Documenting my journey into model railways.
As I mentioned in the first episode of this series, my wishlist includes 3 loops of track which requires a significant number of points if one is to return a train to any one of the loops.
The largest radius I can realistically run on this board without the whole layout turning into a helix is going to be 12". I printed out some tracksetta style gauges to help me lay the random collection of secondhand flexitrack. I also made a rudimentary curve compass out of a strip of hardboard to help scribe the radii on the baseboard and also to cut sections of track bed which will be elevated.
Where we're going we don't need... plans
I am not following any plan with this layout. It's a case of design on the fly based on what track I can scrounge together. In fact the layout has changed and will continue to change based on the age old philosophy of do I really need 11 sets of points!!
At this very moment the plan looks something like this:
Notice the addition of the first scenic items in the form of the viaduct fascias. All will b e revealed in the fullness of time or when the 3D Printer has finished printing them off.
3 Continuous Running Loops
What is the point of a coffee table layout if it doesn't have continuous running. My 3 Loops are loosely defined as follows:
Loop 1 (Purple) - A 9" radius (1st radius?) with the smallest points I have turning this into an oval. I could really do with replacing these points for a matched pair of 1st radius curved points so that I can properly form the fiddle yard. At the moment I am not confident that the southern tank engine can make a tighter radius curve. Fingers crossed I can get the little black shunter working as it has a set of tiny little wheels in an 0-6-0 configuration. Being a diecast body it's got some weight to it unlike the Southern which is made of plastic.
Loop 2 (Green) - A mix of radii from 10" to 12" and traverses the entire layout from the staging area at the bottom up the left side and into a tunnel which runs underneath the viaduct and then emerges on the right side of the layout. This is essentially a branch line and will be running a mix of small 4 wheel coaches (when I buy or make them) and goods wagons. This will be the preserve of the Southern Tank Engine unless something better comes along.
Loop 3 (Yellow) - The largest loop (but not by much) and is a squared off 12" radius circle. It takes you all around the layout rising on the left to the viaduct and falling back down on the right to rejoin the staging area bottom left (blue). I have tested the gradient with the only working loco I have and it can pull a full rake of 6 wagons weighed down with nuts and bolts. This will be the main line and hopefully I will be able to run larger coaches and goods wagons with articulated bogies.
Power to the People
With all this going on and the potential of having 3 simultaneous running loops and accessories, I am going to need to get some more controllers and isolate each loop with those isolating fish plates all the cool kids use. This of course is going to be a whole other ball game, but I am going to stay DC rather than go DCC as I just can't justify the complexity at this stage. However, there is nothing to say I won't change my mind further down the line.
Talking about Tracks but specifically making a point about Points
There are a lot of joblot auctions on eBay for collections of track and it is somewhat daunting to a beginner to try to find exactly what you want to fit in a given space. Flexitrack is your friend as you can essentially lay track from point to point. Track is so goddam expensive and I'm trying to keep the cost to a minimum, I'm not a Rothschild you know (only when I'm Bunty), so I buy what looks right, even if in the end it might not be. False economy I know. Especially when you don't know that PIKO track is a completely different connection standard to PECO... fortunately this only cost me £10 to learn.
However, when we get down to the tight transitions between the curves I think I might need to bite the bullet and buy specific radii turnouts. Wouldn't it be awesome if each manufacturer published a set of photocopiable templates of their set track and turnouts so you could literally try before you buy. If you know of any please do pop a comment in the section below.
Points Theory
Finally, there is some points theory to consider (which I am also slowly learning) behind designing a three loop continuous running layout. I will cover this in a future episode as it is driving me insane trying to visualise what I need to buy compared to what I want for the layout and my available space.
