My First Proper Track Plan (HO)

CardScientist Nov 20, 2022

  1. CardScientist

    CardScientist TrainBoard Member

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    Recently got moved. I now have a room dedicated to a more permanent layout (at least compared to the floor). This is the first track plan I have ever designed that was not just free handed with what I had on hand or an oval. The layout is designed for HO scale on a 6' x 10' table. I opted for more raw track density as I have always had basic, flat ovals, so I wanted to really stretch a design out and really give my trains a good length of more complicated track to run on. There are still plans for scenery, but they are not as planned out yet, though I do plan to raise more of the base elevation than just the track and have smoother elevation changes than just a berm. No particular prototypical railroad this is based on. I'm most proud of the elevation changes to allow for the double loop feature and a switching yard. Track goes up 4 inches height at a slope of 3% to ensure I have enough clearance for any car I might want to run. The turns are all Kato R610 (22.5 degree, 24.02 inch radius) turns so almost any locomotive size should be able to negotiate the turns. In case it might look familiar, I based this off Track Plan #42 from Linn H. Westcott's book 101 Track Plans for Model Railroaders, but modified to work with Kato snap track. Only change I would make if I could would be to have another exit to the switching yard that connects to the mainline near the lower middle as opposed to just the long run around spur that connects it to the top, but I was unable to make it work with the elevation changes and getting the snap track to play nice. Anyway, really happy with how it came out and I can't wait to build it. Let me know what you think. 6x10 2d.JPG 6x10 3d.JPG
     
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  2. gmorider

    gmorider TrainBoard Member

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    Intriguing.
     
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  3. PAPPY1

    PAPPY1 TrainBoard Member

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    I assume that this layout is free standing with access around all four sides?
     
  4. CardScientist

    CardScientist TrainBoard Member

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    Yes. This will be free standing. The original plan was to have it in the middle of the room so I could access all 4 sides, but space requirements from sharing the room mean it will go in the corner. However, I plan solve the access problem by
    a) cutting an access hatch in the upper middle between the loop and spur
    b) having the main table sit on 3 modules that I can lift off the table base and set on the floor so I can work on it if need be. I'll have more details about how I'll do this when I get around to building it.
    I'm hoping to getting around to buying the wood for it in the next few weeks. I'll be posting pictures of that when I get to that point. The side with the yard will be the outer side that I can reach
     
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  5. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    One thought- Your yard really should have a way for any train which comes in power first, to escape. A run-around capability.
     
  6. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

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    What are the radii of the curves in the double-S-curve at upper right of the inner loop?

    Inserting straight pieces between the opposite-curved pieces would eliminate the S curves altogether.

    BoxCabE50's suggestion for a run-around capability at the yard is very good. I would tie the right-facing spur off the top track of the yard into the yard lead on the right end of the layout. If that spur is for an industry or service track, then use another switch to branch it off the run-around on the lead.
     
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  7. ppuinn

    ppuinn Staff Member

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    Andy,
    Here's a variation that might provide a double-ended yard with an engine escape. I kept the yard within 2 feet of the bottom aisle and turnouts on the lower (0 inches elevation) track within 2 feet of the side and bottom aisle. Note there are no rail-served industries to reach, but you could easily have static models and scenery > 2 feet from the aisle. Track cleaning will require a pop up access of some sort.


    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Dec 3, 2022
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  8. ppuinn

    ppuinn Staff Member

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    Uh-oh...Senior moment! Yesterday I realized that I inadvertently addressed my reply to "Andy" (Big Jake), instead of to the original poster, CardScientist: I definitely want to express my full-throated agreement with Andy and Ken (BoxCabE50) about engine escapes and S-curves, and this plan's double-ended Arrival-Departure track addresses both Andy's and Ken's suggestions.

