Track Plans The captions describe the most common track pieces for a particular plan, with additional track piece sizes indicated on the plans. The track sec- tions are all standard sizes. All of the item num- bers are for E-Z Track® with nickel silver rail, gray roadbed and black ties. Some of the smaller Bachmann HO scale E-Z Track® pieces are also available with steel alloy rail, black roadbed and black ties in HO and N scales. HO scale E-Z Track®: N Scale E-Z Track®: Large Scale track: Williams by Bachmann O Gauge Track: Most of these plans are designed to provide only a mainline route with, in some cases, a rather complex branchline. You can add addi- tional track in the interior of the layout to create your own branchline, yard or industrial complex. HO SCALE “Waterlevel Line” LAYOUT For a 4 x 8-foot area HO SCALE E-Z TRACK® REQUIRED: Qty.: KEY: Item No.: Description: 13 ID 44501 18” radius curve 12 ID 44511 9” straight 20 CT 44503 22” radius curve 2 F 44514 4.50” straight 4 Q 44592 Connector Track Asst. (.75, 1.00, 1.25, 1.50 & 2” straights) 2 SG 44597 9” power terminal w/gap 5 ST 44530 one-third section 18” radius curve 1 TS 44510 9” terminal rerailer with wire 6 Z 44512 3” straight L This layout can be expanded to any length by adding matched pairs of straight track sections here. NOTE: “ID” indicates there are no identifying letters because all unmarked straight track sections are 9-inch and all unmarked curves are 18” radius and all of the unmarked right and left hand turnouts are standard 18” radius. HO SCALE “Waterlevel Line” LAYOUT For a 4 x 8-foot area HO SCALE “Waterlevel Line” LAYOUT For a 4 x 8-foot area The ess curves along the right side of this layout recreate the flow of a real railroad along a riverbank. With two power packs, two trains can operate at once. 14 HO SCALE “Express Double-Track Mainline” LAYOUT For a 5 x 9-foot area HO SCALE E-Z TRACK® REQUIRED: Qty.: KEY: Item No.: Description: 20 ID 44519 26” radius curves 10 ID 44511 9” straight 16 CT 44503 22” radius curve 1 H 44591 Hayes bumper 1 Q 44592 Connector Track Asst. (.75, 1.00, 1.25, 1.50 & 2” straights) 3 D 44513 2.25” straight 2 SG 44597 9” power terminal w/gap 1 TS 44510 9” terminal rerailer w/wire 1 Z 44512 3” straight 1 #5 44566 #5 turnout-right 1 #6CL 44575 remote #6 crossover-left 1 #6CR 44576 remote #6 crossover-right OPTIONAL E-Z Command®-controlled turnouts 1 #5 44133 #5 turnout-right 1 #6CL 44137 #6 crossover-left 1 #6CR 44138 #6 crossover-right G Rail-insulating gaps—for operating two trains with DC analog power (and for reverse loops or wyes with either DC analog power or E-Z Command® Digital) L This layout can be expanded to any length by adding matched pairs of straight track sections here. NOTE: “ID” indicates there are no identifying letters because all unmarked straight track sections are 9-inch and all unmarked curves are 18” radius and all of the unmarked right and left hand turnouts are standard 18” radius. HO SCALE “Express Double-Track Mainline” LAYOUT For a 5 x 9-foot area This layout is designed to fit on a tabletop the size of a ping-pong table. The two crossovers will require electrical gaps in the rails (at the places marked with a “G” on the plan) if you are running more than one train with analog power. HO SCALE “Express Double- Track Mainline” LAYOUT For a 5 x 9-foot area The plans are reproduced to a constant scale so, for example, an N scale plan for a 2 x 3-foot area will be illustrated at half the width and length of an HO plan for a 4 x 6-foot area. However, the plans are not intended to be engineering drawings—all are basic diagrams to provide the locations for the specific track sections so you can assemble the layout shown in the matching photograph. If you are attempting to recre- ate them with a computer program they most likely will not appear to align, but be assured that the plans were used to assemble the layouts in the photographs. 15 OPERATING TWO TRAINS WITH DC ANALOG POWER Layouts designed to operate at least two trains have the letter “G” at several locations. If you are running conventional analog DC, insulat- ing gaps must be cut in both rails at the points marked “G” and those electrically isolated sec- tions of the track (called “blocks”) connected with wires to a second or third power pack and/ or through additional on-off (SPST) switches to provide separate power to each train. If you are running the E-Z Command® digital system and locomotives with decoders, none of these gaps, wires or on-off switches are required (except the ones for the wye, mentioned above, will be needed). If you do not install the two pairs of turnouts (at “G” on the plan) that