Anyone have a ho scale point-to-point?

[clayguthrie]

As I've mentioned before, I've decided 100% on ho scale for my layout due to availability locally. But i have a few options. One being a 12' x 4' oval layout and the other being a point-to-point layout about 30 foot in length and 2' wide that would wrap around my office wall and stop on either side of the door.

I'm fond of the later idea as it would give me a realistic "going somewhere" feel but it would create the issue of getting the engines turned around at each end of the layout. Anyone ever build something like this?

[BMR777]

Interesting idea. It reminds me of something I think I'll be doing with my layout. I have a circular 6 x 9 foot layout as when it was built that was all the room I had, but I'll be expanding it probably by adding on a spur for point to point and switching operations, so I can get the best of both worlds.

Maybe you can do something like that, where you have one section for continuous running and another for point to point?

[clayguthrie]

Possible. My room is 12' x 8' so a 4x anything would kill half the office immediately. I'm rededicating the room to trains and moving my work area to the living room. Interesting idea though.

[joed2323]

Its up to you but you could always stick a turntable at each end to turn the locos, depending on the era you are modeling...

[clayguthrie]

I'm modeling 90's and up. Are those still in use? They certainly would be the easiest method.

[Charles Smiley]

A pair of smaller diesels, pointing in opposite directions, and run-around tracks at both ends is how most roads handle the problem. The length of the run-around tracks determine the longest train you can run. You could use a "Y" at each end but they use a lot of space.

[montanan]

My railroad is a point to point. I didn't want to have to have a train crossing back and forth through the same scenery multiple times. I do have a fairly large space, 16x26 feet. I have a yard at each end (oops, one still to be built) with a turntable at each end. I also have 3 hidden staging tracks to simulate connecting to other railroads at each end. If I leave one of these staging tracks clear, I can run continuously. Having the track pass only one time through a scene has decreased the length of the mainline run, but being that I enjoy switching, leaves me plenty of room for towns and industries. It's a trade off. I would like to have a longer mainline run to run long passenger trains, but I do enjoy the switching. Every once in a while I may pull a 30 to 40 car freight onto the main line for a couple of laps, but short trains of around 8 to 12 cars with numerous industries to serve are the norm.

[montanan]

Originally Posted by clayguthrie

I'm modeling 90's and up. Are those still in use? They certainly would be the easiest method.

Yes, turntables are still alive and in use.

[montanan]

Here are just a few. The first is MRL in Helena, MT. Next is MRL in Livingston. This is their rebuild shop. The last shot is the Union Pacific in Cheyenne, WY. There are many others in use across the country.

[Doughless]

Originally Posted by clayguthrie

As I've mentioned before, I've decided 100% on ho scale for my layout due to availability locally. But i have a few options. One being a 12' x 4' oval layout and the other being a point-to-point layout about 30 foot in length and 2' wide that would wrap around my office wall and stop on either side of the door.

I'm fond of the later idea as it would give me a realistic "going somewhere" feel but it would create the issue of getting the engines turned around at each end of the layout. Anyone ever build something like this?

If you're modeling the 90's, you don't have to turn the engines. They simply head back with their long hood leading the way. That's a benefit diesels provide, eliminating the need for turntables, reversing loops, and wye's.

You will want to have a runaround at each end of the layout in order for the engine to "escape" the trap that's created when you pull a train to the end of the layout (trapped by the cut of cars its pulling and the layout's end). The runaround allows the engine to get in front of cars in order to pull them to oppositie end of he layout. A runaround is basically a passing siding, or aka a double ended spur.

If you're only open gap in the benchwork will be the 30 inches need for the door, many modelers build a liftout section of track and benchwork to bridge that short gap. Very common. That way, you can still operate the layout as pt-pt but have the option of just sitting back and watching the train go around the room unsupervised after you plop the liftout into place, which is something many modelers like to do too.

You've appropriately discovered that the 4 ft wide layout is not an optimum choice for your space.

Good luck.