My first layout ...

Going to make my very first layout and would appreciate any help. The size will be limited to a 4 x 6 layout in HO scale. I visited a site and found a few decent ones I can pick from, but one in particular has my fancy yet they don't show the parts, just the drawing. Anyone out there that could help me figure out the track parts in Atlas Code 83 for this?

http://www.thortrains.net/hpoor3c.gif

Thanks a ton in advance

Pastor David

 

Pastor Dave, Nice little plan. It looks like it already there for you. The design is made for sectional track. The longer straight sections are 9", the shorter ones are 6". It looks like they used 18" curved sections with #4 turnouts! You can always E-mail Thor from his site, He's always glad to help out!!

 

Colonel,

I'll be running my only two engines ... both are P2K, being, a GP9 and an S3 switcher.

 

Dave, its not the trains you run, but what you do with them. Watching 2 trains run around in circles is fine, for a while, but eventually you're going to want to do something a bit more with it....otherwise it will get shoved under a bed somewhere and forgotten about.

For me, watching trains run around is just fine...I get my kicks from building the rolling stock and buildings and I like to see the trains 'pass through' my scenes. Every now and then though I like to DO something with the trains. A continuous run layout with no switching options means you dont have the CHOICE to do something else.

Having said that, and knowing your budget is very tight, if this is all you can do to get started, go for it...ANYTHING you build can be reused (well, pretty much), and when it all comes down to it, theres nothing like simply running trains, period.

 

Hmm...now I;ve looked at the layout, I see no reason at all you have to use track pieces. I'd be using flex track for the majority of that layout. You'll find its also a lot cheaper (unless you already have the track!)

 

Disisme,

I can't really get involved with scenery. This 4 x 6 will have to be brought-out every time I want to run the trains. I have no place for this except the living room. I'm trying, best as I can, to at least have the hobby.

My home is a small cottage type house and there is absolutely no room to set up anything permenent. This may seem like I'm stretching the truth to most ppl but I assure you, our house is so small, I darn near have to walk outside just to change my mind. Imagine this ... 760 square feet of living space. Pretty small by almost any standards, unless you have lived in a hut ... then I'm living a notch up.

So, just trying to come up with anything that interests me is good for now. Eventually, I'd like to go DCC so I can run the switcher on the inside, piddling with freight while running the geep on the outside, ect.

Wish I had a larger home so I could build something nicer and that was more permenent. I'll just have to make due with what I can get by with and be happy with it

Flex track would be nice but I think I'd miss the "clickitty-clack". I know ... I'm being a nut about it possibly but I can assure you, I weigh-out everything I get on suggestions.

Thanks for the input. It's always appreciated and I think over any suggestions I'm given Everyone's been friendly and helpful here ... that's why I stick around ... I like it here

Blessings,

Pastor David

 

Since your going to be taking your layout up and down. Why not take a page out of the modular design. Make two boards that you can put up and join together. Might offer a tad more railroading in a silightly larger space.
You might consider 2 ~ 3'x6' pc's. Offering more railroad deveation. These could stand up in a closet. Using short track splices to join your railroad together. And can be added on to easily.

Mike

Mike

 

MKT fan,

I'm not going to be able to shuffle the living-room furniture around for extra room. A 4 x 6 is as good as it is gonna get.

Nice try though

 

Go for it!!!!!!!

I remeber my first that never made in into operation and the second was about the size of a card table to only come out at X-Mas to support a 4' tree.

Anything is better than nothing.

Look forward to photos of it...

 

Dave, I totally agree with you buddy. There is nothing like running trains. At the moment we have just sold our house and will be moving to the US in just over a month, so my trains dont even get a 6x3 at the moment..... I temporarily 'steal' my wifes craft room table and setup an inglenook puzzle, just to watch em go back and forth! Hey...thats an idea.... if you can work it into your layout, include an inglenook with your continuous run mainlines. An inglenook is a 3 siding yard. Two tracks hold 3 cars, 1 track holds 5 cars, and the 'lead' (which would be your inside mainline) can only hold the loco + 3 cars. You have to use the honesty system for the lead, since its your mainline, but hey! The way you do the puzzle is you lay out 8 cars randomly on the 3 tracks. You then draw 5 of those cars randomly. These cars must then be switched IN ORDER THEY WERE DRAWN onto the 5 car track. Some people like to count how many moves it takes.....I just like to DO it..... its quite challenging, and fills an hour or so just doing it once. I think the layout you have could have an inglenook included quite easily.

The 2 sidings that come down from the top could be made 3 cars long. The 5 car siding could be the mainline leading AWAY from the turnout onto those 2 sidings, and the mainline leading up to the turnout could be your lead track. Honesty principle applies for the lead and 5 car track, but being a pastor you wouldnt cheat, now would you?

