Anyone Use Roundy-Round as Part of Prototypical Operations?

[TiogaTracks]

I’m planning a new layout, and the coincidence of my available space led me to an interesting question.  I’m too new for photos, but my question is about operations concepts, so hopefully I don’t need them.

I was designing a shortline section of the layout, for somewhat prototypical road switching operations.  I felt the need to add a tail track beyond the end of track on both ends of the layout, to allow more space to manage longer mixed freights.

Then the obvious fix hit me:  with just a little work, I can connect the two tail tracks, making the road switching section into a complete loop.  Basically, infinite space for any excess train length.

And that raised another question: could this continuous running ability factor into operations without losing the realism?  My track plan has to be VERY selectively compressed, with little distance between scenes, so I began thinking of how the continuous running could help add a feeling of actually going somewhere.

I’m thinking of planning operations where you have to complete a lap for each mile of distance on the prototype, before your train actually “arrives” at the modeled scene.  I see a number of small layouts here which could potentially use this concept, but I haven’t noticed anyone specifically mention it.

Has anyone tried using laps around a continuous loop as a way to add depth and realism to road switching operations?  Any thoughts on how this would go for operating a layout with guests, anywhere from 1 to 3 train crews?  Has anyone developed any tools (like somehow repurposing a slot car racing lap counter into a milepost indicator) to make this work better?

I’d really appreciate some of your insights before I start building the layout, and I hope we can refine this into some useful ideas for making small layouts seem bigger.

-Steven

[C855B]

I specifically designed a (large) roundy-round, essentially a double-track dogbone. The idea is to simulate one or two through trains on "the main" as I work yards or industries, dodging the mainline runs.

While I don't have a helix in my plan, in a smaller space a helix becomes a way to extend run times so you can get "work" done before your switch job has to duck out of the way.

[Rivet Miscounter]

I think what you are describing is exactly what makes roundy-roundy's popular with a lot of folks.   If you don't have a ton of space for an extended mainline, it allows you just what you say, a place for a train to "stretch its legs" so to speak.

Of course, this topic is like discussing religion or politics for a group of model railroaders....some consider roundy-roundy layouts to be a first-class ticket to Hell among the various transgressions a model railroader can make.   

[CRL]

Personally, on a small to medium sized layout, I feel some form of “continuous run” is mandatory… either as a roundy round or with a reverse loop at each end of the run. Making laps between stops at towns is a time honored method of adding run time. Another method is adding hidden storage tracks where you can park one or more through trains while you work the switching areas. You can use simple timers all the way up to computer control of schedules for the through trains. Even on a small layout, you could keep 3 operators busy with one as engineer running the engine, a conductor/switchman, and a dispatcher controlling the through trains. Rotate the positions during the session.

Actually, I think using a computer program to control the trains makes a great deal of sense on small layouts that are typically run by one person with occasional guests.

[CBQ Fan]

I have a large layout that has a double mainline that is roundy round plus a third inner loop that ties in my three freight yards and 12 track passenger station. It allows me to operate trains on the inner loop while running others continues on the outside. I also have a number of industry sidings off of the outermost loop that I can switch cars on and off of when the mainline is clear.

[ncbqguy]

The Dean of Model Railroad Operations, Frank Ellison, had a large OScale outside third rail layout packed into a modest basement.  To gain running between towns he did a ‘roundy round’ scheme.   
Search “Delta Lines Model Railroad” and select the Model Railroader Magazine The Art of Model Railroading link for information.
Charlie Vlk

[Maletrain]

Even my plan for my "someday" large layout has a double- tracked roundy-round to represent B&O mainline traffic, with the rest of the layout being an interchange with a fantasy short line and the short line itself.  In my case, there would be several passenger trains and freight trains of various types in a hidden staging yard to feed the right mainline trains onto the visible layout at the right times.  Most would only pass through, while a few stop and do interchange work.

And, when I want to test or "run-in" rolling stock, I can just let it do laps on the "mainline".

[brokemoto]

I have two roundy-rounds.  There is also a point-to-point plus junction trackage.

There is the larger section which represents a failed road now operated by the Baltimore and Ohio.  It is a roundy-round single track with a long "passing track" that lets the trains into the junction.  It does have three businesses on it, but servicing them is less important.  The point-to-point is the other division of the failed road that is operated by the Western Maryland.  The smaller roundy-round is a prosperous short line whose only connexion to the outside world was the failed road, which is why the B&O/WM had to take over its operation.  The short line generates a large amount of mail and express traffic, thus the passenger trains which are heavy (relatively) on head end equipment.  It has two businesses that receive and send cars six days weekly as well as a freight house that sends and receives one' LCL car.  There are other businesses that send and receive cars at different intervals ranging from once weekly to every two or three weeks.  There is also a   "fuel train" (coal hoppers, gondolas and tank cars)  six days weekly.  The businesses that send or receive those cars are not modelled.

Most of the road switching is done on the short line.  I let the train run on it while I do switching at the junction.  Once I have finished switching at the junction, I do the road switching on the short line.  While I do the road switching on the short line, I let the trains run on the roundy-round.

The junction has a station switcher, owned by the short line, that switches baggage and express cars out of and into the B&O passenger trains as well as cars for the short line from the B&O freight trains and WM freight trains.  The junction station switcher also switches the cars from the short line to the WM or B&O freight trains, as appropriate.

Everything is single-track.  I had double track on other pikes, but it never worked well.  The only one on which it ever has worked for me is my nineteenth century pike, but that is only a two foot by four.

[TiogaTracks]

Thanks everyone.  I’m glad many of you also think the idea works, or at least is similar to successful layout designs.

My plan will be outside in G scale, and it calls for two continuous loops:

1. A dogbone representing the Penn Central line from Wellsboro Junction, PA to Jersey Shore, PA via the Grand Canyon of PA.  As of right now, this line will have no sidings except for maybe staging at Jersey Shore, and maybe a provision for making the Wellsboro Jct turnaround into a small circle of track.  It’s in the front yard, it would make a nice spot for a Christmas train.

2. A loop around the perimeter of the back yard, representing the Wellsville Addison & Galeton Railroad’s lines from Galeton to the PC interchange at Ansonia, PA, and then the line to the major tannery at Westfield, PA.  Westfield and Galeton are the two switching areas where I intend to connect the tail tracks, by crossing the gravel driveway.

So, Penn Central trains will just provide interesting traffic, and swap cars with the WAG at Ansonia.  There’s no customers to switch for them.  The WAG is where the prototype-based operations will happen, and where I might try the one-lap-equals-one-mile scheme.  I guess I wouldn’t be heartbroken if the driveway crossing doesn’t work out for some reason, but I am really liking the idea of a railroad that is point-to-point in spirit and in prototype, but a continuous loop in practice.

-Steven