connect the inner and outer ovals, you can simply run two trains with two separate analog power packs. N SCALE “Double-Track Mainline” LAYOUT For a 2 ½ x 4-foot area This is the N scale version of the double-track HO layout. Even with broad 11.25” radius curves the layout will fit in less than 4 x 8-feet. If you have 4 x 8-feet, four pairs of straight track sections can be added at the places marked with an “L” to expand the layout 1 ½-feet. 16 N SCALE “Double-Track Mainline” LAYOUT For a 2 ½ x 4-foot area N SCALE E-Z TRACK® REQUIRED: Qty.: KEY: Item No.: Description: 18 ID 44801 11.25” radius curved 11 ID 44811 5” straight 2 ID 44861 remote turnout-left (11.25” radius) 3 ID 44862 remote turnout-right (11.25” radius) 1 H 44891 Hayes bumper 2 Q 44899 Assorted Straight Connectors (use 1.25”) 4 TC 44802 11.25” radius terminal 4 Z 44829 Assorted Short Straights (1.125, 2.25 & 4.50”) G Rail-insulating gaps—for operating two trains with DC analog power (and for reverse loops or wyes with either DC analog power or E-Z Command® Digital) L This layout can be expanded to any length by adding matched pairs of straight track sections here. NOTES: “ID” indicates there are no identifying letters because all unmarked straight track sections are item number 44811 5-inch and all unmarked curves are number 44801 11.25” radius and all of the unmarked right and left hand turnouts are standard 11.25” radius. BUILD THIS LAYOUT WITH “THE WORLD’S GREATEST HOBBY TRACK- PACK®” In addition to the track included in the item number 44896 World’s Greatest Hobby Track Pack you will also need these sections: Qty.: KEY: Item No.: Description: 2 ID 44811 5” straight 1 ID 44862 remote turnout-right (11.25” radius) 2 Q 44899 Assorted Straight Connectors (use 1.25”) 4 TC 44802 11.25” radius terminal The inner oval on this Williams by Bachmann O Gauge layout is the one supplied with most train sets. The outer diamond- shaped track provides a place to operate a second train. Two power packs will be needed, one for each loop of track. BACHMANN LARGE SCALE “Shortcut Route” LAYOUT For a 6 x 7 1/2-foot area This plan provides a double-ended siding to park extra freight or passenger cars. The siding is powered, however, so, if you want to park an entire train on the siding, the second locomotive must be removed from the track. WILLIAMS BY BACHMANN O GAUGE “Double-Track Mainline” LAYOUT For a 4 x 6 1/2-foot area WILLIAMS BY BACHMANN O GAUGE TRACK REQUIRED: Qty.: Item No.: Description: 16 00201 curved track O-27 12 00203 9 1/2” straight track O-27 or 16 00211 curved track O-31 or 12 00212 10” straight track O-31 NOTE: None of the track sections are marked on the plan because only one size curve and one size straight are used. BACHMANN LARGE SCALE “Shortcut Route” LAYOUT For a 6 x 7 1/2-foot area Qty.: Item No.: Description: 12 94501 curved track 14 94511 1’ straight 1 94351 manual turnout, left-hand 1 94352 manual turnout, right-hand NOTE: None of the track sections are marked on the plan because only one size curve, one size straight and one size turnout are used. 17 Track Plans Most of these plans are designed to provide only a mainline route with, in some cases, a rather complex branchline. You can add additional track in the interior of most of the layouts to create your own branchline, yard or industrial complex. But you will know from the start that the layout will fit the space. HO SCALE LAYOUT The “Express Line” for a 4 x 8-foot area HO SCALE E-Z TRACK® REQUIRED: Qty.: KEY: Item No.: Description: 3 NA 44511 9” straight 29 CT 44503 22” radius curve 2 H 44591 Hayes bumpers 2 HCT 44532 half-section 22” radius 1 TC 44502 18” curved terminal rerailer 2 #5 44565 #5 turnout-left 1 30º 44540 30-degree crossing L Track can be expanded to any length by adding matched pairs of straight track sections here. NOTE: “NA” indicates there are no identifying letters because all unmarked straight track sections on this plan are 9-inch. OPTIONAL E-Z Command-controlled turnouts 2 #5 44132 #5 turnout-left NOTE: There is a very small geometric error fitting a 22-inch radius figure 8 with a 30-degree crossing on a 4 x 8-foot area of about 4-de- grees or .25-degree per joint, however, in practice the layout assembles nicely with tight joints. An item number 44532 half-section 22” radius curve is needed on both halves of the figure 8s. On the lower half of this layout, two #5 turnouts (which curve at about the same angle as the item number 44532 half-section 22” radius curve) have been substituted for one of the 44503 22” radius curves. The only electrical terminal is the 44502 18” curved terminal rerailer on the stub-ended siding. There was not enough