Hi all,
I've been reading on this site for a couple days now and I must say that this is an exceptionally helpful and smart group of hobbyists. I've been thinking about doing a HO scale layout in my garage and have finally pulled the trigger on the first purchase that will drive me on my way, a Proto2000 E8A (powered/DCC) with E8B (unpowered) with B&O roadname. It looks like a really sweet locomotive and all my searching here leads me to believe I made a good initial purchase.
I have about a 9x7 area for my layout minus about a 3x3 section in one corner. I think I have a pretty good layout, but I've got one major concern. I'm very interested in running a passenger train set up along the outside of the layout, but because of that nagging 3x3 section that I have to work around I'm left with 2 choices, 22inch or 18inch radius turns. I can make the 22 inch work so long as I don't get too fancy with switching and running double mainlines and such, but it will make for rather uninspired running of the passenger train. I have also designed a layout with mostly 18inch curves and I like this layout MUCH more. Its basically a bent dogbone layout with a bit of switching on it, and it also gives me the double mainline through the front part of my layout which is also something I really wanted to do.
That being said, I've done quite a bit of searching here over the past couple days to find out if passenger cars can really make 18 inch radius turns. Everything I've read sounds like 22" is the best bet (but wider is better). And I've heard a few reports of folks running passenger cars on 18". I don't mind running shorties if they will really work on 18" radius. If there are passenger cars out there that will work on 18" can someone please make suggestions on what model maker to seek out? Or should I just save myself a bunch of headaches and go with my 22" curves?
I've edited the post so that you can now see my two ideas for my layout. The top is the one with the 22" curves. Basically the passenger cars would have to run along the outside rail and make a continuous loop. The inside reverse loops would only get used if I run shorter rolling stock. The only thing I dislike about this is that I give up my double rail along the top (front) of my layout, which is something I really like the look of.
This was my original layout that I planned on doing. It uses 18" turns and allows me to have the double rail
along the front which is something that I really wanted. I also was able to add a little swithcing along it to spice things up a bit. I could add more switching if I like, but I'm choosing to keep the outter rails relatively simple. The small oval with switching is my attempt to put a bit of switching on the the track. I planned having this part sit a bit higher with the underlying track from the larger tracking to flow underneath through tunnels.
I kind of liked the idea of having two completely different tracks so that if I want I can just have the larger looping track just run continuously while being able to concentrate on doing switching with the smaller and higher rails that would be coal and/or log running maybe.
What do you think? One better than another? I definitely want to have the option to run passenger cars on this layout so if you want to give any suggestions or point out problems, please remember that consideration. Thanks again folks!
I've been reading on this site for a couple days now and I must say that this is an exceptionally helpful and smart group of hobbyists. I've been thinking about doing a HO scale layout in my garage and have finally pulled the trigger on the first purchase that will drive me on my way, a Proto2000 E8A (powered/DCC) with E8B (unpowered) with B&O roadname. It looks like a really sweet locomotive and all my searching here leads me to believe I made a good initial purchase.
I have about a 9x7 area for my layout minus about a 3x3 section in one corner. I think I have a pretty good layout, but I've got one major concern. I'm very interested in running a passenger train set up along the outside of the layout, but because of that nagging 3x3 section that I have to work around I'm left with 2 choices, 22inch or 18inch radius turns. I can make the 22 inch work so long as I don't get too fancy with switching and running double mainlines and such, but it will make for rather uninspired running of the passenger train. I have also designed a layout with mostly 18inch curves and I like this layout MUCH more. Its basically a bent dogbone layout with a bit of switching on it, and it also gives me the double mainline through the front part of my layout which is also something I really wanted to do.
That being said, I've done quite a bit of searching here over the past couple days to find out if passenger cars can really make 18 inch radius turns. Everything I've read sounds like 22" is the best bet (but wider is better). And I've heard a few reports of folks running passenger cars on 18". I don't mind running shorties if they will really work on 18" radius. If there are passenger cars out there that will work on 18" can someone please make suggestions on what model maker to seek out? Or should I just save myself a bunch of headaches and go with my 22" curves?
I've edited the post so that you can now see my two ideas for my layout. The top is the one with the 22" curves. Basically the passenger cars would have to run along the outside rail and make a continuous loop. The inside reverse loops would only get used if I run shorter rolling stock. The only thing I dislike about this is that I give up my double rail along the top (front) of my layout, which is something I really like the look of.
This was my original layout that I planned on doing. It uses 18" turns and allows me to have the double rail
along the front which is something that I really wanted. I also was able to add a little swithcing along it to spice things up a bit. I could add more switching if I like, but I'm choosing to keep the outter rails relatively simple. The small oval with switching is my attempt to put a bit of switching on the the track. I planned having this part sit a bit higher with the underlying track from the larger tracking to flow underneath through tunnels.
I kind of liked the idea of having two completely different tracks so that if I want I can just have the larger looping track just run continuously while being able to concentrate on doing switching with the smaller and higher rails that would be coal and/or log running maybe.
What do you think? One better than another? I definitely want to have the option to run passenger cars on this layout so if you want to give any suggestions or point out problems, please remember that consideration. Thanks again folks!
