I still think there's a lot you can do in 2'x4'. It all depends on your goals for the layout. When I started my 23"x41" layout, I had specific skills I wanted to develop: tracklaying (especially a 3-way), stone walls out of foam, wooden truss bridge, scratch building some structures, creating separate scenes in a small space, etc. All with some operational interest. So I developed my layout to include those goals. I also recognized the drawbacks: no cab-forwards pulling a long banana of reefers, the finer the detail the longer the time, etc. And I've learned a banana boat load along the way (major goal). Here's the layout plan as it stands: And here is what I'd do if I did it over: The "storage track" under the mountain was a poor choice: I would much rather have the runaround on the mine side. I might even cut out the 3-way, and just have a single engine service track. But it really comes down to what EMD F7A's goals are in building this layout. Scenery? Operations? A place to get ride of track? Layouts always take more time & money than originally thought (especially the "chainsaw" ones ), and so I'd like to know more about what you'd like out of this layout. 2'x4' is plenty of space!
I was a Sophomore in high school. I can remember showing it to my mother. "Wouldn't ti be cool"?! Response: "No". But, but, but, what if...? Response: "No buts". Hm, if she could see me now.
I really like the idea of working on these smaller layouts. I mean not all of us have the time or space and we end up not doing anything but wishing we could. If you go with something that is fantasy in nature or some sort of short line, then you can do a lot in this kind of space. I think if we consider layouts this size as more of a dioramic exercise then the expectations will be different. There's a gent who shows up from time to time in some of the European mags who models Rock Island in HO. He works in a short point to point using the same track plan over and over, just changing out the theme and the structures. It works because it doesn't pretend to be anything other than a working dio...and it's amazing. I'm taking this track with the J&S and looking at it as a way to do mini settings that I can run my trains through and not get too bogged down trying to make into the whole coast route. My Two Cents ) Joe MTL
Some excellent points in here, and some good ideas too! I guess I should narrow down/clarify what my goal is! I have this 2x4 layout board built and ready. I have lots of trains, spare buildings, spare scenicing materials, spare track and spare switches. Right now I could do a simple layout with basically no added cost, except some fine grain ballast and maaaaaybe a switch or two. The foam for raised scenery is $20, the plaster I already have about 40 lbs of, it's like I have a layout in a box waiitng to be assembled! I just can't seem to make up my mind on where to lay the first rail. That being said, I love rolling hills and I love pasenger trains, you pegged it Kenneth! The goal for this project operations-wise will be to put some of my shorty cars (overtons and 40' boxcars, cabeese and icebox reefers) and a couple code-80-only steamers to some good use. Would like to have them pass by some cool vantage points. Main point here (as far as longevity and upgradability) is: I'm moving to a bigger place in a few months, and would A: like a project to while away the summer hours and B: make use of materials that I will absolutely not be using on my long-term layout. Here's what I know I want, after looking at your guys' ideas: -Water (river? lake? Hmm....) -Trestle (curved would be cool!? LH has a wood kit for $20) -Canyon/Rock (wanna try my hand, and I have the rock molds already) -Industry (I have some nifty 40' cigar boxcars, maybe I should do a cigar factory!) My hobbies are: Trains, Cigars, Classic Cars, and I'm a Batman collector as well. (MC Fujiwara, your "Gotham" tag caught my eye for sure!) Maybe I should work all that stuff in, as a goof? Lastly, and this is cool; I decided to do a contest!! Everyone who submits an original idea or suggestion in this thread, will be entered. At the end, I'll draw a random name. Prize is an Atlas GP-7, either in NP or Undecorated! Cheers, thanks, and looking forward to more inspiration- Brian
Here is a thought. I took a 4X8 sheet of plywood and ripped it into thirds, leaving each piece 24" X 32'. Admittedly a tad longer than you are asking about, it just made better use of the plywood. On one end of the layout I used switches on each side leading into the curve at the end, making provisions for possible future expansion. With this arrangement, you can add a leaf (cartridge) to the end of the layout with industries served by those spurs. The beauty of it is that you can change the leaf with different ones for a change or just add on another section in the future
John Allen's G&D started life as a 4x8 on a piece of plywood, and when he moved to his last home in Monterey he took that layout and built it into to his larger, more well known layout. So, mabey you can consider what John H noted above and build in a spur that can link into something else. I have a working plan for a Coast route, SP layout, but that may not happen for several years. Thankfully work here at MTL is plentiful and my free time is limited. What drew me to the Jerome and Southwestern were the three points of exit John built into the layout. On one side he has two track that linked up to a dockside dio that served to allow some nice switching ops. The other dissapeared into a hill on the back side that could be linked to miles of modules or even built into a home layout. So don't be afraid to add an extra switch or crossing that goes to nowhere, it may come in handy! ) Cheers Joe MTL
OK so I have seen some killer ideas here, who else has two cents to add? I do like the idea of some potential-offshoot tracks, but in all honesty I am not likely to ever add this into my future "bigger" project; just looking to have some fun with the materials I have laying around.... so, 2x4 is locked in. Everything else is up for discussion! I like the idea of a twice-around loop with spurs. Since I have lots of motive power and short trains, I am open to 5-7% grades.... flextrack is in the cards as well, that should open up discussion a bit!