room, on a 4 x 8-panel, for a second siding on the top loop like that on the N scale plan on the page 18 so the two sidings were placed on the lower loop. You can operate this railroad as a “point-to-point” layout, (in model railroad terms), starting with a train on the curved stub-ended siding on the lower left (call the town “Centerville”) and, heading counterclockwise around the upper loop of the eight, circulate around once or twice to back into the straight stub-ended siding along the right as a second town (call it, perhaps, Lowdo). Later, pull the train out and run around another lap or so to stop and back the train into Centerville (the siding at the lower left). This figure 8 “Express Line” layout is designed for the operation of large locomotives and relatively long trains. All of the mainline curves are 22-inch radius. The layout in the photo only has the curved stub-ended siding on the lower left (the plan has a second straight stub- ended siding on the right). The second left-hand #5 turnout as shown on the plan provides far more operating possibilities. 14 HO SCALE LAYOUT “Twin Cities Railroad” (with “Interchange” Track) for a 4 x 6-foot area HO SCALE E-Z TRACK® REQUIRED: Qty.: Key: Item No.: Description: 1 30º 44540 30-degree crossing 16 NA 44501 18” radius curve 1 NA 44511 9” straight 3 NA 44561 18-inch radius turnout-left 3 NA 44562 18-inch radius turnout-right 8 CT 44503 22” radius curve 6 G Rail-insulating gaps—only for operating two trains with DC analog power 1 H 44591 Hayes bumper 1 Q 44592 Connector Track Asst. (use .75” straight) 1 TC 44502 18” curved terminal rerailer 2 TS 44510 9” terminal rerailer with wire 4 Z 44512 3” straight OPTIONAL E-Z Command®-controlled turnouts 3 NA 44130 18-inch radius turnout-left 3 NA 44131 18-inch radius turnout-right NOTES: “NA” indicates there are no identifying letters because all un- marked straight track sections are 9-inch and all unmarked curves are 18-inch radius and all of the unmarked right- and left-hand turnouts are standard 18-inch radius. L This layout can be expanded to any length by adding matched pairs of straight track sections here. If, for example, two of item number 44511 9” straights plus two of item number 44512 3” straights are inserted (the four sections total a 24” length) at each track joint marked “L” (eight straight track sections total) the layout can be expanded to fit a 4 x 8-foot panel. That extra length can also be added to the “Yard Lead Track” to make it easier to switch cars in and out of the sidings. W This layout can be expanded to any width by adding matched pairs of straight track sections here. If, for example, four of item number 44511 9” straights are inserted (the four sections total a 36” length) at each track joint marked “W” (a total of 16 of the straight 9” track sections) the layout can be expanded to a 7 x 6-foot area. S The double ess curve through the right turnout and the two sections of 18” radius curves is not recommended for longer passenger cars and locomotives because it may cause derailments. Eight-wheeled diesels and smaller steam locomotives should negotiate the ess bends without derailing, but any that do derail can enter the inner tracks through the right-hand turnout at the bottom of the plan. This view is looking up the right side of plan with “Inter- change” track beside the repainted grey item number 45237 Thomas & Friends™ Switch Tower in the lower right. A ½-inch MDF board was mounted vertically at the center of the layout to divide the layout into two halves so a completely different scene could be constructed on each half to make the layout seem larger. It was designed to be operated with walk-around control on a tether like the item number 44907 Walk-Around Companion for the E-Z Command® system. 15 HO scale E-Z Track: ® N scale E-Z Track: ® Large Scale track: Williams by Bachmann Track: The captions describe the most common track pieces for a particular plan, with additional track piece sizes indicated on the plans. All of the item numbers are for E-Z Track® with nickel silver rail, gray roadbed and black ties. Some of the smaller Bachmann HO scale E-Z Track® pieces are also available with steel alloy rail, black roadbed and black ties in HO scale. The plans are reproduced to a constant scale so, for example, an N scale plan for a 2 x 3-foot area will be illustrated at half the width and length of an HO plan for a 4 x 6-foot area. However, the plans are not intended to be engineering drawings—all are basic diagrams to provide the locations for the specific track sections so you can assemble the layout shown in the matching photograph. OPERATING TWO TRAINS WITH DC ANALOG POWER Layouts designed to operate at least two trains have the letter “G” at several locations. If you are running conventional analog DC, insulating gaps must be cut in both rails at the points marked “G” and those electrically isolated sections of the track (called “blocks”) connected with wires to a second or third power pack and/ or through additional on-off (SPST) switches to provide separate power to each train. We’ll show you how to do that in a future issue. If you are running the E-Z Command® Digital Command Control system and locomotives with decoders none of these gaps, wires or on-off switches are required. 