BTW, you dont HAVE to have DCC to run the switcher and mainline geep. Just wire them seperately off two 'cheap' controllers. Yeah, its gonna be painful when you want to cross tracks with the Geep, but that would be a deliberate act and you'd manage it Just remember to isolate the 2 turnouts linking the 2 mainlines!!!!

Of course, your geep never needs to hit the inside mainline, and your switcher would never need to go to the outside. Just stop the geep after the turnouts and have the switcher 'push' the consist out to it. The rolling stock crossing from one controllers zone to the other wouldnt matter. Probably not a good idea to push them up till they couple though...jsut push em close and reverse the geep up to em.

Just ideas.....

[ 27. October 2004, 02:53: Message edited by: disisme ]

 

Looks fine for a starter layout .... IMHO

 

I like that plan. As for switching you can have a train switch all those spurs. Looks like some good play time to me.

I personally can't wait to run the wheels off of some of my engines, and the best way to do that is with a good oval.

 

Well, It's been a week since I left an email to thortrains.com about that layout. Haven't gotten a reply as of yet. I contacted atlas and they were very kind but weren't able to help without knowing the type of track being suggested, ect, they said. They said they weren't even sure that layout looked like it could be a 4 x 6.

The other layouts that happen to have a parts list are all atlas. This fellow that runs the site could possibly contact me yet but I'm not holding my breath. It's been a week but perhaps the guy doesn't check his mail that often or is busy.

I'm rather anxious to get my engines on the track. It's starting to get a tad depressing just looking at them. I even downloaded the free atlas track program off their site to see if I can make something or duplicate that one layout but I'm obviously not bright using this program

Thanks for all the help and support fellas I'll just hang in there and hope I get something going soon. Time savings starts tomorrow night and it can be depressing when it gets dark so early. I have no hobbies except this new one. I'd love to run the trains from time to time.

Blessings,

Pastor David

 

GO to the atlas site and start a thread "looking for thor trains" HE hangs out on the Atlas forum lots. Atleast he used to.
http://forum.atlasrr.com/default.asp

 

To make a long story short, I finally got hold of the fellow about this layout. He sent an email saying he heard I was trying to reach him to which I sent an email back saying yes and what it was about. I've heard nothing back so he must be terribly busy or not interested.

I'm not able to use a free software program well in the least ... I'm a computer dummy. This freeware is from atlas:

http://www.ismax.com/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/ismax/start.cgi/hostapps/atlasrr/max_emailer/add_freeware_main.html


I've tried to make the layout as it appears at:

http://www.thortrains.net/hpoor3c.gif

I just can't get the hang of this freeware.

I really have my heart set on this layout, but unless I'm able to somehow find out what I need I guess I'm out of luck or I better just settle on a different layout.

I'm really tired of just holding the loco box and merely looking at it. I want to get a track going so I can fire it up.

Been trying to duplicate and get info about this track for over several weeks to no avail. I even sent an email to atlas and a fellow emailed me back a cpl of times but he needed more info than I could give him other than the layout addy and that the other layouts on that site were said to be in atlas code 83.

Perhaps I should look into a less frustrating hobby ... and a cheaper one to boot. This hobby hasen't been gratifying in the least.

Before anyone feels the need to be critical of my post, just remember, I've only given you the reader's digest version of the situation.

Best wishes to all,

Pastor David

 

Why don't you go to the atlas site and pick one of there setups? They contain all the track you need and the price is listed.
www.atlasrr.com

 

BEWARE ATLAS PLANS-

Choose one and please make sure you post for opinions here for those who are familiar with the layout. For example, you will have trouble with the turns in the N-18 as well as the grades.

 

Hi David,

You need to just buy some sectional track and start laying it out on a board in the shape of that layout plan. Stop fixating on getting the pieces to fit together perfectly using some computer program. I hate those design programs. I believe that better layouts are built by experimentation with the actual track and workspace, starting with a hand sketch of your idea of the plan.

As far as expense, I hope you don't think that Atlas, Kato, Intermountain, or some other high end brand of locomotives / cars is mandatory. $20 Life Like and old Spectrum units run very well and look great.

Just buy some track, set it up, get an inexpensive power pack, and put together a train by hand, then run it for a while. You will see what this hobby is about when you do that. It is really not all that stressful once you start building. That's when the real enjoyable process begins.

Here is what I based my layout on, just a sketch. It is based on Code 55 flex track (n scale) so I can do whatever curve I want, ha ha.



Here are some pictures of the build process. I can't believe how enjoyable it is to build that hillside!

So stop paralyzing yourself with over-analysis. Go for it!

 

I think Fluid Dynamics is onto something I am indeed going to stop thinking about it so bloody much & just get on with some trial & error .... I'm just gonna dive in and get some play time in!

I can sketch ... well, a little anyway. lol

I'm determined even though a bit depressed over it. I've been wanting in the hobby for so many years and just recently got 2 engines ... PRR P2K S3 & a GP9

Like Nike' says >>> JUST DO IT!

Thanks to all for responding & encouraging me ... you all are a treasure indeed