Some track layout ideas for Knaresborough

[playmofire]

I've been experimenting with various track layouts for the Knaresborough Playmobil display and here are six with notes for Mark's comments.

KN 1:



In many ways this is my favourite as it offers a lot of opportunities for shunting and making up of trains.  The fact that there are four arms also means the possibility of four stations.  Against these advantages, however, is that the single loop doesn't offer much interest.

KN 2:



This is KN 1 with the sidings extended to form a double oval so that two trains can run simultaneously, offering more interest to viewers.  Against this shunting and train make-up opportunities are not really possible.

KN 3:



This is a development of KN 2 by adding on two sidings which allow shunting and add more to look at.

KN 4



This is KN 3 but shortened by one track length.

KN 5:



KN 4 but with one siding taken out.  This allows space for a station to serve both the siding and the outer oval.

KN 6:



This is KN 5 with an extra siding added at the other side of the outer oval and room for a second station for "station to station" runs.  The sharp-eyed amongst you will notice that the points are upside down; this is because a left hand point is needed and I don't have a spare so I've turned a right hand point upside down for the photo.  I should be able to borrow a left hand point from a friend a few doors away.  If there's space, I think this is the best for exhibition purposes.

[Wolf Knight]

Great preperations Gordon 

[Bill Blackhurst]

Excellent track variations, Gordon! All are well laid out!

[playmofirth]

Excellent work Gordon

There are some great layout options here.  I have PMed you with specific comments.

Mark

[Tiermann]

I like KN3 the best myself. If this is up on tables then the size there will be a limiting factor.  If there is enough room on the width you could add 2 straight sections at each end to make a wider circle. It could also allow room for a small station platform between the 2 lines at the end, so passengers could move from one line to the other.

[playmofire]

Excellent work Gordon

There are some great layout options here.  I have PMed you with specific comments.

Mark

Thanks, Mark.   

[playmofire]

I like KN3 the best myself. If this is up on tables then the size there will be a limiting factor.  If there is enough room on the width you could add 2 straight sections at each end to make a wider circle. It could also allow room for a small station platform between the 2 lines at the end, so passengers could move from one line to the other.

Thanks, Tim, for that idea. 

[Giorginetto]

Excellent stuff , look forward to see more pictures of all that 

[Rasputin]

I also like #3. Kids love to watch 2 trains and if they are going in different directions it adds to the excitement. With the 2 sidings you have a nice area for storing extra cars and switching trains. On one of the sidings you could put a shop at the end for a repair display

Now on #6 you could have one of the sidings a passenger and the other a fright station  . It would be exciting to watch you try to get a long freight train from one of those sidings to the inner line while there is a high speed passenger train runs on the outer line. Oh I love a good train wreck and so do kids 

[playmofirth]

Gordon

We are exchanging PMs directly on this. 

I thought the others might be interested to see the railway in context - to know that we are looking to incorporate the trains in a 20ft x 8ft display that will also include an airport (approx 8ft x 4ft) , and a High Street with supermarket, a number of shops, a roadside cafe, hospital, firestation, police station, petrol (gas) station (see Skypurr's Kirkbean display for an idea of what it could be like.)

This means that the railway has to be in balance with the other demands on the space.  On this occasion I do not think we can go "all out".

Mark