16 BUILD THIS LAYOUT WITH “WORLD’S GREATEST HOBBY TRACK PACK®” The World’s Greatest Hobby Track Pack® is available with HO scale E-Z Track® that has steel alloy rail (item number 44497) or nickel silver rail (44596). The Track Pack includes: 9 9” straight 1 9” terminal rerailer with wire 1 9” rerailer 20 18” radius curve 2 3” straights 2 18” radius remote turnout-left 2 18” radius remote turnout-right 2 Hayes bumpers 4 switch wires (green) 1 terminal wire (red) The World’s Greatest Hobby DVD that is included with the HO scale number 44497 and 44596 World’s Greatest Hobby Track Pack is also available on YouTube http://www.greatesthobby.com/. The video has a wealth of information on building a permanent model railroad using E-Z Track®, but the video was produced several years ago before E-Z Command® and other developments in the hobby were available. The video shows the layout builders lifting large sections of assembled E-Z Track® from the layout. Avoid doing this! If you lift more than two or three pieces of joined track there is a very good chance that the stress will be carried by the rail joiners, which will loosen their grip on the rails. When you put the track back, those loose rail joiners can cause derailments and erratic electric power flow. However, you can tighten any of the loose rail joiners with needlenose pliers. The “Twin Cities Railroad” on pages 15 and 17 is a complex layout that just fits a 4 x 6-foot area and there’s a lot of track. The majority of the necessary track sections are included in the item number 44596 World’s Greatest Hobby Track Pack but you will also need the pieces of track listed below to build this layout: Qty.: Item No.: Description: 1 44561 18-inch radius turnout-left 1 44562 18-inch radius turnout-right 1 44510 9” terminal rerailer with wire 2 44512 3” straight 8 44503 22” radius curve 1 44592 Connector Track Asst. (use .75”) 1 44502 18” curved terminal rerailer 1 44513 2.25” straight 1 44540 30-degree crossing NOTE: If you want to expand the layout fill a 4 x 8-foot panel you can insert three pieces of item number 44511 9” straight track sections (six pieces in all) at the two points marked “L” on the plan. LARGE LOCOMOTIVE ALERT Please be aware that the larger HO scale steam locomotives, some 12-wheeled and larger diesels and some longer passenger cars will not operate through the 18” radius turnouts and they may even derail when moving from a straight into any 18” radius curve. Some are even too large to negotiate a #4 turnout. The Bachmann catalog identifies these locomotives with the note “Performs best on 22” curves or greater”. If you want to operate larger locomotives and passenger cars in HO scale you will need to assemble a model railroad that has at least one oval or route with 22-inch or larger radius curves and number #5 and 18” radius standard turnouts for the small and medium-size locomotives and passenger cars. In N scale some locomotives and passenger cars will derail on the “standard” switches and/ or 11.25” radius curves. These larger locomotives are identified with the note “Performs best on 19” curves or greater”. Many of the Spectrum™ series of Large Scale locomotives are designed for 8’ diameter and larger curves and they are identified with the note “Operates best on 8’ diameter curves or greater.” Some of the Williams by Bachmann O Gauge locomotives will derail on the O-27-size curves. Those large locomotives are identified in the catalog as “Navigates O-31 (or O-42, or O-72) curves”. area HO SCALE LAYOUT “Twin Cities Railroad” (with “Interchange” Track) for a 4 x 6-foot This layout is designed for the experienced model railroader who has operated long enough to understand and desire the complexities of switching operations. If this is your first layout, we would suggest you try operating on this track plan for few months before adding scenery so you really know that you enjoy this type of operation. This layout is designed so there is a separate set of yard tracks inside the mainline outer oval. Two