Hexagon Layout Track Plan
Since the snow has finally started flying here in New England, it felt like a perfect day to stay inside and start working on a track plan. As many of you might have seen on the website, last May I began work on a new O scale layout for the club. The original plan called for the construction of a small 8′x8′ portable layout built in four sections. The track plan was too simple with only a loop and two sidings and after much discussion among club members, I decided to expand the project and build the 12′x16′ modular layout now under construction – see the Wood River Branch blog. While I am happy with this new layout plan, the downside is that the 10 module sections of the new layout will not be able to fit in one vehicle and I need to depend on the generosity of others to move it to shows. The nice part about the original portable layout plan was it would have fit inside of my car. Which brings us to the portable track plan challenge.
Original Portable O Scale Layout Plan.
Over the last couple of weeks I’ve been enjoying the new Model Railroader back issue DVD and reading many old issues. During my browsing, I stumbled across an N scale layout in the May 1993 issue called the Trap and Garnet Ridge Railroad. The layout was designed as a hexagon and broke apart into three pieces. This got me thinking about the original idea of building a self contained, portable layout to bring to train shows which could fit into one vehicle. Borrowing on the original design, I expanded the sections a bit to make a layout with a larger 6′ x 7′ hexagon footprint which will come apart into three pieces.
Now is where I am looking for some help. Since we have so many designers in the club, I thought I’d open up the track planning to the group (or anyone reading this on the web).
The design requirements are somewhat simple:
- The layout must fit on the three sections.
- Scales allowed – O scale (2 rail), S scale (2 rail), or HO scale.
- Must be standard gauge.
- The total height of any section must be less then 10″ when disassembled for transport.
Here is a pdf and jpg of the outline of the modules along with the design requirements. If you come up with any design ideas you’d like to share, we will publish them here on the website as well as in a future issue of the club newsletter. Send a pdf or image file (jpg, tiff, png, etc) to mprrclub at gmail.
Here are a few plans I started with:
Circle City Lines (O or S scale) – Download PDF Here
Canadian Pacific Slocan Sub (O or S scale) – Download PDF Here
