show me your 2x4 layouts!

theskunk Aug 23, 2008

  1. Grey One

    Grey One TrainBoard Supporter

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    Stan - Very nice! I love it!
    My only suggestion would be to make the "station sideing" a stub end. That would allow it to be a little bit longer - maybe hold a 3 car train.

    Do you have a plan with the pieces or did you desig / plan as you built?
     
  2. HOexplorer

    HOexplorer TrainBoard Supporter

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    2'x3' Z layout on 51' sailboat

    Here is an overhead of the layout on my 51' sailboat I lived on for almost two decades. No Z scale? No layout. Cheers, Jim CCRR

    [​IMG]
     
  3. pilotdude

    pilotdude TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks Grey One,

    I rough sketched out the basic design I wanted on paper then I used RailModeller software to create the basic track plan/track list and validate that it would work in that space. The software was helpful in making efficient use of the small space with the fixed radius curves in unitrack. All the terrain was what "looked about right" to me after I laid out the track. If you have an assortment of track available and space to work with for your design it would be very easy to design as you go. Over time I have built up a collection of unitrack for my boys-now age 9-and it is fun to watch what they can create free-lance style on the floor.

    As part of the design of the layout I included specific trains I would run. I wanted smaller locos and cars and shorter trains to avoid having the operation seem cramped. The boys have a Kato Santa Fe F3 and RS2 they will use to run a pass-through freight and the switching of hopper cars back and forth from the mine to the industry and I have a MP 4-4-0 for passenger service (all on DCC). All freight will be limited to 40ft cars or less and the 4-4-0 will be pulling a single Athern 50ft Overland coach which in my case fits nicely on the station siding. However if someone wanted to put an industry there instead or run a little longer passenger train then a stub siding would work nicely. Also I used two #6 turnouts and if you used a #4 instead you could get a little more space that way. I just designed it for a specific train in my case.

    So there is the long answer to your short question!
     
  4. Robbie

    Robbie TrainBoard Member

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    [​IMG]

    In progress, working on mountains/scenery. No bridges/rivers because it's built on an old board my dad built about fifteen years back, which previously housed some Bachmann and Atlas track. The Bachmann track rusted...so I ripped it up and had a go at this. I now wish I'd used Unitrack, given a few touchy spots, but for the most part it works :)
     
  5. MRL

    MRL TrainBoard Member

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    WOW, this thread is NEAT!!! I am maybe conciderind building the coffee table layout. I might do N but then Z would get a lot of scenery and track...
     
  6. SinCity

    SinCity TrainBoard Member

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    BUMP for more replies to an old thread.
     
  7. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    Perfect for Z Scale

    I'm not as turned on or jazzed by this thread as some of you may be. What I really see is many of you working your way through the learning curve...and...there's nothing wrong with that. I'm toward the end of my learning curve...that was...until they threw DCC at me.

    You start where you can start and a small railroad is better then none at all. That said let me move on.

    I've built my small condensed model railroads and tired of them. Like many of you I didn't have the space to build a larger railroad. I got to where I hated my roundy rounds and they no longer appealed to me. Still they were good teaching layouts as I learned much from building them.

    What does catch my eye is the ability some of you have at producing realistic scenery. I'm pretty amazed by that. Take that same talent to a model railroad with wider radius curves and longer mainlines and you would each, be creating some awesome railroads.

    The other thing that appeals to me here is that many of you have built in such a way that your layout can grow, you can widen the curves or use the ones you have as trolley lines. Lot's of options available to you. A great start and now you can move in any direction you choose.

    I do agree with MRL's observation. The smaller sized layouts featured here would be perfect for Z scale. You would have the wider radius curves to operate on, giving you that added touch of realisim.

    The downside to these layouts is the tight radius curves. N scale equipment looks better operating on 18 or larger radius curves. "You can get away with"...isn't necessarily the principal you want to build your layout on.

    My compliments to all the builders who have shared here. The layouts turned out nice, with a lot of positives and I can assure you that you will do well when you build those dream layouts with the larger radius curves.

    I see good things for all of you...just give it time.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 13, 2010
  8. AtomicVette

    AtomicVette TrainBoard Member

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    just starting mine.

    here's the track plan.
    [​IMG]

    and here's the 3D View
    [​IMG]


    and a few photos of the project...

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  9. Kenneth L. Anthony

    Kenneth L. Anthony TrainBoard Member

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    Sorry, this one is 4 inches wider than 2x4. I think you will like what that 4 inches does. The 3 parallel tracks running out of sight around one corner of layout give at least a little impression of a yard, moreso than the usual two track "yard" with two tracks barely over a foot long stuck in the middle of an oval. The yard actually only one dead-end spur, but the through line and the passing siding closely paralleling that one spur give an impression of "yardiness" I think.

