Thinking ahead about expansion

I currently have the 24"X48" loop on the right side complete. The small turnout to the 16"X96" stretch isn't installed but I think I'll put that turnout in there now in preparation for expansion. That is the only place to expand with the existing layout. But from that turnout on, what do you all think?
I know 16" is horrible and won't allow continuous operation out to this line so I have to do some kind of creative switching I suppose. Here's what I came up with in about 10 min. of playing around. I know a little more thought and I could come up with something else.
Bounce some ideas my way guys?

 

Nothing wrong with a stub ended branchline. I like them myself. Maybe a branchline to an important industry? If you have a loco that doesn't need to be turned (a GP7 or 9 for example) to head back, or maybe a pair of cab units, you don't need a turntable or wye to turn them for the trip back.
Or, you can use it as a connection to another railroad. That railroad's train comes from that branch, drops cars off on the passing siding and picks up cars from your line and heads back to the end of the branch. Until you expand again, of course!

 

With that space, you can easily do a whole stub-end yard.

 

You can accomplish a lot more than that in 8 feet, if your interest is in adding operating challenge. I posted three plans that could be used (with a little modification) in this thread recently:
N Scale switching plans wanted - TrainBoard.com

 

I'm more or less looking for a simple train pulling through open fields/hills. But the problem with my current design is the stub end

 

Hey nice website. I'll look at it closer tonight

 

Would it be possible to add a 8x24" trapezoid to the bottom left or your extension. That would allow you room for a turn-around, elongating your continuous run, and having the beveled corners of a trapezoid keep mobility around the edge easy.

 

I'm guessing you have already considered a module you could store under the table that would allow for a loop. Have you thought of it leading to a ferry slip or a bridge to no where which could be a place for incoming / outgoing cars.

Seems like it could also be a nice rout for a scenic excursion rail trip.

 

Well, after looking closer at the room and the distance to the door (which is why the 16" restriction) I actually have 21". I suppose I could fit a 9.75R loop at the end there, that would certainly allow me to do all of what I was wanting. Continuous, excursion, switching. I'll have to play with cad a little more and see what I come up with.

 

Another idea I came up with. I kinda like the simplicity of this one. Can make a nice run through some bare lands with this one maybe...

 

Love that plan. There's enough room to run two trains and have lots of scenery. You could even use the siding for a kind of open staging. definitely great track / scenery ratio. Me? I'd end up ruining it by filling it up with a yard.

 

I caught myself adding turnouts and sidings, etc. Then I had to jus smack myself back to reality and tell myself "wait, I want to see a long train running through an open field". So Here's what I've got.

So this is the plan, but I won't add that for quite a while yet.

 

Ya, I got a good friend to do the smacking for me.
As for the: "quite a while bit" - tease.

 

I love the extension!

I only see one issue I would try to correct, which is the tight radius passing siding on the lower right. With the added width at the top right corner, perhaps you can move that siding up there and flare out the curve to allow for larger radius. At that small size, every extra inch of radius counts!

Other than that, looking great! Cant wait to see more.

 

Well, the turnout I circled in red gave me fits tonight. I wanted to install it and just leave it sit there for future expansion but I can't get hardly ANY cars to follow it around on the existing 2x4 layout. I removed that switch and will have to remove that track between the two new switches once I finally do expand. It's a shame but I should have known better I guess...

 

Yes it is a #4 and that is exactly what I've considered, but I didn't know what I could possibly use to get that filed down. I'll do a search, Thanks!

 

I was having a problem with putting a #6 turnout in the middle of a curve. But with mine, it was changing the size of the curve radius itself, making it too big to fit within the width of my door. I don't want to go any sharper than 12 3/8" radius. So, I'll have to put the passing siding at the end of the curves. Still, I think it'll be long enough for the short trains I'll be running.

 

I don't know if you want a reverse loop but you could have one easily by installing the return turnout just before the long passing siding and connecting the return branch to it.

Eric

 

I'm not hot on reverse loops but I would do it if I had to. I filed the Kato #4 and gave it a test run. If you look close the track mates up very odd - I'll have to add a bit of flext track to get the right radius between this #4 and the rest of the little 2x4 layout. But the modifications worked flawlessly! Yahoo!

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