dan_the_v8man

I like it

I've got the area marked out in grey to play with, i'll have a play with the sweeping curve idea

I've just created a 4th option thats more a hybrid of the 1st and 2nd design, I'd be interested to see what you think being as your preference is towards the 2nd design

Because its a loft layout, its still very much in view and if I can make it look more marshalling yard like than fiddle yard its a bonus The third designs width is dictated by the geometry of the points

I'm designing my new layout and I'd like to accommodate some scale length trains (32 MRG + A Pair of 20's/Class 60) I've come up with a few ideas but all have their issues. I'd appreciate any ideas for rectifying them or improving them. Happy to send the AnyRail files over. My first Idea - nice and narrow, prototypical-ish track formation but doesn't quite accommodate the full length of the train (red rectangle) on any of the tracks. If I had a longer board, this would be my preferred design Second idea - elongate it around the curves - now the sidings are plenty long enough but lacks the visual appeal of the first design to my eye (no trains snaking into sidings) and I suspect would be an absolute ball ache to lay the track for someone with a limited amount of experience such as myself, but from an operational perspective ticks the boxes Third Idea - a hybrid of the first two, gives at least one siding that will hold a full length train at the expense of a reduction in length on the others, also rather wide, I was hoping to use the space infront of the more narrow designs for a TMD, branch line, industrial site etc Any constructive input appreciated - Thank you

That looks a fairly tight radius too

The 56 has a floating coupling pocket that can move, the other locos don't. Maybe it's that causing issues? I suspect it's designed to get trains round second radius bends rather than assist full length trains

Well thank you all! Some invaluable experience shared, plenty of things to consider that I had overlooked. I think before I commit to anything I'm going to be setting some big test ovals up on the loft floor

Well that certainly gives me a degree of confidence!

I'm assuming that's the newest model of the MGRs? And other than the diamond crossing all was good? I'm not planning on any diamond crossings

Thanks! What's the smallest radius you have?

I'm not yet, I'm still in the design phase but was thinking minimum of 3rd and 4th radius for the none scenic sections

Has anyone experience of running full length trains in 00? Did you have any issues with tractive effort and negotiating radii? I've got images of a rake of 30+ MGR wagons taking a shortcut across the first corner (Hasten to add I have used the search function but not found a great deal so if it has been covered before please direct me to the post!)

Not had chance to do a great deal with the railway as I've been building the new she'd but it's nearly done now

Some of us can't be trusted to do that But when it reaches a prototypical speed in less than 1/4 of my Locomaus speed control it doesn't make it particular easy to drive

Quite! If I can't sort it out it will get transplanted into a Dapol O gauge 08 as they're geared to a more scale speed and replaced with a Loksound V5

The other point to consider is removing the cap going to be detrimental? I've never heard of anything detrimental from removal

Trying to limit the HST like speed of a Hornby 08 TTS (which sounds surprisingly good) CV5 doesn't appear to be available, is there anyway to slow it down? Thanks

My comments about Dapol have been rather scathing based on my experience and to the best of my knowledge they're all still there

Fantastic, understood perfectly. Thank you for taking the time to draw it.

Excuse my ignorance but whats a transition curve? (this is my new proposed loop at 5ft radius)

And thats exactly what I'm experiencing! I think i'm going to go for a 60"/5ft radius on the new loop then

This week I've been laying a concrete base for a shed. They'll be a raised line that runs behind it into the cabin on the right. The right hand side of the concrete has been laid thicker so as to provide foundations for a small wall which will allow me to level the garden off behind it for the return loop

Funnily enough that's why I've avoided tunnels and I'm only running radio control in the garden!

Having asked the same questions elsewhere I've been told 5ft radius shouldn't give me any issues