I was wondering i recently brought an measuring wheel and of course I took and walk around my main line track from beginning to end and it was 357 ft was wondering what is considered Small, Medium, Large then of course. EMPIRE ? i measure 357 ft. of track on the main line. is that considered what size ?
That is a good sized layout.
Many people have a small loop or two.
My layout wraps around my house, my lot is small, but I have 850 feet, although a 7 track switchyard helps.
Greg
I counted 5 foot track sections and switches at a foot. Before the 2 realignments I had about 153 feet of track. So after the 2 realignments I probably have just under 160 feet of track. A single bi-directional mainline and 2 reverse loops. And I consider my railroad small.
i have about 390ft. mainline and about 75 ft. sidings.
indoors
The Bluestone Southern Railroad is, as I consider it, a medium sized railroad and it is built for Operations…
Mainlines run Bluefield to Memphis, Bluefield to Evansville…
Branchline runs Evansville to end of line, (which was just past Addieville)…
Measurements are in the link below, however, this does not include the addition to Okawville on the bracnhline… Nor does it include any sidings, city/industrial trackage, or yards…
All these track measurements are outside…
http://www.largescalecentral.com/forums/topic/24504/bluestone-southern-trackage
My first step outdoors involved 125’ of track. I thought it was small. The RR has grown since then and is now pushing 600’ of track including the yards. I think it is medium sized now but it is big enough for me and my space.
Relative size is in the eye of the Railroader but we all have our Goldilocks zone where it is “just right” .
If we were to set guidelines perhaps…
Small is a starter set circle to 200’
Medium is 200’ to 500’
Large is 500’ to 1000’
Empire is over 1000’
wow, very nice like to keep this thread open for sizes. and post track plan with sizes.
So, if I had gone with a folded dogbone, instead of a bidirectional, single track main, I would have medium sized railroad. Gee, that’s encouraging
Jim Weingart said:
wow, very nice like to keep this thread open for sizes. and post track plan with sizes.
You asked for it Jim and here it is more or less, my track plan.
On the far right of diagram the track goes off the page and circles a round a tree on a 8’ diameter curve and reconnects back at the line below that. There has also been a change to the track at the top left side which is a mountain. The tunnel had collapsed a few years ago and was rebuilt last Spring and now includes a connecting track which forms a reverse loop OR the train can continue back onto the mainline which is a continuous run. Track powered. The main yard can be isolated with a flip of a switch and it has it’s own transformer so trains can be switched while another runs the main.
Well let’s see I have a reverse looping pike. The loops are big to disguise their purpose. The western loop forms Tucson Junction. Two 20’ tangents meet on a 30 degree angle. The depot is between two tracks at the far end.
The other reverse loop is part of the mine loading and the stub end loading track. The mine is at the top of a 2% grade, all of 4" above the rest. Just enough to give the feel of foothill railroading. My locos have small drivers and might be slow, but they are sure footed.
I came across a measuring wheel and rolled off 143’ of main line. 30’ of sidings.
Under going remodeling, going up. I have a dream to add 60’ to make a continuous run, but no money.
John
I think my current outdoor track plan is a little over 200 feet configured in three reversing loops. I consider it small compared to others in my local club. But It is also as mythical as a unicorn. Someday I might go outside and it will appear. For now it is the thing of dreams and fiction.(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-yell.gif)
Does track configuration matter? I have over 1000 feet which includes mainline, sidings, spurs, switches, etc. Its all made of 6 foot flex track, some brass some aluminum. However, it is all neatly packaged 12 sections to the box in my garage(http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-surprised.gif) So, back to my original question; does configuration matter?
I’ll crawl back under my rock now(http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)
I’d say in our hobby, anything approaching 1,000 feet is large, and the bluestone southern at over 2,500 feet would not be called medium by anyone I know ha ha!
Many people have small loops and have fun. I consider my layout small, but it has some longer runs so 850 feet does not look big to me…
It’s all relative to your experience… here in San Diego, many people have smaller layouts in their back yards, land is expensive in a resort town!
Get out in the country and more feet of track is easier to do (forgetting cost).
Greg
Dan Hilyer said:
Does track configuration matter? I have over 1000 feet which includes mainline, sidings, spurs, switches, etc. Its all made of 6 foot flex track, some brass some aluminum. However, it is all neatly packaged 12 sections to the box in my garage(http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-surprised.gif) So, back to my original question; does configuration matter?
I’ll crawl back under my rock now(http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)
Hey your ahead of me. At least your track is in your garage. My track is still on the shelf at Llagas Creek. For some reason there is a glitch with shipping it. Their excuse is that they need money, their weird that way. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-tongue-out.gif)
Devon Sinsley said:
My track is still on the shelf at Llagas Creek. For some reason there is a glitch with shipping it. Their excuse is that they need money, their weird that way. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-tongue-out.gif)
Greg Elmassian said:
Get out in the country and more feet of track is easier to do (forgetting cost).
Greg
Yea, its difficult to forget the cost though Greg.
yeah, and the converse is true, no matter how much money I throw at my back yard, it won’t take much more track.
Greg
And then there’s this crazy guy out in the desert of Arizona that is building a huge layout… Words can’t describe how big he’s planning on building this thing! I’m not sure if it will ever get done, but he’s passionate about it! He’s currently building the ‘tiny’ yellow little loop down near the bottom of this picture.
Yeah your both right, land and track work against each other in a lot of respects. Either there is not enough land to build an empire and then if you have the land to build it you can’t afford the track. . .Well then there is Vic. . .but he defies the rules.
I have had to crash back to reality. Like I am sure just about everyone getting into large scale, dreams are big. I have had to snap back to reality (yes that’s an Eminem lyric) I just have to realize this hobby will be a slow realization of my dreams. But since I love to build that isn’t a depressing thing.
I have no idea how much track I have or whether it would be considered small, medium or Large. All I know is it’s the right size for me. But, then again, it ain’t done yet…(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)
The track plans are on here: http://www.largescalecentral.com/articles/156/a-raised-road-bed-a-build-log-for-the-rgs-raised-layout
They may not be accurate since I change things as I go along, but it’ll give you a rough idea.
Interesting, a few years ago I bought a load of Lagas Creek track. Around 800’ of 6’ sections, 200’ of rail and 33 number 6 switches and a bunch of rail joiners and other parts came with the track. This is all code 250 aluminum. Back yard is close to 130’x100’ so if we get a good report from the Cardio Dr next week I hope to start on the layout shortly
Chuck