Many model railroad enthusiasts set out for the holiday season, wrapping their train sets in colorful paper or already setting them up and circling them under the tree on Christmas morning. But after a while, even bright-eyed kids get tired of watching the train go round and round in an endless loop. It's a shame that that first set goes to waste when the youngster decides to move on from train sets to layouts.
Now let's take a look at how to expand a simple loop of train formation track into a 4-by-8-foot starter layout with interesting operational opportunities.
As a starting point, I chose the HO scale railchief set from Bachmann Trains. I chose this because it is a medium set with his three wagons (gondola, coal hopper and reefer) and the manufacturer offers more track components of the same type sold separately. Because it is. The technique I followed here should also work for train sets from other manufacturers such as Wm. K. Walthers.
To make sure that the track configuration I proposed actually works with the available track components, I decided to do the track planning on my computer using RailModeller Express for MacOS, a free trial version of RailModeller Pro. did. The free version allows you to create track plans with up to 50 elements. I found this to be sufficient for the 4×8 layout I suggested. RailModeller Express comes with a library of over 270 tracks and layout elements ranging in scale from Z to large scale, including narrow gauge tracks, structures, trees, vehicles, slot car parts, and even Lego tracks.
And it was nice to double check my work using the computer. Because some of the track configurations I wanted to try (like a curved passing track or an intersection between two of his opposite turnouts) were not possible with the Bachmann EZ. Track components provided. His nickel silver EZ truck with gray roadbed could have done what I was thinking, but as a premise for the experiment, I used the black roadbed and steel rail truck that comes with the set. I had to keep using it.
My goal was to upgrade the track that comes with the train set to a layout with switches, spurs, and structures that can be used by the three wagons that come with the train set. We also included a cargo shed and team truck area so owners can add a boxcar or two.
The expansion was planned in two stages to allow builders to space out track purchases. Do not nail or glue the track to the train table until Phase 2, as the end curves will move with each expansion.
I used highlighters to color code the track plan printout to make the different stages clear. The orange color indicates the original oval track that comes with this set. 12 30 degree segments of 18″ radius curve (making a perfect circle) and two 9″ straight sections (one of which is the end relayer) extending this to 36″ x 36″. 45 inch oval. (Bachmann's website calls this a 47″ x 38″ oval, but this is the outside dimension taking into account the built-in plastic subgrade. I'm talking about the centerline of the track. .)
Phase 1 is marked in green. Here we'll add left-hand turnouts (part number 44461), one on each side of the straight, to feed two spurs inside a 36″ x 54″ oval. At the top of the loop, the turnout connects to two 9-inch straight sections (No. 44411), a 3-inch section (No. 44412), and a simple industrial facilitation track termination bumper (No. 44491) . . For a large-scale industry, such spurts should come as no surprise. (This planned structure is a general one included in RailModeller, not a specific kit.) I decided to call it the Creamery, so I had a place to find the reefer car. Breweries and produce packing plants also serve the same purpose.
At the bottom, a turnout on the right (No. 44462) divides this route into a switchback, resulting in two branches. One 18-inch curved section (No. 44401), two 9-inch straight sections, one 3-inch section, and a bumper complete these trucks. Place a small engine room on the left. I added an aquarium for ornamental purposes, but since it comes with a diesel car, I think it can be omitted. Phase 1 placed the engine room on this branch instead of another industry because the other branch was too short to serve as a switchback for locomotives and wagons.
Another branch leads to the cargo hold, where almost any type of vehicle (though boxcars are most likely) can be shipped or received. To stay within the curve at this stage, I deferred adding the second straight section until the next phase.
Phase 2, The area marked in purple adds another switchback leading to two more industries on the outside of the oval. Bachmann's EZ track turnout's penetration route is 9 inches long, meaning it can be used in place of his 9-inch straight section of track. Therefore, when inserting the right-hand turnout at the top of the loop, you will need to add an additional 9-inch section at the bottom to fill the gap. The loop width is now 63 inches. Another turnout would also fit there, but that spur would make the whole layout too wide for his 4 x 8 tabletop.
Four 22.5°, 22-inch radius curved sections (No. 44403) were used for bends near the ends of the loops. The rest consists of five 9-inch straights, two 3-inch segments, and two bumpers. For the industries on these branches, I chose a pipe factory to fill empty gondolas (Taymyr would also be useful) and a small power plant to receive coal into hoppers. Also at this stage we will add another straight segment to extend the cargo hold spur and provide a car spot to act as a team track.
The most obvious omission in this track plan is the overtaking line. Trains that need to operate spurs at opposing points must run along the entire loop around the vehicle.
It's a plan What is shown is an excellent plan for a self-contained 4×8 HO scale, but those with further expansion in mind may wish to remove the pipe shop and route the line to a larger trunk line. can be turned into a connection to or an interchange with an external railway. This track plan has just begun its journey from organization to layout.
For more information about my track plans and other how-to content, please visit the Building Model Trains section of our website.
