Track Design: the Complete Book of Layout Design by Hal Carstens, Editor (1996) Paperback - Softcover

Editor Hal Carstens

9780911868883: Track Design: the Complete Book of Layout Design by Hal Carstens, Editor (1996) Paperback

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0911868887 ISBN 13: 9780911868883

Publisher: Carstens Publications, Incorporated, 1996

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The design and creation of a new model railroad layout requires lots of planning and dreaming. That dream railroad you want to build will be an expression of yourself. It will represent your idea of the ideal model railroad adapted to whatever restriction you may impose. You may opt for Lionel track, sectional track, flexible track, or even track spiked by hand to miniature wooden ties. You can model prairies, mountains, coastal areas, cities, industrial areas, or mining and logging operations. You can model any period in railroad history you like, from the pioneer days of the 1830s to heavy diesel freight operations of today, with Amtrak, VIA, and commuter operations thrown in as an extra. You can fill an entire basement or garage or you can restrict yourself to a narrow shelf in a bedroom. Model railroading has no limits... If you have a lot of equipment, economics might dictate that you stay in that scale and gauge. Certainly the time to make a change is before you start designing the new track plan. Many modelers have traded off their old equipment for something in a new scale. An HO'er with loads of read to run equipment might decide to trade it off for one On3 brass locomotive. An O gauger moving to Florida might unload his collection in favor of a smaller gauge which would take up less room in a smaller home. Some guys go to a larger scale because their eyes aren't as sharp as they used to be. There are things you'll want to consider in designing your layout. For best operation, track grades shouldn't exceed 2% and yet many model pikes have grades of 4% and more. Benchwork at about 40" suits many modelers, but others might prefer a higher "water level," while some modelers like a layout down low so they can reach over the railroad. If you're new to the hobby, try not to bite off more than you can chew. A good layout can be simple and relatively small. Softbound, 8.5x11, 72 pages, text, many photographs w/extensive captions, plans.

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