trains can be operated, with one circulating on the mainline while the second works the sidings in the inner tracks. The ”Yard Lead Track” is just long enough to accommodate a locomotive and one car so that one car at a time can be moved in and out of the two tracks to create “inbound” (counterclockwise, in this example) and “outbound” (clockwise) trains. Those two yard tracks can serve for switching operations. The two inner curved tracks can service a single industry like a mine or they can serve two separate industries or, as suggested on the alternate plan, they can be considered a two-track freight yard. The item number 44540 30-degree crossing simulates a connec- tion with a second real railroad, with its fourth track leading off the edge of the table. That track is designed to recreate the interchange of cars and locomotives with cars and locomotives from an imaginary railroad off the tabletop. Cars destined for points beyond the layout can be removed from the layout by hand at the crossing. Cars coming in from the outside world can be put on the layout at the crossing. We will have more information on “interchange” operations in a later issue. This view is from the top, looking down the left side of the plan. 17 This figure 8 layout for N scale E-Z Track® fills a 4 x 8-foot panel. The large 19” radius curves and #4 turnouts allow the operation of the longest N scale locomotives and passenger cars. N SCALE LAYOUT The “Express Line” for a 4 x 8-foot area N SCALE E-Z TRACK® REQUIRED: Qty.: Key: Item No.: Description: 1 60-Degree 44842 60-degree crossing 14 NA 44811 5” straights 2 #4 44863 #4 turnout-left 44 CT 44804 19” radius curved track 2 H 44891 Hayes bumpers 2 Q 44899 assorted connectors (use 1.25”) 1 TS 44820 10” terminal straight NOTE: “NA” indicates there are no identifying letters because all unmarked straight track sections on this plan are 5-inch. L Track can be expanded to any length by adding matched pairs of straight track sections here. WILLIAMS O GAUGE LAYOUT “Waterlevel Line” for a 4 x 8-foot area 18 WILLIAMS O GAUGE LAYOUT “Waterlevel Line” for a 4 x 8-foot area WILLIAMS BY BACHMANN O GAUGE TRACK REQUIRED: Qty.: Item No.: Description: 14 00201 curved track O-27 12 00203 9 1/2-inch straight track O-27 OR: 14 002121 curved track O-31 12 00212 10-inch straight track O-31 NOTE: None of the track sections are marked on the plan because only one size curve and one size straight are used. WILLIAMS BY BACHMANN O GAUGE LAYOUT This double-loop “Waterlevel Line” layout will just fit on a 4 x 8-foot panel. Running clockwise, there’s a flowing right/left/right ess bend that recreates the action of the full-size trains working their way along a riverside right-of-way. BACHMANN LARGE SCALE LAYOUT “Double-Track Mainline” for a 6 x 7 1/2-foot area Qty.: Item No.: Description: 24 94501 curved track 12 94651 1’ straight NOTE: None of the track sections are marked on the plan because only one size curve and one size straight are used. BACHMANN LARGE SCALE LAYOUT “Double-Track Mainline” for a 6 x 7 1/2-foot area If you to want to operate two Large Scale trains at once, this is about the smallest-size layout you can assemble. The inner oval includes just two straight tracks like that supplied in most of Bachmann sets. The outer oval is sized to fit around the inner oval with enough clearance so the trains cannot sideswipe one another. 19 Track Plans Model railroading will expand your life in a variety of ways. You will discover that you are far more creative and imaginative than you would have believed. You will determine, for example, that you really do have space for a model rail- road. The most common model railroad layout space is 4 x 8-feet for the obvious reason that you can buy plywood or MDF board in that size HO SCALE E-Z TRACK® REQUIRED “East-West Freight” for a 4 x 8-foot area: Quantity: KEY: Part No.: Description: 26 NA 44501 18” radius curve 15 NA 44511 9” straight 2 NA 44561 18” radius turnout-left 2 NA 44561 18” radius turnout-right 1 F 44514 4.50” straight 2 H 44591 Hayes bumpers 2 TS 44510 9” terminal rerailer with wire 1 Z 44512 3” straight OPTIONAL E-Z Command-controlled turnouts 2 NA 44130 18-inch radius turnout-left 2 NA 44131 18-inch radius turnout-right NOTE: “NA” indicates there are no identifying letters because all unmarked straight track sections are 9-inch, all unmarked curves are 18-inch radius and all of the unmarked right- and left-hand turnouts are standard 18-inch radius. and have a one-piece model railroad. You can store the 4 x 8 under the bed, lean it against the wall, or make it semi-permanent by resting it on a couple of card tables. For this issue