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The layout design is going to be short lived and redesigned the next year (which I did and the flexibility actually encouraged me to not worry and just try different arrangements… it's easy to go back if needed I would have not done that with a more typical roadbed & track setup). The main argument for it was I already had some around from a previous toy train set so that did seriously reduce the cost. For example a switching yard would be much more compact using Atlas #4 turnouts than the EZ-Track ones. One obvious issue with the EZ-Track is that it severely limits what can be designed by the fixed curve shapes and the fixed segments lengths. The newer gray with nickel-silver is somewhat better, but not as good looking as the Atlas one. The old black plastic EZ-Track is simply awful. The only issue with EZ-Track is the #4 turnouts with an 18" radius. For the small amount of track required here, the cost difference wasn't much since I already had some track around. It did add quite a few constraints on the design that can be achieved. DesignĪfter some deliberation, I opted to use Bachmann EZ-Track segments rather than laying out flex track. It's targeted towards the serious layout construction and the findings will apply to any scale and any kind of layout.
Creating a mountain in anyrail 6 how to#
The book is simply fantastic and explains tons of things on how to design something beyond the obvious oval track. Your local library probably has it and you can find many copies on Amazon or eBay. Preliminary reading: if you ever want to design a layout, even a not serious one, grab a copy of Track Planning for Realistic Operation: Prototype Railroad Concepts for Your Model Railroad by John Armstrong. As an additional constraint, my plan was to change the layout in maybe a year or two.My main motivation was to play with automation so building the layout had to be fairly quick yet give something that is not too shabby.That will be discussed in another article. Use arduinos to perform turnouts control and train controls.Could I figure something in between and give it more of a "toy" appearance? Very often layouts are either pretty bare - trains merely running on top of plywood - or with extensive scenery.How to fit 2 ovals in the allocated surface and still have an elevation track?.The working space I have is rather limited, in this case a 4"x10" rectangular area.Must go deeper…Ĭonsequently defining constraints and designing something that fits within the constraints was a core part of the project by itself. In my view, trains are toys and the layout is a toy in itself, which is then used to play with other toys. I'm not spending 10 years or even 2 years finishing the layout and the scenery.Cars and engines will go in and out of a box as needed. I do not want a simple vanilla plywood board.I don't want to build a masterpiece that nobody but me will see. That's what train clubs are best for, in my opinion. I do not focus on the realistic aspect of a model train layout at home: I don't run prototype, I don't build extensive scenery.If you don't know your limits, how can you reach them? Here where my non-goals: Occasionally run a train to make sure it behaves properly before I bring it to the train club.īut more importantly, what are my non-goals? Non-goals are where you draw the line, what you do not want to end up doing.Trying new decoders, matching locomotive speeds.A place to experiment with Arduino-based electronics and automation.My goal was to have a test track and a place to experiment with a variety of things. When I start on a project, I make it a habit of identifying the goals and, most important, the non-goals. Well, this is my version of "the least that provides the most" to me. Start small, "less is more" as the old saying says. There's also an excellent video on TrainMastersTV which explains why having the largest layout around isn't always a good idea. You can find plenty of amazingly realistic scenery in magazines and myriads of guides on how to achieve that. Typically, people create a train layout to either focus on scenery or run trains and the goal is often to be as realistic as possible - what is called "prototypal" in the jargon. This describes how I designed and built the second iteration of it. I have a small "layout" at home, which is actually just a glorified test track.