Subject:
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Re: Getting diagonal track to line up properly?
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.trains
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Date:
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Mon, 11 Nov 2002 23:14:50 GMT
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Viewed:
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2762 times
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In lugnet.trains, Paul S. D'Urbano writes:
>
> I did use the compact cross-over in this other one to get this "folded"
> figure-eight to fit on my table. Notice the odd spurs I'm stuck with in
> order to funnel the track into the cross-track. Not too pretty, but it is
> the longest loop I've found for my table, in terms of time that elapses
> until the train returns to where it started.
> http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=263410
Since a couple people commented on this one I figured I'd mention that over
the weekend I came up with a "folded-figure-eight" that avoids the use of
points on the inner loop but still fits on my table:
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=272105
Unfortunately it requires one more curved track than I currently own. I
took the idea a step further and removed the last remaining switch track
(and the extra curve) which makes the layout about one straight wider.
Although it doesn't fit in the grid of baseplates I use to approximate my
table, it does barely fit on my real table. (Rather I should say, the rails
fit but the ends of the sleepers hang over the edges of the table.)
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=28173
I built this one and it uses every piece of track I own, I even have to use
my switches as stand-ins for straights (I guess my scarcity of track reveals
my newbie-ness). I think this may well be the longest continuous (folded)
loop I'll be able to make for my table. I think it really enhances running
a long train like the Super Chief to extend the amount of time before the
train returns to where it started. I know Track Designer creations aren't
the flashiest MOCs in the world, but maybe this will be useful to someone
who has limited space like me and thinks watching a full Santa Fe train
going around the 4561 oval is kind of ridiculous.
I've also included some pictures there showing how the construction is
derived from a basic "pure" structure and then beat down to size by using
the fundamental ideas of the compact cross-over (1). Again, may be useful
to other newbies.
Regards,
Paul
1: A curved track is very-very close to being the same size as two
half-straights joined at 157.5 degrees (180 - 22.5). Besides being the
fundamental reason why the compact cross-over works, it also is why I'm able
to replace the two hi-lighted curves in this picture with a cross-track
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=272006
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: Getting diagonal track to line up properly?
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| Brian, (...) Couldn't agree more!!! (...) What Larry has done here works because of the fundamental idea described for the compact cross-over at the bottom of this page: (URL) you have two opposite curves joined together you can replace them with a (...) (21 years ago, 8-Nov-02, to lugnet.trains)
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