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Galen, Happy New Year to you as well. Could you draw up an idea for the lower left hand corner. The only constraint is the North bound track in the middle has to separate from the last turnout fairly far south as it needs to climb about 2" by the time it gets to the over under track...

Hi Galen, Do you mean the tracks off of the turntable? These are 20" long as I thought you just had one loco on each and this would be more than long enough as they are longer than the turntable diameter. The shortest "passing" track on the inside of the loop is 10' 8" long so that should...

Steve, Not to be negative as you are doing a fantastic job but do you have any "protection" for trains on the bridge? I am just starting to build but most have told me that I need space between the track and edge and/or clear plastic edge to catch anything that might leave the track. Perhaps...

I hope you plan on staying for a while. Might be a bit of a problem to get it out of there:) I agree that you don't want a duckunder. I have been working for a while on my layout and understand trying to make things fit in a space. Just a quick look at the outline you could fit with 3"...

If your 3' size is absolute (can't you have two little bulges and loop over 180 degrees?) I would not recommend trying to do a loop in 36" but if that is your only option then I would do the following: Place your track by the wall just over an inch from the wall. Consider that straight tracks...

Hi Galen, Nothing negative so I guess the new layout is OK? The entire lower loop area where most of the turnouts are is the same height so that should be OK. I also have flat spots planned at the other turnouts but will see if I can widen these to include more approach track without...

Galen, I looked up some info on G.S. and your coment goes beyond a compliment:thumb: . After your comment I am not sure if I should even consider posting the latest change in the layout. (But I will:) ) I wanted to separate the entrance & exit from the loops and add a ridge and tunnel on...

I am planning on having a crossover with a reversing loop on one side. The other side of the crossover connects to a dual track with a duplicated at the other end. The dual track will always stay connected to the A & B outputs of the DCC as shown with the B output connected to the 12v DC...

Loop Pictures The construction part of the loops is done. The cross section of the loops looks like this: Now on to the benchwork:) ...Jim

Latest The track plan has changed - changing the file on the web changed it in the original post to this thread so look up to see it. The turnouts for the loops have been moved to the visible part of the layout and a passing track on the inner loop has been added. With the crossover...

Good idea but that will not test the straight to curved transistion problem. A train may do fine on an 18" radius circle but have problems changing from straight to 20" curve. Trains are more sensitive to the difference in radius from one unit to the other. That said try a string and a 1.25"...

The lift bridge from Houghton to Handcock (UP Michigan) is a double decker. The rails were on the lower level and the road on the upper. The rails have been removed from the lower level and replaced with a snowmobile track now but might be an idea for you to combine both on a single bridge...

The only operational area of real concern for me is the turnout in the upper left side of the visible area. I thought I might try using the Tortoise DPDT switch to power a small section of track next to each switched leg. Only the leg coresponding to the switch direction would have power. This...

Wow, did I get some great advice on my layout plans from The Gauge.. Although many said "start small" that is difficult with my passenger train - so.. Based in the input and my needs my current plan is to start large but simple. Full size layout with two hidden reversing loops but just the...

I am planning at least a 30" radius curves with two full loops out into the room ("G" style). I am going to be running full size passenger cars so having a large radius is very important. If I use 4" of clearance from track center to edge this results in 68" wide loops. I would like to have...

Thanks for your input. I really want a cheap, simple, automatic solution. I don't need any DCC control. I don't care which way the train enters the loop since you won't be able to see it. I am using DCC so I can switch the "polarity" of the loop (so the exit matches the main line) while the...

I do want to change the polarity of the loop while the train is in the loop. Since I am running DCC this should not be problem. Main line and the rest of the layout will never change. I do need to change the polarity of the end of the loop to match the wye. It is not a problem to change the...

Sorry, but I do want to detect the train and switch the turnout. My reversing loops are going to be in a hidden area so I just want the train to leave the main room and come back without intervention. From what I I have read so far DCC is a square wave with matching positive & negative pulses...

I have received some very good advice from others. The number one item seems to be use the largest radius possible - everywhere! If you are having a loop in the 4' wide section (middle of the bottom) even with a 3" space from the center of the track to the edge you only get 21" radius. Most...

I think I could use the Hare and swith the tracks with the Tortoise but since I want to have the train cause the switch a DCC control seems like a waste. I did some more looking and I think a wire in the middle of a double cut in one side of the track (loop around the cuts for power) or even a...