Ever think of the Turtle Creek? There is 3 different tracks heading off so you can extend the track plan when you're ready
If I do a switching layout, it's gotta have a runaround- I like watching them go round and round more than back 'n forth! I have some mighty pretty little trains to run, like an overton passenger train behind an Atlas 2-6-0....
I do my runarounds on the "U.S. Naval Air Station Tidelands (Lighter than Air) Railroad" by running the loco all the way around the continuous circulation loop, which is not considered a mainline but an access loop. I have seen similar access loops on prototype in-plant trackage. The loco pulls cars from the interchange with the trunkline (the track that run off the table), which is trailing for couterclockwise moves-- then switches the Naval Stores warehouse at the left end of the layout, leaves cars on the loop and runs around the loop as necessary to get in position to switch the fuel dump (inside right end), the open loading area, and vehicle-on-flatcar end loading ramp (inside left end), then runs around the loop again to drop cars being transferred to the mainline. Entire layout, 24 inches x 36 inches, works with 4 switches.
Ah!! I had googled the turtle creek and found only the extension image; did not see the actual layout! Looks good. In fact, looks like I could stage a few good trains there... selective compresion employed, of course... Makes me think- I could add a folding "leg" yard quite easily, since this will be a freestanding layout....... I do have some spare 10" by 2' boards around here.... Keep those ideas coming, brothers!!
EMD F7A:I like watching them go round and round ----------------- I get dizzy watching 'em go round,round and round.. Seriously a switching layout isn't for every one..Best to build a layout that fits your needs.
True dat. Of course, this is an impermanenet exercise in fun, so I'm taking all the notes and will extrapolate everything I can fit, and want to build, from all of this I know exactly what I want do build long-term after I move, and it won't be using any of the materials or etc. that I am using here
Weekend's almost here!! I plan on painting the board a nice rust/dirt brown and getting some track set down, maybe I'll have an epiphany!? I do want to run passenger primarily, something about those scenic vistas and carved-out canyons gets me daydreaming. I'm about to liquidate a stack of N scale NP locos, to cover costs on some custom paintwork on a NCL pasenger consist..... the Pine Tree scheme:
I have a 10-car set of the old Rivarossi smoothsides in that scheme in HO... it's a damned beautiful train.
I picked up both the F3 and F7 AB from Intermountain..... their colors look dark, but in daylight you can see the brown/red mixed into the main-cab dark green. It's a very unique color, and yeah.... beautiful. I have my eyes on some examples of very rocky, sunwashed terrain and tall pines. I want to use this layout as a test bed for some scenery techniques, so I'm still taking ideas on what aspects to fill it up with! 8 square feet can hold a lot of cool things..... (MC Fujiwara's trees and layout have been a good reference of how to do it right!)
Hey! I just stopped by to post an updated track plan & saw me name! Thanks for the props - I still need to try out different material for making the trunk: the wrapped wire isn't doing it for the trees on the outsides of the "forest". Looked again at the design I posted awhile ago and seemed a wee bit awkward and crimped, so played around with it some more: This version allows for a little bit more room on the runarounds. The fact that it's pretty much an oval is disguised by the mountains and offset scenic divider. It's not a true oval: while the right curve is 9 3/4" all along, the top quarter of the left curve uses 11 1/4" track, with the 9 3/4" at the bottom. Gives it a wee bit o' variation. I'd still list out the specific skills you want to work on, as that will influence the direction this layout will go (ex. "scratch build a lenticular truss bridge"). Have fun! [Oh, and let me know when you're getting rid of those NP locos! I'd be happy to mosey into Bezerkeley and (budget willing) take some off your hands ]
