Hi guys, Well, it looks like I'll finally be able to actually build a lay-out for my two grandsons and I to play with. I had enough track and turn-outs to put together a small lay-out to show them that picking up and dropping off cars is more fun than watching a train go round and round.

Plans are for a 14' x  6' donut with 3 connected mains and a yard or two. Using Any-Rail and hope to post pics to get your input and suggestions for improvements.

Mike

Joe, These are some more that I came up with as variations to JDD's design. I think I even got your opposing side in.

Well the wife finally got a section of basement cleaned up and is allowing me to start building my table.  With the space she gave me. I'm leaning toward a L shape that would be against 3 walls. I have what I think could be a problem in one of the corners. That being reaching across the table into the corner. I know that it is better to use 22"R than 18"R  curves. ( I've got on loco that doesn't like 18"R curves) The method of alternating 22"R and 18"R pieces would work in the layout I'm working on. Will that help prevent possible derailments? Thanks, Morgun 30

Sorry, I know this has likely been discussed, and I did look through the first five pages on the search, but what is the best way to get a .75" piece of ez track to join with another? Thnaks

I recently posted that my wife decided to clean up part of the basement to allow me to finally set up my layout. I built and L shape table. Well, now she has decided to clean up the entire basement and wants to make it a "second" family room. She thinks that my table will take up too much space and want to confine me to one end. This may not be that bad a deal as I will have a area that would be 14' x 6' ( maybe even as much as 8' ) I told her that this would actually take more space away from her, but she doesn't see it that way. So, I could be looking at a walk-in layout. This would, as you all know, would allow for more track.

I'm thinking that at 6' wide, I should have a minimum of 28" open to move around in. This would give me two 22" wide straight sections.

Questions. Will that ( the 28" opening) be enough? And are there any suprise problems with a walk-in layout? Thanks, Morgun 30

Well, I got a table up (yes, it will need some fine tuning) and set up my track to see how it worked. Not too bad for a first attempt.

I'm building a yard and was wondering about the best way to get the most storage out of the least amount of space. I was playing around on anyrail, and it appears that using series of #4 turnouts works best. Is there a better way.

Balrog21, I looked at your update and your yard looks pretty tight. How did you construct it?
Thanks, Morgun 30

Almost two years ago, I bought a Bachmann Rail King set so I could play with my grandson. Since then, I've been blessed with a second grandson and soon I've have a third grandchild. It was clear that the little oval and two freight cars wasn't going to be enough. More cars, more track, turn-outs, more cars, more track.

Setting up on the garage or kitchen floor and having to tear it down 2 or 3 days later was getting old. I finally got the wife to throw out some junk so I could have a permanent set up in the basement. I've come up with an L shape that is 13 1/2 ft long and the other leg is 8 ft. Except for the ends, it will be about 3 ft. deep. I'm building the table in 4 sections ( and will bolt them together) as I have to work in the garage and move in to the basement. I think this will also make it easy to explain in the future. Because the two largest sections are only 5ft x 3ft. I used some 1 x 2's I had for the framework. With the bracing on the legs, they seem to be sturdy enough.

I've been reading this forum for almost two years and have gotten a lot of useful info. I have used , and will use the search feature, but may a question or two down the road. The guys at the local train store and model RR club are very willing to help also. Most of what they say goes right over my head. I'm not stupid. I'm just uneducated, but I am learning. Since I live across the river from Rock Island, IL., I have a special attachment to the RI Lines logo. My loco's and rolling stock may never correctly match for the period in history. I might not know or use the proper terminology, and I may never go from a "guy that plays with toy trains" to a true "model railroader" but the more I do with it, the deeper I get pulled into this great hobby.

I might try to post pics, but only if you promise not to laugh

Morgun 30

Does registering on this site make me a member of the model rr club, or do I need to register for that, too? And, how well do the uncoupling magnets work? Thanks

Hello to the group. Newbie with a couple questions. I bought the Rail King set in December. I got bit by the model railroading bug and have purchased about a dozen more cars, tow more locos, 6 turn-outs and extra track. I plan on an 12-14ft by 8-9 ft L shape layout. I have a problem with the speed controller and may have to replace it.

Questions 1) If I do need to replace it, would I need something with more "power" to run the train and 6-8 turns-outs?

and 2) how to fasten ez track the plywood. What did you do?

Thanks, Morgun 30

New member with a question. I've already received a lot of useful info by using the search function, but haven't found the answer to this one.

Got the rail king set in December, loco has started to make a grinding sound if speed is reduced quickly. When speed is reduced slowly, light flickers off and then on and loco surges forward briefly as if control is at full open. User fix, or ship to Bach for repair?  Thanks, Morgun