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 Posted - July 28 2009 : 5:06:05 PM
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Well, I'm getting ready to start my layout. I have a room that is 14'X14'. half the room with be Lionel & the other HO scale. The HO is what I want to try to make look realistic. I'm thinking of like a "L" shaped layout that will be 4'x5' on the short leg & kinda a dog bone on the long side with it being 5'x14' & about 2 or 3 feet wide in the middle. I'm waning to run about three long trains at once (15-25 cars long). I'm not sure if I need or want dcc. I wouldn't mind having a few turnouts with some fresh rolling stock ready to be pulled. I'm wanting more of a mountain theme with tunnels & a few big bridges. I'm not doing a certain era, just what I like. there will be sd40-2s running with a 4-8-4 & a 2-8-4 & with any luck a athearn big boy. I'm also thinking I might need two levels. any advice would be helpful.
jerry
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Posted - July 28 2009 : 7:30:12 PM
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Smokie-- Draw the layout on a sheet of paper--doesn't have to be perfect as it will allow you to see what you are wanting--post it on here and anyone of us with suggestions might be able to better help you--Brian
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Posted - July 29 2009 : 08:05:16 AM
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| Just watch with the engines you mentioned you might not be able to get away with 18" turns. My friend bought a Athearn SD40-2 awhile ago and had to take it back because it kept jumping off due to its 3 axle trucks. Yet his Proto SD7 seems to have slightly shorter spacing in its trucks and will run ok on the larger outter loop portions of the track. All of our steam engines seem to depend on the drive mechanism. We have two different 2-10-2's and a UP challenger, all of them seem to be adept at flexing and dealing with 18" turns. We've never tried a 4-8-4/2-8-4 yet on the layout, I dunno if those can deal the same way or are more ridged like a 4-6-2, etc. And oh yea sketch up a picture and post it that helps a ton!
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Posted - July 29 2009 : 12:21:46 PM
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i'll try to sketch it tonight. all the engines i have will run on 18" turns. i haven't gotten a big boy, so i figure it will need 22" turns at the least.
did you see the big boy link i posted? i love that big long bridge.
jerry
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