    [​IMG]

    The background dividing the layout down the middle makes 2 separate scenes-- the harborside docks on one side and the military base/depot on the other. A scale 300 foot long ship cutout or drawing or photo could be pasted one side of the background. The export grain elevator that semi-hides one end of the background is almost a separate scene in itself. A background with miscellaneous industrial of warehouse buildings could be placed across the end of the layout that is the top on the plan. Red is where you nmight want insulated joiners to divide into blocks if you want to wire for more than one loco, but not necessary, especially if using switches with insulated frogs. You could probably put this together with wide-available Atlas components in about a week.

    A small DC power pack could be attached by a short cable to the bottom end of the plan so an operator can carry the pack from one side to the other, following the train, giving the operator a sense of moving through the scene.

    The loop allows easy roundy-round continuous running. However, this is primarily an OPERATING switching layout, that allows switching between the "yard" at the top of the plan, where cars are supposedly left from a trunkline connection, to the 3 spur locations-- dockside including the switchback, the grain elevator, and the military depot. Could most easily be run with one switcher on DC, manual switches. Using more than one loco in DC would require some wiring.

    [​IMG]

    Notice that a small layout does NOT mean using all minimum-radius curves! Most end curves are 11 inch radius, and there is even some 19 inch on the INSIDE curve. This allows the double track end curve to be spaced more closely-- which looks more realistic. This is a bit "counter-intuitive", ie. not what you might think. It is NOT what a beginner might usually design, but base and track should be VERY easy for a beginner to build and operate sucessfully in a week or so. Then take your time building structures and scenery, including the odd-shaped cargo building cut at an angle for the track clearance.
     
  10. Grey One

    Grey One TrainBoard Supporter

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    Just a thought:
    Has anyone ever created a "modular standard" for 2x4 layouts such that they could operate stand alone or link to other 2x4 layouts?
     
  11. Keith

    Keith TrainBoard Supporter

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    A plan for a 2x4 foot layout. Subject to possible changes.
    A basic loop that includes some switching.
    Power is small switcher - Life Like(SW9/1200), Atlas(MP15, RS3), Kato, Rivarossi(SWxx)
    Freight cars are 40'. Need at least one spur for small engine facility.
    Maybe a few buildings, to give a small town type feel.
    Open to comments, ideas, suggestions.

    [​IMG]
     
  12. jnevis

    jnevis TrainBoard Supporter

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    My 2x4 in progress. I just ripped up al the track and started replacing it. The older track got pretty trashed moving it all around the room working on it.
    [​IMG]

    May eventually start a HCD layout and add this piece to the end, modifying the trackage of course.
     
  13. RatonMan

    RatonMan TrainBoard Member

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    Excellent idea! All DCC?
     
  14. Tad

    Tad TrainBoard Supporter

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    That is a nice little layout. I guess you would have your shops in the lower right?

    That is cool how you have a runaround by your industries.

    A small town area in the middle would give you a view block to seperate your scenes, too.
     
  15. Grey One

    Grey One TrainBoard Supporter

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    Raton Man - Thanks. I was floating the idea. I will not try to push it forward. Power choice is up to others.

    Keith - You might consider omitting the two turnouts on the bottom right as they do not seem to add anything to the functionality of the layout.
     
  16. Tad

    Tad TrainBoard Supporter

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    Those two lower right turnouts do give him a runaround.
     
  17. Keith

    Keith TrainBoard Supporter

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    Actually, the two turnouts give me one of two passing sidings.
    Or, an interchange track, or sorts.
    Making up my shopping list for track now.
    With a trip to Caboose Hobbies shortly.

    Now, I just need to decide what type of industries will
    work, or fit my track plan. As well as a few buildings for a Main Street
    feel, maybe along lower left, running toward center, on diagonal.
     
  18. Grey One

    Grey One TrainBoard Supporter

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    Ya, I saw the run around aspect but not a need for it. Yes, I guess one could use it for passing siding though that could be achieved by pulling into the spur leading to the industrial area and then backing out. Still, I'm sure it will work quite well for you as is.
     
  19. Keith

    Keith TrainBoard Supporter

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    While the extra siding might not be necessary, I think two run arounds is better than one.
    As I also commented, I could also use one siding as an interchange.
    Anyway, shopping trip complete. Gonna start laying out track shortly.
     

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