Hello everybody I'm a lifelong O guager, I have a permanent 13X8 layout with a 5X5 leg on one side My wife has decided that she wants her own N guage layout. I'm pretty excited about it,but knowledge wise its new to me Knowing how fast anyone will get bored just watching any guage just going around in a circle,I was only able to negotiate UP to a 29X48 inch layout,and her knowing me that's as big as it will get. Im using anyrail track software so I've already got a half a dozen ideas already by the way this will be all kato unitrack Right now she has a bobo starter set 060 steam engine,She likes steam,I prefer modern diesel,but this is her baby not mine, Im sure somewhere down the line she will probably want another steam engine probably something like a 2 8 4 at the most,me,maybe Ill get something. Anyway, try to future proof this layout and with the available room I have ,can I get away with the 8 1/2 inch radius kato 20-170?, Ive been designing it around the 11inch and the 9 3/4 inch radius',but i could do a little more with the 8 1/2. Thank you for your help Joe
The 0-6-0 will love it. Any Berkshire is highly unlikely to. 11" will keep many, many more options open, not only in terms of using steamers with four or more driven axles, but passenger cars too.
2 X 4 portable layout for show displays by Calzephyr posted Dec 31, 2007 at 3:26 AM 2 X 4 portable layout for show displays by Calzephyr posted Dec 31, 2007 at 3:27 AM 2 X 4 portable layout for show displays by Calzephyr posted Dec 31, 2007 at 3:26 AM Look at this 2' x 4' layout. It uses Kato Unitrack 9.75" and 11" curves. You actually can do 12.5" and 13.75" curves on that 30"' x 48" space. Those larger radii will easily allow six axle diesels and 4 driver steamers.
An N gauge layout (or two) will fit very nicely in that 13 x 8 space currently occupied by that Outrageously large O setup. Going forward here, do you really think she will remain satisfied with such a disparity in the size of your respective layouts? My advice is to sell the O stuff and use the space for a large N scale layout where both of you can pass the time by running trains together because there is nothing good on TV these days anyway.
We have already discussed that,She wants her own layout,She wanted a 2X3 and I had a hard time working her up to 29X48.and she will absolutely go no bigger
Hey Joe, it looks like you are getting away with running some stuff on your 9 3/4 inner loop ? It looks to me though that I should be at 11 inch minimum?
Keeping the 9 3/4" minimum definitely opens up what you can run, but a few steam engines I can confirm will run on 8.5" include: Athearn 2-8-0, Life-Like/Walthers 2-8-8-2, Bachmann 2-8-0, and Tomix Thomas, Percy, and James. The Athearn and Life-Like are no longer available new but do come up on e-bay.
Transmissionman Joe... I believe all of the pictures are showing 4 axle diesels running on the 9.75" radius. Some short wheelbase 6 axle diesels could also be run on the 9.75" curves. I actually got a Bachmann 2-6-6-2 to traverse the 9.75 curve... but it was not pretty sight. The 11" radius curve will be more forgiving... but any locomotive model which is too long will not look right and could wipe-out trackside details. 9.75 " radii should be used in sidings with small 4 axle switchers shunting rolling stock to lineside industries.
