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Track Design The complete book of layout design Soft Cover Copyright 2004 4th pr
Track Design The complete book of layout design
Soft Cover
Copyright 2004 FOURTH PRINTING by Hal Carstens
72 pages
CONTENTS
II Layout Design Tips
2 Introduction to Track Design
4 Scenery and Operation in 5x8
5 Venango Valley RR:
8 From Plan To Layout
10 The Over-Designed Layout 12 Combining Layout Elements
14 Layout Planning Ideas
15 A Corner Multi-Level Switching Module 16 Insulated Rail Joiners
18 Adding Industrial Sidings
20 Using Wyes to Reverse Equipment
22 Module Scenery Dividers 24 One Horse Short Line 26 Long, Lean and Lanky Layouts
28 The Big 8 Railroad
30 A Railroad For One-Way Operation
32 Point to Point
33 Walk Around Cab Control
34 Railroad For a Spare Room
35 17 Track Designs Portfolio No. 1 40 Reversing Sections
42 Eye Level Layouts
44 Corridor Railroading
46 A Modular Switchback Trackplan
48 Logging Roads
49 An Unplanned Layout
51 Beginner's Traction Pike
52 An L-Shaped Shelf Railroad 53 Spiral Reverse Loops
56 Grand Union Terminal Railroad 58 Trefoil Track Plans
60 Combine a Railroad with
61 The Utah Railway in a 4x8 62 The Limitless 4x8
67 11 Track Designs Portfolio No. 2 71 Station Locations
IV ST&WRR Out and Back
The designing and creation of a new model railroad layout requires lots of planning and dreaming. That dream railroad you want to build will be an extension of yourself. It will represent your idea of the ideal model railroad adapted to whatever restrictions you may impose. You may opt for Lionel track, sectional track, flexible track, or track spiked by hand to wooden ties. You can model prairies, mountains, coastal areas, cities, industrial areas or mining. You can model any period in railroad history you like, from the pioneer days of 1830 to heavy diesel freight operations of today, with Amtrak, VIA and commuter operations thrown in as an extra. You can fill an entire basement or garage or you can restrict yourself to a narrow shelf in a bedroom. Model railroading knows no limits.
If you have a lot of equipment, economics might dictate that you stay in that scale and gauge. Certainly the time to make a change is before you start designing the new track plan. Many modelers have traded off their old equipment for something in a new scale. An HOer with loads of ready to run equipment might decide to trade it off for one On3 brass locomotive. An 0 gauger moving to Florida might unload his collection in favor of a smaller gauge which would take up less room in a smaller home. Some guys go to a larger scale because their eyes aren't as sharp as they used to be.
Scale & Gauge
What's the difference between scale and gauge? Many modelers use the terms interchangeably but remember that gauge refers to the width of the track between running rails, while scale refers to the proportion of your models to the real thing. An HO narrow gauger could well be using equipment that would run on N scale track. A narrow gauge modeler in 0 scale would not be running on 0 gauge track, although his modeling is in the same proportion as the modeler modeling Santa Fe or Conrail. G gauge trains may be narrow gauge, or standard gauge made to several different size standards and they'll all run on the same width track.
Space Requirements
Once you've chosen a scale, you have to consider the space available for your layout. In many cases the modeler will have to be content with a 4x8-foot pike, which means that the maximum curves will very likely be 18" or 20" radii. S and O gaugers faced with the space dilemma are almost forced to go the tinplate route unless they're in traction. Eighty-foot passenger cars in HO scale can be made to run on 24" radius curves, but they'll run better on 30" or 36" curves, and they'll look better on 48" curves because the unsightly overhang will be avoided.
If you must have sharp curves, limit your rolling stock to a maximum of 60 or 70 feet in length. There are passenger cars available as short as 36 ft. in length. Trains will seem longer because you can operate more cars in the same lineal space and the shorter equipment will look more natural on the sharp curves. Many HO locomotives, especially brass steam locomotives, require curves of 30" or larger. Some 0 scale locomotives may require radius of 60" or larger.
In choosing locomotives, remember that some 4-4-0 types may require a wider operating radius than certain larger wheelbase locomotives because of the rigidity of their frames. A good hobby dealer can answer many of your questions for you. Paul Mallery's Design Handbook for Model Railroads, available from your dealer, can answer many design questions that will clear up problems as you proceed with construction.
Where the modeler's apartment is small, the layout may have to be crammed into a 3'x4' or even a 2'x3' space. Don't laugh. Many very fine model layouts have been built in such limited space but it is almost mandatory that you restrict yourself to HO, N, or Z scale. In HO you'll want to use the smallest locos and cars not over 40 feet long. N and Z scale are very much at home in small space.
Another alternative to building a layout in a restricted space is to build a module, perhaps 2'x6' or 2'x8'. Operation will be limited to switching, which many modelers feel is the ultimate reason for having a layout anyway. Make sure your module adheres to standards used by the local modular groups so you can connect your module with others at conventions and train meets where you'll be able to run freight trains of 200 cars in length over your little section!
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