Hey guys!

It's been along time since I have been on here, I have been pretty busy with school and other things, but I decided that I should finally take all of my model railroad stuff out of their boxes and build something!

Since I will be moving out soon, I will need the layout to be fairly portable and I want it to be able to be placed under my bed when it is not in use, since I don't have a lot of spare time, I want a layout that can be assembled fairly quickly, a 1x4 micro layout seemed like the perfect solution.

I was originally going to build an inglenook, but a 1x4 version would only allow for 40' rollingstock and I have quite a few 50' that I want to use, so I decided to build a fork layout.
I saw a great example of a possible fork layout in a discussion on the Model Trains International Forums from awhile back: http://forum.mtimag.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=1200

Using the video posted there as a guide, I came up with the following track-plan:



The track-plan contains only one small industry, I labeled it as a lumber company, but it could be replaced with almost any other industry rather easily. The train will start on the left side of the layout carrying 1 freight car inbound for the industry, the train will head into the industry to pick up the outbound car, drop it off at the left end of the layout, and then drop off the inbound car at the industry, it will then return to pick up the outbound car where it will then continue on down the line.

This doesn't sound like it would keep me busy for very long, but I plan on doing things such as stopping at the road to wait for traffic, and waiting when coupling and uncoupling. That should lengthen the operating sessions so they won't be too short.

What do you guys think of my idea?

Justin what scale is this? If it's not N it does severely limit what you can do in that space.

Justin,
I'm glad to see you back! The fork isn't a bad idea at all. If you curl the drill track, you have more room.

If you're willing to add another foot, might I suggest http://bigbluetrains.com/forum/viewtopic...=46&t=6434 (I also drew up a sketch for a 4x1 foot ISL on the bottom of the thread) or for 72x18 inches, I have the following layout that folds into 36x18 inches (folding end leaves) for easy storage. http://bigbluetrains.com/forum/viewtopic...=46&t=7682

Tyson Rayles Wrote:Justin what scale is this? If it's not N it does severely limit what you can do in that space.

Sorry, I forgot to mention it is in HO-scale

Mike, I am considering using a 1x5 inglenook similar to the track-plan that you made, that extra foot allows for a lot more operation, while still being small enough to fit under a bed.

Here is a 1x5 inglenook plan that I made:

Hey Justin, If you widen the ISL to 18 inches and curve the drill track, you have a little more breathing room. I'm using Atlas Code 83 track and Snap Switches.

[attachment=19309]

Curving the tracks makes it look better, I have found. On a 4x1 'ProtoNook', I can just run a MP15/SW1500 with 40ft cars, if I put it on a 5x1, I can use 50ft cars.
(You might be able to gain enough room if you use a GE 70ton/GE 44ton.)
All the best.

Or a 45 tonner with the side rod action.

I like Mike's track plan idea .....adds a lot of improved visual effect if you can work it in .

T

Mike, I like your plan. However I want my layout to be as small as possible, I am thinking that 1x5 may even be too big.

I think that I have narrowed my choices down to these two plans:

1x5 Inglenook yard built for 50' rolling stock + NW2 locomotive


1x4 Inglenook yard built for 40' rolling stock + NW2 locomotive

Hey Justin,

Just putting it out there. What about a 6x1 layout that folds in half for easy storage.

The two boards can be attached by hinges. I might locate the hinges on the top of the layout so that when you fold it in half, you still protect the track work for storage and/or transport. I would place the hinges where the black box is on the bottom at the 0,36 coordinate and building at the top. A small building over the hinge on the bottom could be used to cover the hinge. The track work attaches on the seam of the layout by using a 2.5 inch piece for the track going to the two top spurs and a rail joiner between the two turnouts in the middle (where the blue circle is).

The tracks to the left are top to bottom as follows: Industry A, Industry B & Locomotive Storage, and Industry C & Extra Car Storage.

The drill track on the right is 28 inches long so that you can have an engine and two cars, which is all that you need since each spur only holds one car and there are three cars on the interchange track. So you would swap one car for another.

I may be using this plan for my Port Able Railway.

[attachment=19328]

Thanks Mike!

I think I might go with a 6-foot long layout after all, however I am probably going to go with something under 1-foot wide, I am thinking either 10" or 8".

I have drawn up some plans for inglenooks in those sizes, I will post them later.

Here is a plan for a 8"x72" inglenook:


The only problem that I can see is that there is only half of an inch separating the top and bottom tracks from the edge, if this is a problem I will increase the size to 10"x72"

The plan supports a 3-3-5 arrangement when using 40" rolling stock and a 2-2-3 arrangement when using 50" rolling stock.

I would suggest considering what industries you want as well as the track layout plan.

I am considering these for my 4x1 ProtoNook :-
Rear = Warehouse/factory track - 3 spots
Middle = R.I.P. track/storage - 2 spots
Front = Team track - 2 spots

switcher1 Wrote:I would suggest considering what industries you want as well as the track layout plan.

I am considering these for my 4x1 ProtoNook :-
Rear = Warehouse/factory track - 3 spots
Middle = R.I.P. track/storage - 2 spots
Front = Team track - 2 spots

I plan on running mine as a small yard, when I don't run it as a freight yard it will be a lumber yard. Of course this could always change.

Having built several micro layouts and inglenook designs I'd definitely echo the advice of putting a curve in the track. I'd go so far as suggesting a curved walled building following the track that can create mystery of where the track goes rather than leaving it too open or with many smaller structures. A bigger building like a factory could provied a cohesive context for the whole layout. Deliveries, storage Spurs work for that but I'm not sure about a team track. Maybe two raw materials in, tak cars at silos or drop bottom cars for flour or sand at the middle spur, loading doors or dock on the rear spur and storage on the front? Would still give you a variety of cars to spot.

Can you go for 5ft x 10 and still get some curve in?

Just some random thoughts rather than there be anything wrong with what you have said you wanted.

Good luck.