Need Ideas For My 2X4 Layout

[choochin3]

Hello Everyone,
This evening I have decided to revamp my old 2X4 layout,first started about 20 years ago.
I am about to tear everything off the old base which was built from scrap plywood,and 2X4s my Dad had under the porch of our old house.
It's a simple oval of Atlas code 80 snap track,and 3 snap switches,which the frogs are worn out to the point of wheels dropping into the frog,and the flanges riding at the bottom of said frog.
I just can't seem to get a new track plan thought up,and put down on paper,so I'm asking you fellas for some track,and industry ideas.
Of course I want to keep the oval for continuous running for my son,but I want some small industry for switching.
I era that I want to represent would be late 60's-mid 70's,and the area would be Mid-Eastern.
If anyone is willing to give me a hand designing a new Cape James Terminal please feel free to.
Thanks so much,

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Nice! It'll be another great addition to the Maryland and Delaware a$$hat Layout Tour!

Carl Arendt, who just passed away, had a great gallery of plans that would actually have to be scaled up to fit your space, which I think would be pretty fun.

Take a browse through here: http://www.carendt.com/microplans/index.html

See if you like any of them, and post your preferences here so we have a starting place.

[choochin3]

Thanks for the link Ed,
I think the Perryview layout in the Narrow Gauge area would be a good starting point.
I definitely need a run around track,and some oposing swiching moves to make things a little more challenging.
The crossing at the right front doesn't do much for me,and maybe I could use a switch at the rear for something.

[johnhale]

Another source for small track plans is Mikes Small Trackplans: http://www.cke1st.com/m_train2.htm

They have several 2x4 layouts.

[wm3798]

You could always do an homage to Gregg's little 2x4.

Do you have any limiting factors?  

[Bsklarski]

not sure how much scratch you want to drop on it, but think about going over to code 55 at least. A smaller layout like that will not cost you much to buy the new track. Are you using locos and cars from 20 years ago? You may have to convert the wheels. Just my 2 cents.

Brian

[choochin3]

Limiting factors? hummm.....mostly just a confined space of 2X4'.
All my power so far is 4 axle,and I won't be running any 85' cars,so the sky's the limit.
I have thought about code 55 rail,and my gradual switch to low pro wheels has me thinking about it,but every now and then I like to run my european trains which have some pretty deep flanges.
So I may just stick to code 80.
Thanks!

[delamaize]

Nice! It'll be another great addition to the Maryland and Delaware a$$hat Layout Tour!

Carl Arendt, who just passed away, had a great gallery of plans that would actually have to be scaled up to fit your space, which I think would be pretty fun.

Take a browse through here: http://www.carendt.com/microplans/index.html

See if you like any of them, and post your preferences here so we have a starting place.

ya know it is funny you say that, I was thinking of adapting the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway he has on there into a scene for an N trak module, making it a logging line. the idea is just in my head at this point, I have not sketched anything yet, but it might be intresting.

as for the 2X4, I copied the track plan from a MR magizine article a few years ago and had pretty good luck with it. I beleive it was just simply called "great northern" I changed the grades to allow for a way off the layout to a staging yard, it worked well, other than the steep grades, I wanna say one run was 2% the other was like 3%. it is the layout that I used for the climax demo video I did a few years ago on youtube.

[Bsklarski]

One of my favorites is this one....



Its always appealed to me and its very simple, as you can do city or country, or both. You can also add a track or two and even have staging.

Here is a link to Kato's website, it has a complete list of Unitrak you would need. This layout was orginally in GREAT MODEL RAILROADS 2002 IIRC. It was called "Montandon Branch".

http://www.katousa.com/track-plans/granny-kay-bonnie.html

[choochin3]

I'm liking the Kato plan Bsklarski posted,some good switching possibilities there.
Something like that would work well,and maybe another industry or two,in a semi urban setting.

[wm3798]

Years ago I did the old figure 8/oval combo on a 2x4.  It worked out pretty well, and I eventually added a 12" x 6' shelf off of it for a small yard accessed by a wye, and added a couple of switches that allowed me to switch from one route to another.  I'm sure somewhere in the stacks of stuff I have a track plan doodled on the back of a napkin...

Lee

[DKS]

For your consideration, here's an adaptation of one of the first N scale layouts I built. All Code 80 snap track.