Indoor shunting layout with detailed scenery

Well he did say a Corpet at 0-6-0, and if the future diesel is the Piko that is 0-6-0 too.
Speaking of Piko, don't forget their track as it is probably easier to get. :)
 
dutchelm said:
I have always disregarded Peco track for small layouts as the only points available are a lot bigger than LGB.
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LGB R1 points are only 300 mm long (12 inch in old money), so they are ideal for a small shunting layout.

Another good space saver is the LGB 12360 R1 30 Degree 3 way point. PIKO are supposed to be producing a R1 Double Slip (30 degree) G-DKW, which would also be useful for a small shunting layout, but I have yet to see one in the shops. A 3 way point and a Y point are also proposed for their track system.

http://www.gaugemaster.com/piko/Piko-G-Scale-Track.pdf

I have a plan in mind for a new portable layout which would use a 3YP and a DS, that would fit into my trailer for transport to shows, on two boards measuring 3 metres by 0.5 metres. I could also add a module of 1.2 x 0.5 to extend it where space would permit....
 
If you want to go for the Large Size of Rail, do not forget Trainline 45 Track. They do R2 Points which are much nicer to look at than LGB R1. Compatible with LGB if you manage to source ant 2nd Hand. In fact LGB R1 are a bit of a pain for shunting. Befor I start a Fire Storm. I Know that many get on OK with them, but for me not good.

Trainline are also Live Frog so Short Locomotives work well on them too. But there are odd issues with Skates Shorting Out and the Frog occasionally needs a little clean up with a file to get 'catch free' running (with the skate that is).

Incidentally Skates Shorting Out is not just a Peco and Trainline Issue. It can also happen with LGB R3 and R5 Points as well.
JonD
 
dunnyrail said:
If you want to go for the Large Size of Rail, do not forget Trainline 45 Track. They do R2 Points which are much nicer to look at than LGB R1. Compatible with LGB if you manage to source ant 2nd Hand. In fact LGB R1 are a bit of a pain for shunting. Befor I start a Fire Storm. I Know that many get on OK with them, but for me not good.

Trainline are also Live Frog so Short Locomotives work well on them too. But there are odd issues with Skates Shorting Out and the Frog occasionally needs a little clean up with a file to get 'catch free' running (with the skate that is).

Incidentally Skates Shorting Out is not just a Peco and Trainline Issue. It can also happen with LGB R3 and R5 Points as well.
JonD
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One other advantage I can see with the Trainline R2 points (22.5 deg) (one of which I have myself) is that the track centres at 140 mm are closer together than using LGB R1 points which are 165 mm?

http://www.glendalejunction.co.uk/TrainLine45TrackPlan.html

To quote a well known supermarket chain, 'Every little helps'....
 
I had never heard of Trainline 45 before but that also looks interesting

Do the sleepers lok more realistic than the LGB ones or at they very similar ?

The bit I just read states that the trackwork is LGB compatible - is that just mechanically or cosmetically also ? Ie if you had one piece of each joined end to end would you notice the change ?
 
ThePurplePrimer said:
I had never heard of Trainline 45 before but that also looks interesting

Do the sleepers lok more realistic than the LGB ones or at they very similar ?

The bit I just read states that the trackwork is LGB compatible - is that just mechanically or cosmetically also ? Ie if you had one piece of each joined end to end would you notice the change ?
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Very similar, and in fact, you wouldn't notice the difference.

Mechanically and cosmetically virtually identical....
 
There is some difference cosmetically between brands, especially in sleeper design, shape and colour - as Gizzy says, LGB and Trainline are visually very similar, but Piko for example has a significantly different sleeper shape - more square-edged than most others. Aristocraft rail is a very different shade of brass (much "yellower" than the others), and their sleepers are black rather than the dark brown of most other makes. The rail profile is effectively identical with most code 332 makes, so they will be mechanically compatible, but note that Trainline rail joiners are shorter than LGB and others - so while the joiner on a TL45 rail will fit onto other makes, the reverse is not necessarily true - the profile will fit, but the length of, say, an LGB joiner will foul the end sleeper of the TL45 track piece. Not a problem if you're prepared to swap joiners where necessary OR to use rail clamps instead of slip-on joiners.

Out in the garden, especially when ballasted, any minor variations in sleeper design are really not noticeable - however on a small indoor layout this may not be the case - so look carefully at examples before you buy.

Jon.
 
