So I got some free time today, and a new 2x4 of plywood. I have spent the better part of an hour scratching my head trying to figure out how Jim Kelly got the Turtle Creek Central into a 4x8 in HO. I have been wanting to build the classic, tight roundy-round, but set in Los Angeles. I am beginning to think that I will be better off with a 5x2.5 to get the turns to fit better.... I am using Peco small switches/turnouts, Atlas crossings and flex...this is driving me ape... I can get away with 9 inch radius curves due to me only running switchers and street cars.. What would you guys do?
I would look at Kato unitrack 8.5 inch rad curves and stay with Kato unitrack short rad turnouts. The next option is to go with a 3 by 4 foot or 3 by 5 foot.
I'm curious to see if you can make it fit on your N Scale 2' x 4' ? I think I have the magazine with that plan in it, but maybe not! Good luck whatever you decide.
N is slightly more than 50% of HO so to reduce the 48"x96" HO plan to N scale, the board needs to be 26.1" x 52.2".
Really interesting layout with plenty of operating potential! The way the coal dealer & upper left warehouse siding is set up, and with the note about extension for coal mine, it sure seems like the coal dealer (at least) could use a dedicated siding, with switch across highway from gas station. Is the unlabeled siding across the secondary road from the right warehouse for temporarily parking the pickup from the ware house while dropping off a replacement (due to the short lead at bottom center), or is/could it be a team track (as well)? It would need a ramp alongside. Burying the tightest radius curve on the mainline in a tunnel does not seem very smart to me. The geometry between the tunnel and the crossing seems awkward and forced...
The OP didn't mention whether space was at a premium or the layout could be expanded. If expansion is possible then another 2-4 feet in length could result in a nice trolley or traction layout. If no expansion is possible I would still plan on adding a track for future expansion at the lower right. There is one such track in the upper left. The module could operate as a stand alone layout or if the opportunity presents itself could be incorporated in a larger one.
Three of the corners are open for adding to. And one could make it four by taking the lower left bridge and making it double track and then double track through the tunnel with one line curving the other straight to connect to another line. You would want the turnout to the 2nd line across the river so as to have no turnouts before the tunnel entrance or in the tunnel.
That track which is essentially vertical in the center- does it cross another track at grade, then go underneath the bottom track?
Yeah, all three track crossings appear to be at grade. The one at upper left is probably contributing to the awkward main track path, and tight radius in the tunnel. I think I'd be inclined to ditch the tunnel, and add another industry siding there (potential waterfront no less), off the lead to the warehouse and off-site coal mine. It's not like the tunnel is long enough to make you forget the layout's an oval...
1. Traction modeler...small switchers are the biggest units 2. It's southern California....so flat 3. Just wanted something that is small
I played around with this layout in XTrakCAD, using Unitrack exclusively. To keep it in 2x4', it really needs the 150mm radius turnouts, and some of same curves, and a few liberties taken with industry placements, and how the roads would fit in. Still has 3 bridges over Turtle Creek, and run-around passing siding on right end. Only one interchange stub at right though, but is possible to do a second, shorter one, from the top down... If you truly want to exclusively run short equipment, it would work. Note that some pieces will need roadbed trimmed adjacent to #4 turnouts. See image of track plan here: https://www.trainboard.com/highball/index.php?media/turtlecreek.142329/full&d=1637002273
You came to the conclusion I did that the 8.5 rad unitrack would work here, I would also go with what they call their short rad turnout which is what I use in my port area and elsewhere. I believe they call it Kato 20-240 unitrack compact 150 mm. The Bmann 44 tonner operates well over it and surprisingly the LL SW series. I would daylight the tunnel or maybe just leave a 6-8 inch wide ridge that you tunnel through to avoid issues. The valley created by the daylighting may create room for a mine and a short spur.
You will definitely have to trim the Atlas crossings to get them to fit, but going down to 9" curves and small Peco turnouts, you can get it in 2' x 4'. This was drawn entirely using 9" (actually 8.98") curves, straights, Peco small turnouts, and Atlas crossings. Of course it's not an exact fit, the biggest problems being the long straight legs of the Atlas crossings, but by trimming the crossings and using flex track it should fit pretty well with 9" minimum curves.
LA, huh? I reckon you will not be running Auto Racks and Coast Daylight anytime soon. In any event, when at first you don't succeed, try vice grips. Keep us updated, please, this is one of the more interesting threads.
Bremner, I just glad to see that you are building something, and the Turtle Creek is expandable as well. via the warehouse, the dairy tracks and/or the crossing by the coal dealer (SP interchange?). Only question is where does the beach go? I was born and raised in So Cal, love the PE (wish I could have seen it when it was still operating) and I'll also be watching.