    I think you can achieve adequate clearance (3.75 inches) between the upper and lower level tracks with a 2.0 to 2.25% grade if you use 1/8" hardboard/Masonite or 1/8" or 1/4" cabinetry plywood for supporting the upper level track for the short areas where the upper track is above the lower track on the lower left of the plan, and, if you want to minimize tunnels, you could use a short but wide bridge to cross the lower track in the lower right corner of the plan. [Some modelers swear by the more expensive plywood...and swear at hardboard, because you can't nail roadbed or track to it, only glue stuff to it. Others prefer the lower cost/higher availability of hardboard. Your choice.]

    CardScientist, For the track plan, I assumed:
    minimum Kato 22" radius curves for the major curves in the 4 corners;
    using flex track or cutting off any sectional curves that are 22" radius but need to be shorter than the standard length of 22" (or 24"??) radius curved sectional pieces;
    Mostly Kato #4 Turnouts (9.75" long, diverging route comparable to a 19" radius) and just 2 Kato #6 turnouts (one at each end of the Yard to access the yard clockwise or counterclockwise). The two #6 turnouts are also 9-3/4" long, but yield a 34-1/8" radius diverging route, which will save space by letting you run the Main closer to the Yard.
    all track centerlines at least 2 inches from the edge of the layout, and
    parallel yard track centerlines are 1.77" apart and radii of parallel curves are 2 inches apart.

    To conserve space and improve reliability by eliminating S-curves, the yard is accessed from Yard Right End Turnout #1 (YRE #1) through the straight leg of a Kato right Size #6 turnout and the Main goes through the curved leg; the left end of the yard is accessed through the straight leg of a Kato left Size #6 turnout (Yard Left End Turnout #2; YLE #2) and the Main goes through the curved leg. Prototype RRs sometimes run Mains through the diverging route for the same reason, just a lot less frequently than modelers, because the need to save 1:1 space is a WAY lower priority than (or percentage of) space saved on a 6'x10' layout, and S-curves on layouts are
    much tighter and thus more problematic than on 1:1 RRs.

    The Main track will curve from the curved leg of Yard Right End and Yard Left End Turnouts at 22" radius and will ultimately curve to run parallel to the bottom of the layout about 14 or 15 inches from the bottom aisle.

    Yard Right End Turnout #1 (YRE #1): The base of YRE #1, where it connects with the 22" radius Main curving from the top of the track plan, is 24 inches from the top/wall and the straight leg centerline of this Kato Size #6 turnout is parallel to and 4" from the right side/wall. The yard end of YRE #1's straight leg is 3'-2.25" from the bottom/aisle.

    Yard Lead Turnout #3 (YL #3)[Kato Size #6]: The curved leg of YL #3 (a left turnout) meets the end of YRE #1's straight leg that is closer to the bottom of the plan, and the end of YL #3's straight leg closer to the top of the plan connects to the (flex track?24" radius sectional track?) Yard Lead Track, which curves toward the top of the plan roughly parallel with the 22" radius Main. Note that this may require a minor rearranging of special sections (not sure if they are sold included with each Kato turnout, or maybe only as an additional cost). The base of YL #3 will be toward the bottom aisle and YL #3's straight leg centerline will run at a 22 degree angle to the right side wall (sort of pointing toward the upper right corner of the plan).

    Arrival-Departure Turnout #4 (AD #4) [A Lesson Learned: A number of years ago, I confused someone when I drew up my proposed design for a small remote control panel on his layout with 3 turnouts numbered #4, #5, and #6, respectively. Unfortunately, he thought I was referring to the size of the turnouts that he should install at those locations on his layout. And because there were no #5 turnouts commercially available in N scale at that time, he worried that I was recommending he scratch build a #5 N-scale turnout. So, now I'm careful to occasionally mention when I'm referring to the fourth, fifth, or sixth turnout I'm describing, and, when I'm referring to a manufacturer's #4 turnout.]: (Red Text has been changed to correct turnout descriptions.) The base of AD #4 is connected to a short length of 22" radius curve whose other end is connected to the base of YL #3. The curved leg of AD #4 (a right turnout) connects with the base of the Running Track/Arrival-Departure Track Turnout #5 (RTAD #5), a right turnout. The straight leg of AD #4 connects with the base of Classification 321 Turnout #6 (C321 #6), which is another right turnout. [;-P Yep, that's the 6th turnout I'm describing, not a Kato #6 Turnout.]

