Please forgive my ignorance Hello, I did not get your point even looking at your diagram. What this would do? Thanks. Mo
Essentially it creates two "ovals". The smaller oval includes the yard. The larger one circles around twice. By setting the turnouts you can run two trains with two different power supplies at the same time. In the original plan there is one bottle neck / shared piece of track you would have to monitor and control.
Thanks Steve Steve, I always respect your point of view. It was 2006 and I was looking for a good layout to expand my current Atlas N-18. I looked at a book that has a lot of track plans; I think the book is 100 tracks or something like that. I picked up this layout and you modified it a little bit for me. At that time I got frustrated from so many derailments that I put this hobby aside and did not bother to even look at my layout. Just this year out of blue sky I got interested in it again. I ripped off my old Atlas N-18 and rebuilt it again. Derailment is less this time. I did some modification on my old table to accommodate this new table which is higher by 2" due to the foam I have placed on the new table. Searching through internet, reading what others say about tracks and I have decided to use Unitracks on my new table. I did not put my layout on the forum to ask what others think about it. Very helpful person by name of Jim Prince helped me to make this layout on XTrkCad to figure out the material that I need and I did go and order it. I put the layout’s tracks - Wow Unitracks are good and it is a pleasure to work with - on the table and it does look that it needs some improvement. You can see some photos on this web site: moshken : photos : New 4x8 Table. So I decided to put it on the forum to see how experts on the forum look at it. I sincerely appreciate you and Erik “SOUPAK” for providing me with very useful points to modify it. I really do like it. Just one thing and that is at the bottom right I just have one line coming in and not two as it shown in the attachment. I use DCC which is another good thing to have. Now I have one question how do you determine what other Unitracks and how many do I need for this new modification. Thank you so much for helping me in the past, now and I hope in the future. Mo
Yes, I understand the bottom right hand corner layout. I will up a slight modification to my thoughts but it could be a few hours. My current thought is: Where the curve comes around on the bottom right there is a connection to the "green" track. I suggest eliminating that link and putting a double cross over as I drew in red. I feel this will give you the maximum flexibility. There are no easy answers to which pieces of track you would need. I drew my layouts in MS Paint, bought lots of Unitrack based on approximation and then put them together. This resulted in a lot of left over curve pieces and not enough straight sections. During assembly I started with a few known points and ran track from there, adjusting, re-adjusting and adapting. This method appeals to me but is not for everyone.
Hi again, When you say "I suggest eliminating that link and putting a double cross over as I drew in red." do you mean another double cross over becasue you already put one over there? How double cross works? Does it have a switch? What would be the difference between a double cross and putting two turns toghter? Thanks Steve. Mo
Power Steam Guy is more qualified to answer questions about double cross overs. I have never used or held one.
Do you mean another double croos? Steve, What about your answer to this :When you say "I suggest eliminating that link and putting a double cross over as I drew in red." do you mean another "double cross" to be added over where you drew in red becasue you already put one over there? Thanks. Mo
Mo have you run your full array of train cars on your layout going both ways to test for derailments. Are they only derailing at the switches or curves or straightaways. I would get that straightened out before you do anything else. You do not want to tear everything apart a second time.
Just a question . Hi Steve, This is just a question. Why a double cross over and not 2 turns back to back? Thanks for all your help and guidance. Mo
Even though I have never owned one I can see how they save space and they receive enormous amount of positive endorsements from the other users here. I'm not sure but they probably cost less than 4 turnouts. You really should ask Bob - PowerSteamGuy.
Mo, Kaqto double crossovers are extremely reliable, plus if you choose to control them with DCC, they only require one decoder.
Two trains on the new table...thanks to Hello, Thanks to: Jim Prince Steve "Grey One" Rick "Soupac" Please view the attached file and now I would have 2 trains - Green and red - running at the same time with no control from me and independant from my old table/layout Atlas N-18. I hope I am right. Thanks for your great help. Mo
That is correct. One inner loop that circles the town. One outer loop that goes around twice. Sorry I have not been as quick to respond or as thorough. Been very busy here at work.
