Large Scale Central

New track plan help

I’m stuck ! The first loop is done. It has one 20’ circle cut in half and stretched with +/- 30’of straight track

This has a small yard on the left.

I would like to use the 10’ circle / 8’ circle/ 1/2 8’ circle for a second loop! I also have 2 right x wide turnouts and 1 left x wide turnout. I have some straights but will need more. I would like to walk inside from the bottom of photo. I have a pvc pipe for a tunnel and am not afraid to move dirt. It can go over the other loop. I would like the two tracks to be side by each @ one location. Might build a foot bridge to cross over! Good luck if you decide to tackle it! Thanks Sean

I’ll tell you this the XTRkCad is interesting!!

Sean,

What is XTRCK?

I would think about using the foot bridge over the track as your main entry point at the bottom of the photo. Then you could use the PVC pipe (12 inch inside diameter?) to construct a tunnel at some other point. That way you won’t have to worry about people walking on your tunnel and disturbing the trackwork underneath. (Ask me how I know about this. :stuck_out_tongue: )

You said that you don’t mind moving dirt, so how about using the rest of the track to create an elevated line that wanders back and forth over your mainline? It appears that the mainline is already on a slope, so the upper level could be accessed by a pair of switches at the highest point of the layout. The upper line then looks like it might be able to be level, and by the time it gets down to the bottom of the photo, there should be sufficient elevation to cross over the track. If you put a gentle 2% slope to the upper line, you can cross over sooner. You can use a tunnel one time where the lower line uses the tunnel to cross under the upper line, and a trestle or other bridge for the upper line to cross back.

This will give you trains appearing and disappearing, making the layout appear bigger.

If you are not married to straights in your oval, you might give some thought to some gentle s-turns to make the track work more interesting. Scale sized trees and other folage will aid in this, as well.

As time and money allow, add in some sidings for industries for operations. Just watching your trains chase their cabooses will get old, after a short while.

In any case, you have a great start, you have track on the ground. Good job! Keep up the good work.

SteveF

update
xtrkcad
I’ve found Aristo and Usa files so I can us ether one to build the layout!
Slow start though!

What do you mean, “slow start?” You’re WAY ahead of me :smiley:

I’ll never get to be in the geek squad!!!
This is the xtrkcad results!
First loop!
This is what takes to long.
USA’s 20’ split in half with 30’ of track in between!!
There are 4 Aristo x-wide turnouts.
Still playing and learning!!
http://www.lscdata.com/users/smcgill/_forumfiles/sean%20rr%202.bmp

Sean, looking good. Where did you get the Aristo and USA files I can’t find them
Dave

Go here http://groups.yahoo.com/group/XTrkCad/

Go to files http://groups.yahoo.com/group/XTrkCad/files/

Down the page is http://groups.yahoo.com/group/XTrkCad/files/Dwyane's%20Parameter%20files/

In his files are the usa’s

Then go back

then go down to aristo-g_no6.xtp

Good luck David

Sean,

Thanks for the help now to get started

Dave

Steve Featherkile said:
If you are not married to straights in your oval, you might give some thought to some gentle s-turns to make the track work more interesting. SteveF

Sean, Here on the second track from the right, I have two S curves on a 40 foot or so straight. The second S curve is in the very top right of the picture. The first was to jog the “cut” track away from the higher track. But the second was, as Steve said, to make things interesting. However, my S curves are not very gentle. But they don’t give me any problems. Ralph

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/cabby/_forumfiles/100_0607Medium.JPG)