On30 in spare bedroom?

Shortliner13 Oct 25, 2020

  1. Shortliner13

    Shortliner13 TrainBoard Member

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    I know that I could do an "ok" On30 layout in a spare bedroom, but I kind of want more than just "okay." I want to be able to have a logging shortline that is point to point and is focused on Operating Sessions rather than just going around in loops. I'm wondering how much of this is possible in a 12x13.5 ft space?
     
  2. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I would believe you can do it. Around three side of the room, perhaps with a small peninsula. Start a one level and climb up (into the hills or mountains), loop back to a higher level above the point of origin. Not knowing where door and window(s) might be placed, any sort of sketch is not yet possible.
     
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  3. Shortliner13

    Shortliner13 TrainBoard Member

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    Okay, here is the room with two windows, closet, and the door.

    [​IMG]

    Window 1: 78.5" x 1.5"
    Window 2: 41" x 1.5"
    Closet 56" x 1'
    Door 41.5" x 1"
     
  4. S t e f a n

    S t e f a n TrainBoard Member

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    I wanted to try the XtrkCAD beta that can draw on backgrounds, so here's your room with some tracks; most radii are 24" or larger, except for 21" in the top right corner, for no particular reason. It did not crash, and I was able to recover twice from an invisible cursor with 'escape'.

    I guess those are logging spurs on the peninsula, and a sawmill pond at bottom right; or vice versa.
    Anyways, seems like plenty of room, assuming On30 is ok with 21" radius - it's HO track, right?
     
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  5. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Door location is good for a point to point concept. Can the closet be blocked, or do you need to keep space for easiest access?
     
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  6. Shortliner13

    Shortliner13 TrainBoard Member

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    Yea, both the closet and the windows can be blocked. With only a 1 to 1.5 inch protrusion from the wall, they should be relatively easy to block off.
     
  7. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    OK. Running with your logging theme- For an example, start on the bottom wall, to the right of any door swing. Call this your initial station. At this place is your common carrier interchange to the outside world, shops, town and a sawmill complex? Progress around the room, counter-clockwise, with a small peninsula protruding from the right hand or upper wall, around to the door opening. All the while, slowly climbing, your tracks gently curving around hillsides, but not a tightly coiled snake, nor simply (boring) paralleling layout edges. Loop back, clockwise around the room to a terminus back at the doorway. No helix. But bridges over right of way below. Perhaps a spur or more to a log landing along the way, or a customer unspecified. Have at least one siding for trains to pass each other along the way. At the upper end your major log landing/load out site, with a runaround track and a couple of spurs.
     
  8. traingeekboy

    traingeekboy TrainBoard Member

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    On30 is ideal for doing O scale in the foot print of an HO scale layout. Your space is more than large enough. It really comes down to what locos you want to run. I've seen the little porters go around ridiculously small radius curves.

    Assuming you want geared locos like a shay, some of them can go down to about 15" radius. I am pretty sure the Bachmann one can. Most on30 RTR equipment can handle 18' curves.
     
  9. S t e f a n

    S t e f a n TrainBoard Member

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    But the nice thing is, he doesn't have to; he has room for 24" curves. Is that actually too broad for logging?
     
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