Indoor shunting layout with detailed scenery

Madman said:
Great photos. Shows what can be done with the highly varied array of Playmobil items.
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Thanks, Dan. Other people were displaying a Victorian beach scene, an 18th century harbour, a country fair and an Egyptian scene, plus Walter Turner had a rail and airport layout there.
 
ThePurplePrimer said:
The pictures of the Peco track seem to suggest this is the kind of thing I could be after - it's a shame that all they offer is the standard left and right hand point - I wonder if that is limiting to me or not - the cost of the point work certainly could be
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For info Garden Railway Specialists can supply code 250 track points at different and tighter radius to Peco:

http://www.grsuk.com/GRS_45mm-C301500

Also, if necessary, you can buy code 250 to 332 rail joiners, to allow connecting to LGB track.
 
Well you have to start somewhere ...

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And for anyone interested a comparison between the LGB R1 point and the Peco G45 one ...

002.jpg
 
The ties or sleepers on the peck track appear to be spaced a bit further apart than LGB, etc. Looks nice.
 
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.
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Nice set of photos - so many different scenes! Didn't realise the buildings were modular. A good and attention grabbing set-up!
 
Thanks for the extra tips guys

Today I am shifting everything around in our converted loft - it is split into two rooms as I was going to do a OO layout but now I need to swap rooms as I need a LOT more space now

Hopefully some pics of my bare space later - wont be too exciting I am afraid
 
Going back a few posts, here`s a photo I found of a bit of layout I`ve been experimenting with.  Overall, the two boards are 8 feet long by 2 feet wide and the layout uses standard LGB points.  Nowadays, I`d use the two LGB three-way points on the central section.  Click on the pic for a bigger view.

 

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playmofire said:
Going back a few posts, here's a photo I found of a bit of layout I've been experimenting with. Overall, the two boards are 8 feet long by 2 feet wide and the layout uses standard LGB points. Nowadays, I'd use the two LGB three-way points on the central section. Click on the pic for a bigger view.

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Yes, although it isn't quite as elegant as the layout with the two three-way points. It does show how you can add extra "stubs" to the basic approach; I've added two, but you could add another two. I prefer to use that layout as part of a "round and round" layout, sometimes as a siding off that can be isolated and used for shunting or turn rounds, and sometimes as part of the main layout.
 
Well I am a little further along with trying to decide if this is viable ( sensible ? )

This is what is now my end of the converted attic. It is 16 feet long by 7 feet wide. My intention would be to have the layout only 22" wide but I might consider running it as an L shape with a small turntable feeding the L piece for loco storage ( well one is never going to be enough in the long term is it ? )

As you can see I have restricted head height at the walls but you can stand up properly in the middle. The idea would be to operate it sat down - so I will need points and uncouplers to be automated.

The trestles you can see I would use and I have plonked some Peco G45 track down on some boards I already had ( these are a total of 8 feet long by 12" wide and are just a temp job )

room1.jpg


room2.jpg


room3.jpg
 
Is that more space I spy on the other side of the room? :) ;) :D ;D
 
Here is a plan I have been fiddling with

The idea is this is a shunting and loco servicing school and at the moment it isn`t connected to the `rest of the world` by rail.

What this should allow me to do is collect a few locos - build my own rolling stock, build some scenery and buildings and then play with it all

Due to my restricted space and my like of goods rolling stock I have decided a variation of Inglenook Sidings should give me plenty of playabilty

If you don`t know what Inglenook Sidings is all about then a visit here might be in order ...
http://www.wymann.info/ShuntingPuzzles/sw-inglenook.html

I have a turntable for some loco storage ( and its fun ) and access to the steam loco servicing area ( coal, ash and water )

The spur that comes off of the curve leads to the diesel fueling area

The spur middle and centre is for storing spare rolling stock

The top right sidings are cut short as these lead to some bays for loading and unloading


Here is my track plan - its more of a schematic in so much as the exact shape of the track might not be identical but the basic plan is there


 

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I think that your plan is pretty sound and Inglenook is a great fun way to go. Just one thing concerns me, you have a Kick Back Siding. How have you planned to use this? Without a run-round it could be problematical. Either ditch it or extend the middle siding so that you can join it via another Point to the left of the 3 dead ends may be an answer. But if the siding that leads to the Kick Back is not long enough for a loco and a Wagon, then you may need to look at Chain Shunting Wagons in. Loads of fun, I had an Exhibition layout whee this was part of the Operation. Always caused a stir at Shows.
JonD
 
PaulRhB said:
Playmofire's plan looks like a typical NG station in Europe and I'd say looks better than using three way points to ;)
One advantage of the set track like LGB is you can lay it down and try it out before committing to cutting track up which flexi needs.
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Any resemblance to anything in real life is purely coincidental! I was just trying out ideas, initially using Playmobil RC track (pre my metal track days) and the idea of a double runaround struck me and then, after trying it out, the idea of stubs off. The layout in the photo with LGB track was set up while experimenting with ideas for a portable, "de-constructable" layout. This is where the three-eay points come in as they save space and nicely leave a gap at each end of the boards so that a piece of track can run over two boards at the join.

Having said that, I think you're probably right - the original in the photo does look better!
 
Dunnyrail is right - a runaround would be useful and extend flexibility in use.

If you are going to introduce scenery and buildings, where will these go? On additional baseboards presumably.

For the track, 22" wide seems a bit narrow to me; 24" (OK, only 2" more) would be better I think.
 
Just a little thought from someone who runs (live steam) on an indoor line. In your original post you mentioned realistic scenery. Speaking from personal experience (dammit), I would take a moment to work out where buildings (even if half relief), platforms, coaling bays etc. might go. Being able to shunt and enjoy the scenery is double the fun - and trying to make space after laying track can be an "interesting" activity. ::)
 
playmofire said:
Dunnyrail is right - a runaround would be useful and extend flexibility in use.

If you are going to introduce scenery and buildings, where will these go? On additional baseboards presumably.

For the track, 22" wide seems a bit narrow to me; 24" (OK, only 2" more) would be better I think.
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The difference between 22" and 24" means that the boards wont go through the loft hatch flat which I might need to be able to do later on ( I know I could tilt them but would prefer not to "
 
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