Zerogee said:
Out in the garden, especially when ballasted, any minor variations in sleeper design are really not noticeable - however on a small indoor layout this may not be the case - so look carefully at examples before you buy.

Jon.
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On the 'real' railway, you often see different types of sleeper and rail in use, especially in stations and yards.

Think bullhead or flat bottomed rail, and wooden and various concrete or steel types.

So you could argue that it's prototypical to have mixed track?

Art imitating life....
 
For anyone that ls looking for inspiration I have attached pictures of my shunting yard. Bear in mind it normally has buildings on it.
It started out with 2 x 4 ft boards & board no 3 was a later addition. The siding at the back is behind buildings & is out of sight.
sabden 1 (Small).jpgsabden 2 (Small).jpgsabden 3 (Small).jpg
 
The 3 way point on my layout was a menace & there were derailments everytime I shunted through. The problem was the check rail wasn`t long enough (design fault). I added a small strip of brass to cure it. This was pointed out to LGB but I don`t thinkanything was done about it.
3 way (Small).jpg
 
Very nicely done. The fix for the three way points that is.
 
Love the shunting layout - thats something like I have in mind

I have another question

Accucraft track - what can you tell me about that ?

Especially interested in how the sleepers look in comparison to the LGB

Also how good is their pointwork ?
 
http://grw.trains.com/en/How%20To/Large%20Scale%20Indoors/2009/02/The%20Orla%20Mine%20Division%20of%20the%20Seath%20Valley%20Railroad.aspx

Hope the link works, this is sort of what you asked for, shunting layout point to point. There are alot of options depending how detailed or elaborate you want to get.
 
The three-way LGB points are very useful and I've used them with the 0-4-0 Playmobil tank and the 0-4-0 LGB Spremberger without problems. The photo shows the shunting/storage end of a layout I ran at a display in Scotland last month. From the buffer to the end of the first straight beyond the further three-way point is about nine feet, so there's a fair bit of room for shunting and a stub can be run off each end of each runaround to offer extra storage or just somewhere to temporarily shunt a truck during operations. There is a 15cm straight between the nearer three-way point and the buffer section.

 
That looks good Gordon. Like your nice collection of buildings too
 
ThePurplePrimer said:
Accucraft track - what can you tell me about that ?

Especially interested in how the sleepers look in comparison to the LGB

Also how good is their pointwork ?
Click to expand...

No experience of Accucraft (and not Aristocraft which is a different make) track but it is supposed to be very good.

http://www.track-shack.com/acatalog/AMS_GScale_Garden_Railway_Track.html

Made by AMS. A call to Track-shack on the IOM to the friendly chap there is probably worthwhile.

Flexitrack and 4ft radius points (roughly equivalent to LGB R3) available.

I have personally never dealt with them but I have heard favourable reports....
 
trammayo said:
That looks good Gordon. Like your nice collection of buildings too
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Thanks, Mick. It was the 5th annual Playmobil exhibition at Kirkbean in Scotland this July. (I've been over with a display for the pasyt four years.) The buildings can be disassembled so you have some customability. Here's a link to my photobucket gallery of this year's rail layout:

http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/library/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014?sort=3&page=1

My display is only one of a number covering a range of themes.
 
Today I managed to swing by Kent Garden Rail on the way to somewhere else.

A really nice shop and very helpful

I only went to take a look and had decided before I went NOT to buy anything

Somehow some Peco track was in my hand when I left the shop and my wallet was a bit lighter

Looks like I am going to build a G scale layout then doesn't it
 
ThePurplePrimer said:
Today I managed to swing by Kent Grden Rail on the way to somewhere else.

A really nice shop and very helpful

I only went to take a look and had decided before I went NOT to buy anything

Somehow some Peco track was in my hand when I left the shop and my wallet was a bit lighter

Looks like I am going to build a G scale layout then doesn't it
Click to expand...

Excellent News :) ;) ;D :D :o ??? ::)
 
playmofire said:
Thanks, Mick. It was the 5th annual Playmobil exhibition at Kirkbean in Scotland this July. (I've been over with a display for the pasyt four years.) The buildings can be disassembled so you have some customability. Here's a link to my photobucket gallery of this year's rail layout:

http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/library/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014?sort=3&page=1

My display is only one of a number covering a range of themes.
Click to expand...


Great photos. Shows what can be done with the highly varied array of Playmobil items.
 
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