looking into just how small I can make a loop for continous running in HO scale. I have found a few really small HO plans in MR for loops under 4x6, but all are drawn up as "could build" layouts. None of them have photos, and I have not seen many photos of layouts like these. What I want are real experiences and advice. Photos of similar layouts would also be appreciated. Remeber: I am not a newbie. I get the whole switching layout concept, and I have done enough N scale stuff to know what I like. But after building quite a few switching layouts I am now looking for something more. I know some might say I need to re-think my priorities, but I have heard that, and tried it, for years. Now I am interested in building the layout I always wanted. One I can enjoy while reading a good book. Or building a model, or whatever. Now I just need to figure out what "really" fits instead of what fits on paper and in a magazine plan. Also, I have looked at the small layout design forum many times over. Still a member, just not finding much that fits my style there at the moment - sorry Jack Thanks, Donovan in Dallas
That's easy... The smallest you can possibly get a continuous loop would be a circle of 18" radius track. It will fit on a 3.5-foot-square board.
I thought I was weird. . . I thought I was weird, sounds like I am more normal than I thougth! :shade: You are not alone, sir! I am blessed with more space, but your requirements are mine for my double track mainline Parkdale Railroad. (plan and pics in my albums). Ultimately, I want it automated, starting, stoping etc. On the lower deck are 7 25 car double ended staging sidings so I can park an entire long train while another is headed for the double mainline to wear out some wheels! Above my desk I built a test track with a trolley circuit. I keep a G and HO locomotive on those tracks and alternate between them during the day while on a conference call. I run a diesel for awhile then I'll swap on a steamer. Peaceful, hands off. (pics also in my album) With your experience, I'd think you could fashion something really neat in a 4 x 6 especially if you open grid and run a couple of layers, something around a 36" helix might be fun. Course you limit yourself to 8 wheel diesels and shorty loco's but add some sound an it could be really neat. You could even have a double mainline loop, running in opposite directions with about 1/3 of it in mountains. Good luck and let us know where you go. Best regards, Joe Daddy
I have a 4 x 6 HO layout that I am expanding with 2 x 4 modules. Can operate my E units on it, but they look pretty silly. I originally came up with this layout years ago when my kids were younger so that they could watch a train chase it's tale (using some less expensive HO stuff). I threw it together one Saturday morning and it's remained unchanged (and unsceniced). I used to run my 1900 era small steam engines and 36 footers on the layout - not too bad for that actually. I would recommend N scale... :teeth:
My branch line has a curve with two feet radius. No problem, even for big steamers. Only - they look ugly with large hang over. For my "Pizza layout" I've widened the gauge. In 1991 was in RMC an article, starting Oct, about Lowville & Beaver River RR. They had a track plan 4' x 8' and in the serie were quite a few model pictures. I remember. Engine was GE 44-ton! :angel: Wolfgang
Here's a shot of my 4x6 footer that I described in an earlier post. The engine is a 2-8-0 Consolidation pulling 3 40 foot cars and a caboose. I put some buildings on to give a perpective of what you can have in 4x6. With the addition of a small hill and tunnel in the upper right corner, and some clever scenery to devide the layout in the middle, it will be much nicer. When I built this layout, I made it with a raised frame along the edges to help keep engines and cars from hitting the floor.
Tim: That's a great little track plan! I really like the extra run-around. Thanks for posting the picture, Donovan in Dallas
Yeah - I planned at one time to put a station between the "run-around" tracks. When the kids lost interest, I kept this around thinking that some day I would do more with it. There was an article in the June 2004 Model Railroader Autumn On Deer Mountain which was a great 4 x 8 foot layout by Dave and Maggie Methlie. I plan to use that layout as the theme for scenery on this little layout. It's got a tunnel at one end, a coal mine, and what I especially like is the farm scene. See if you can borrow that issue from someone - or order it from Kalbach. There are also a few ideas in 101 Track Plans For model Railroaders also from Kalmbach.
Here is a very simple layout with 2 loops and inner loop switching. Plus, it folds up very nicely. Roughly 4X6.
