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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: IkBrunel on March 07, 2018, 11:09:03 AM

Title: Planning test track/ shunting board.
Post by: IkBrunel on March 07, 2018, 11:09:03 AM
I'm planning on setting up a small layout on a board 53x77cm whilst I'm working on my main layout. It will primarily be used for testing locos and setting the dcc addresses and parameters of my locos but it would be nice if I could have a bit of fun with it too. Does anyone have any suggestions or plans of what I could do with it? I have enough track to make a loop and a siding that came with a set I bough a while ago. This is on there temporarily but I would like it to double up as a test track and a a grab and go shunting board to have a bit of fun with.
Anybody have any suggestions of plans for a nice little layout like this?
Title: Re: Planning test track/ shunting board.
Post by: IkBrunel on March 07, 2018, 07:48:40 PM
Also feel free to post pictures of your tiny layouts or test tracks. It would be greatly appreciated.
Title: Re: Planning test track/ shunting board.
Post by: PostModN66 on March 08, 2018, 09:23:05 PM
Gosh, 77cm is very small.  Maybe take a look in "box file layouts" for some ideas. With the typical detachable fiddle yard they often have they may come out about this length.

My favourite for this size would be a loco shed, perhaps on a kick-back from a turntable.

Cheers Jon  :)
Title: Re: Planning test track/ shunting board.
Post by: IkBrunel on March 08, 2018, 10:48:08 PM
Quote from: PostModN66 on March 08, 2018, 09:23:05 PM
Gosh, 77cm is very small.  Maybe take a look in "box file layouts" for some ideas. With the typical detachable fiddle yard they often have they may come out about this length.

My favourite for this size would be a loco shed, perhaps on a kick-back from a turntable.

Cheers Jon  :)
Brilliant. I will search for those. I know it's small but the layout is just for testing locos and setting dcc addresses etc. If I have few points I can check locos running over them etc and hopefully have a little fun doing it. I had an off cut laying about that just fit on the oval that comes with farish train sets.  I thought this would form the basis of a nice little test track.
Title: Re: Planning test track/ shunting board.
Post by: AlexanderJesse on March 08, 2018, 11:22:09 PM
How about this plan: (another guy's testtrack  :D )
http://www.moba-trickkiste.de/wie-macht-man-planen/datenbank-gleisplaene.html?id=84&task=view&total=46&start=44 (http://www.moba-trickkiste.de/wie-macht-man-planen/datenbank-gleisplaene.html?id=84&task=view&total=46&start=44)

If you need translation, just yell
Title: Re: Planning test track/ shunting board.
Post by: IkBrunel on March 08, 2018, 11:41:06 PM
Quote from: AlexanderJesse on March 08, 2018, 11:22:09 PM
How about this plan: (another guy's testtrack  :D )
http://www.moba-trickkiste.de/wie-macht-man-planen/datenbank-gleisplaene.html?id=84&task=view&total=46&start=44 (http://www.moba-trickkiste.de/wie-macht-man-planen/datenbank-gleisplaene.html?id=84&task=view&total=46&start=44)

If you need translation, just yell
Brilliant. Thanks for that. I will give it a look over!
Title: Re: Planning test track/ shunting board.
Post by: AlexanderJesse on March 09, 2018, 08:55:59 AM
I haad anpother look at the plan I have proposed...
- it has an error. The short straight track from the double-switch which leads over the oval would create a incline which is way too steep..
To fix this, before the double-switch a curve is needed to remove the cross-over.
- it may be difficult to adapt to your board (currently is a few millis too deep) especially if you would want to use peco rails. Btw you have not specified which rail system you want to use.
Title: Re: Planning test track/ shunting board.
Post by: AlexanderJesse on March 12, 2018, 11:55:50 PM
Can you respond to these questions to get a better idea of your plans?
- what track/rail do you want to use?
- should the test-track be on one level, or can it use more than one level?

I just played around with Kato:
(http://download.aj-sw.ch/ModellbahnForen/IkBrunel_v01_kato.jpg)
and with Peco:
(http://download.aj-sw.ch/ModellbahnForen/IkBrunel_v01_peco.jpg)
Title: Re: Planning test track/ shunting board.
Post by: IkBrunel on March 13, 2018, 08:22:37 AM
Hi. Thanks for the comprehensive answers. I'm using peco set track.
Title: Re: Planning test track/ shunting board.
Post by: AlexanderJesse on March 13, 2018, 06:11:21 PM
Another session playing around :) This time with Peco ST (a few pieces of Code 80 Flex) different types of switches and some possibilities for shunting puzzles.
(http://download.aj-sw.ch/ModellbahnForen/IkBrunel_v02_pecoST_3D.jpg)
and from above
(http://download.aj-sw.ch/ModellbahnForen/IkBrunel_v02_pecoST.jpg)
1: Industry or goods shed
2: diesel-shunter sleeping place and refuelling station
3: shunter sleeping place
4: steam shunter shed and coaling/water/... service station
5: a small station

I know it is almost a track-desert, but... on such a small place...
At least a train can run around. It can pass different types of switches and crossings. And it won's be always easy to fetch 2 wagons from one industry and bring them in reversed order to another goods shed... And on some sidings a wagon cannot be deposited at the end forever, because it would interfere with the running train on the run-around loop.
In the center a little hill or some hint of a small town can be modelled.
Title: Re: Planning test track/ shunting board.
Post by: IkBrunel on March 17, 2018, 04:55:17 PM
Those are cracking little layouts. Thanks so much for them. I will be laying some track on the board tonight. Can I ask what programme you used to design them?
Title: Re: Planning test track/ shunting board.
Post by: AlexanderJesse on March 17, 2018, 08:03:02 PM
Scarm (free edition). Send me a pm with your email and I can send you the file for editing.