Playing It Close / Living On the Edge
Oct 5, 2024 4:23:27 GMT
Country Joe, dennym57, and 3 more like this
Post by atsda on Oct 5, 2024 4:23:27 GMT
OR … Confessions of an O Gauge Train Enthusiast.
Originally, my wife had set aside the 10’ x 18’ room on the first floor of the house we just moved into for a train layout. The 10’ width would have made it possible to incorporate some nice features. (My old layout was 8' x 22'.) There would have been an outer loop with O72 curves and 15”straight at both ends of the layout (for either a O72 switch or O22 switch with a straight half-section. Then I would have the next O72 loop with a 5” straight at both ends – with the possibility of interconnection further down the line. (Everything else would be in the interior; with track on the outer parts as well)
After some thought, it seemed that the first floor space would be good for a family room. So, I said I would use the 8 x 17’ room on the second floor. My layout is now there. The room just vacated is being used as a family room; where the grandchildren can play and my wife can relax. It has large windows, play table, recliner , and lots of floor space.
In its current state, my layout has an outer loop with 5” straights on both ends and the inner loop ends have no straights. The inner loop just fits but with no margin. The tracks of the outer loop run pretty close to the perimeter and there is only about 14” board-end to wall space. I can get around OK and get to the areas I need to; however, I cannot gain any weight, and I just fit if I need to go down under the layout if on one of the sides. I have however, easy access under the layout from the door side of the room. (The underside is very spacious – there is 33”clearence .)
Tonight, I just lengthened the outer loop straights to 6.5” to give a bit more room to the inner loop. Outer loop travel is now right on the perimeter on all sides. I could have use O54 for the inner loop and then dropped to O31 for interior track; however, I restricted myself to O72 and O31. I squeezed out every inch of surface that I could for track.
I believe that there will be no clearance problems between outer and inner loops. I will again run by hand some of my long passenger cars and engines around to check for problems. Interestingly, the post war Lionel S2 Turbine cab/firebox swings out pretty wide. If I do encounter any problem area, I will use / devise a power cut off on one track area section when a train approaches on the other loop to avoid collision. My old layout did not have the wide sweeping aspect of the O72 curves, which I am enjoying. Alfred
Originally, my wife had set aside the 10’ x 18’ room on the first floor of the house we just moved into for a train layout. The 10’ width would have made it possible to incorporate some nice features. (My old layout was 8' x 22'.) There would have been an outer loop with O72 curves and 15”straight at both ends of the layout (for either a O72 switch or O22 switch with a straight half-section. Then I would have the next O72 loop with a 5” straight at both ends – with the possibility of interconnection further down the line. (Everything else would be in the interior; with track on the outer parts as well)
After some thought, it seemed that the first floor space would be good for a family room. So, I said I would use the 8 x 17’ room on the second floor. My layout is now there. The room just vacated is being used as a family room; where the grandchildren can play and my wife can relax. It has large windows, play table, recliner , and lots of floor space.
In its current state, my layout has an outer loop with 5” straights on both ends and the inner loop ends have no straights. The inner loop just fits but with no margin. The tracks of the outer loop run pretty close to the perimeter and there is only about 14” board-end to wall space. I can get around OK and get to the areas I need to; however, I cannot gain any weight, and I just fit if I need to go down under the layout if on one of the sides. I have however, easy access under the layout from the door side of the room. (The underside is very spacious – there is 33”clearence .)
Tonight, I just lengthened the outer loop straights to 6.5” to give a bit more room to the inner loop. Outer loop travel is now right on the perimeter on all sides. I could have use O54 for the inner loop and then dropped to O31 for interior track; however, I restricted myself to O72 and O31. I squeezed out every inch of surface that I could for track.
I believe that there will be no clearance problems between outer and inner loops. I will again run by hand some of my long passenger cars and engines around to check for problems. Interestingly, the post war Lionel S2 Turbine cab/firebox swings out pretty wide. If I do encounter any problem area, I will use / devise a power cut off on one track area section when a train approaches on the other loop to avoid collision. My old layout did not have the wide sweeping aspect of the O72 curves, which I am enjoying. Alfred
