Too big for your room. If the formula I used is correct, the layout on the left hand side, in T Scale, is 4 feet 9 inches by 3 feet 8 inches. I don't think it was designed for that scale, because some (most?) of the clearances are too small. Retrieving engines from the turntables and the engine yard is going to be awkward. It does make a nice layout with which to test the ability of track planning software to do very complicated things. Or to use to test the skill of somebody who claims to be proficient with a specific track planning software program. j
with a 4 foot wide layout in HO scale, the widest radius for curves will probably be 22 inches. that will work for 4 axle diesels and 40 foot freight cars but will be a challenging size for longer locos and cars. also, in HO scale track center to center distance for clearance would mean that an inner curve parallel to the 22 inch radius would be about 2.25 inches or larger making any inner curves even more problematic with longer locos and cars. yes, HO scale might be easier for tiny hands, but that 7 yr old is going to grow and in a few years you may very well have wished that you had stuck with N scale where you could do so much more in that space. just a thought, for what it is worth. respectfully, Gary L Lake Dillensnyder
Kids being able to handle HO better than N is a myth. They can handle whatever they want, and their tactile functions and eyesight is much better than yours. Handling N-scale for a 7 year old is not a problem. All three of mine had a choice when growing up of running on my N-scale layout, or running on their HO scale layout. They all chose N-scale. Cheers! Bob Gilmore
With a layout width of 4 to 5 feet the back can't be reached (30" is the max). A donut type layout might be a better choice. Paul
OK.. here's another sketch for reference.. to show what could be stuffed in there in HO.. The yard is a rough representation (it wouldn't be near that useable, as the turnouts aren't accurate) for size approximation. Basically, it's a folded "dog bone".. looks like double main-line along the upper level, where each track is actually part of the same "loop". The red trackage is the 2%climb to the upper level "bone-end", and the "south" side of the yard splits into the lower level "bone-end" (in tunnel). The cross-overs between main tracks at the yard create reversing loops (you'll learn about those)... so trains can travel a good variety of paths and directions. Operationally.. I'd see the lower bone as an interchange for the yard.. then the yard itself can be worked "out and back" for large trains.. with small local trains to serve the upper-level spurs (lotsa car movement permeations). I'll refine this further, if you're set on HO.. but what I'm hoping, is that it will illustrate just how much potential this space has for N.. Edit: For the mentioned access problems.. the only trouble spots would be the upper-level "double track"... and the tunnel-hidden "lower bone"... Well-laid track will minimize problems.. but a step-stool will work for the upper track.. and under-table access hole will allow you to get to de-railed cars "in tunnel" (4" clearance twixt tracks).. both problems should be rare.