    Depending on the specific dimensions of Kato 22" radius curved sectional track and Kato Turnout geometries, it may be necessary to cut a 22" Radius sectional track between YL #3 and AD #4 a little short, so the curved leg of AD #4 connects smoothly/squarely/without any kinks into RTAD #5, and the straight leg of AD#4 connects well with the base of C321 #6.

    The Arrival-Departure Track (which runs parallel to and between 2" and 3-1/4" below the Main, and is about 11 or 12 inches from the bottom aisle) connects to the curved leg of RTAD #5. The Running track runs parallel to and about 1.75" below the Arrival-Departure Track and is connected to a short curved track which is connected to the straight leg of RTAD #5.

    Although the plan I drew up over the weekend had 4 classification tracks, when I looked into the Kato sectional track and #4 and #6 Turnout geometries, I think there may only be room for 3 classification tracks. The centerlines of Classification Tracks 1, 2, and 3 are all 1.75 inches from each other and parallel to the bottom of the plan.

    The base of Classification 2/Classification 1 Turnout #7 (C2C1 #7) is directly connected to the curved leg of C321 #6. Classification Track 1 is directly connected to the curved leg of C2C1 #7. One end of a short curve is connected to the straight leg of C2C1 and the other end is connected to Classification Track 2.
    A slightly longer curve connects the straight leg of C321 #6 and Classification Track 3.

    All Yard Tracks and turnouts and the Main in this area running parallel with the bottom of the layout are at about 4" elevation. Curved tracks leading back toward the middle of the layout are on about a 2 to 2.25% grade from 4 inches elevation down to 2 inches elevation at the back (top) of the layout.
    There are multiple ways to change elevations on a model rr layout (e.g., Kato pier sets, Woodland Scenics foam inclines, cookie-cutter method of layout construction). Do you have a preferred method in mind, yet?

    The 3 Classification tracks and any tracks you include in the Engine Facility on the lower left side of the layout are stub ended. The Running Track, Arrival-Departure Track, and Main track and turnouts on the bottom left side of the layout are similar to a mirror-image of those same tracks and turnouts on the right side.

    I used some yardsticks and N-scale track and turnouts to visualize what the plan would look like in HO scale. The Main and 5 tracks of the yard would be at 4 inches elevation. The track closest to the bottom aisle would be at 0 inches elevation and would probably be hidden under an extension of the yard scenery that extends from Track 3 to the aisle (although the lower track would still be somewhat visible through large openings in the fascia for cleaning and maintenance. This lower level track would emerge from a tunnel or from behind buildings to curve under a wide bridge (or 2 separate bridges) holding the upper track at 3.75 inches elevation approximately where the yellow paper is, and would immediately begin to climb up to a crossing that is at 2 inches elevation by the back/upper middle of the layout, while the upper tracks descend to the same crossing at 2 inches elevation.
     
    Last edited: Dec 6, 2022
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  9. Mudkip Orange

    Mudkip Orange TrainBoard Member

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    Concur with what others have said about having a yarr escape track. Looking forward to the progress pics!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 28, 2022
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  10. Mudkip Orange

    Mudkip Orange TrainBoard Member

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    modded.png


    Who is nerfing my insults? CardScientist and I are friends IRL, he's a tough enough guy.
     
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  11. CardScientist

    CardScientist TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks for the detailed response. Ill see what I can do about adding in a back exit to the yard to make it through. My main concerns initially were:
    1. DC layout (with no blocks setup)
    2. I did not want have switch turnouts on inclines. Wanted to keep them flat.
    3. I did not was to try and mix snap track and flex track. At least, not on my first layout. maybe later when I have at least one under my belt
    Ill try to redesign it with all that in mind. Right now, the tables under construction so that has my full attention
     

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