we offer plans for a 4 x 8-foot empire in HO scale and, if you are modeling in O gauge, there is just enough space to keep the excitement flowing with Williams by Bachmann O scale track and trains. You can, in fact, just squeeze Large Scale onto that 4 x 8-foot panel. There are plans for 2 1/2 x 4-foot N scale layouts on pages 9 and 10. continued on page 15 HO SCALE LAYOUT “East-West Freight” for a 4 x 8-foot area: This double-track mainline layout has just two single stub-ended sidings but you could add two or three more. The layout is designed so you can run two trains with separate power packs and there is no track connection between the inner and outer ovals. If you install pairs of turnouts to create crossovers from the inner to the outer oval you will also have to cut some electrical-insulation gaps in the rails, install additional wiring and connect on-off switches if you are using analog DC control. This layout can be expanded into the more complex version shown on the next page with those crossovers, but with or without the 2 x 3-foot extension. 13 BUILD THE HO SCALE “EAST-WEST FREIGHT” LAYOUT ON PAGE 13 WITH THE WORLD’S GREATEST HOBBY TRACK PACK® The World’s Greatest Hobby Track Pack is available with HO scale track that has steel alloy rail (item number 44497) or nickel silver rail (44596). The Track Pack includes: 9 9” straight 1 9” terminal rerailer with wire 1 9” rerailer 20 18” radius curve 2 3” straight 2 18” radius remote turnout-left 2 18” radius remote turnout-right 2 Hayes bumpers 4 switch wires (green) 1 terminal wire (red) There are almost enough track sections included in the World’s Greatest Hobby Track Pack to build this layout. However, the layout will require the few additional track sections listed (with nickel silver item numbers) below. Remember, though, that you will likely have some 9-inch straights and 18-inch radius curves from your original train set. HO SCALE E-Z TRACK REQUIRED: Quantity: KEY: Item No.: Description: 7 NA 44501 18” radius curve 5 NA 44511 9” straight 1 TS 44510 9” terminal rerailer with wire T he World’s Greatest Hobby DVD that is included with the HO scale item number 44596 World’s Greatest Hobby Track Pack is also available on YouTube http://www.greatesthobby. com/. The video has a wealth of information on building a permanent model railroad using E-Z Track®, but the video was produced several years ago before E-Z Command® and other develop- ments in the hobby were available. 14 HO SCALE LAYOUT The “Burlington Route” For a 4 x 8-foot plus 2 x 3-foot area: This layout was built on a 4 x 8-foot tabletop with a 2 x 3-foot exten- sion in the upper left. The layout is more complex than it appears from just viewing the plan. All of the curves and all of the turnouts are 18-inch radius, so only smaller locomotives can be operated even on the outer oval. The closed-triangular track configuration in the upper left is a “wye” for reversing locomotives that requires special wiring and an additional power pack or a special DPDT (Double-Pole, Double-Throw) toggle switch wired to reverse the electrical current. The item number 44597 9” power terminal w/gap track will avoid short circuits but, without the special wiring, no conventional analog locomotive can be easily reversed. If you are using the E-Z Command digital system, however, the item number 44912 Automatic Reverse Loop Module can be connected to the tracks in the wye and any digital locomotive can then be reversed. You also have the option of not adding that 2 x 3-foot extension which would produce a layout similar to the one on the fol- lowing page that does not have that reversing wye track configuration. HO SCALE E-Z TRACK® REQUIRED: Qty.: KEY: Item No.: Description: 28 NA 44501 18” radius curve 8 NA 44511 9” straight 6 NA 44561 18-inch radius turnout-left 10 NA 44561 18-inch radius turnout- right 1 F 44514 4.50” straight 4 H 44591 Hayes bumpers 3 Q 44592 Connector Track Asst. (use 1.50 straight) 4 TC 44502 18” curved terminal rerailer 1 TS 44510 9” terminal rerailer with wire 12 Z 44512 3” straight OPTIONAL E-Z Command®-controlled turnouts 6 NA 44130 18-inch radius turnout-left 10 NA 44131 18-inch radius turnout-right NOTE: “NA” indicates there are no identifying letters because all unmarked straight track sections are 9-inch and all unmarked curves are 18-inch radius and all of the unmarked right- and left-hand turnouts are standard 18-inch radius. NOTE: This layout is designed to operate at least two trains. If you are running conventional analog DC, insulating gaps must be cut in both rails at the points marked “G” and those electrically isolated sections of the track (called “blocks”) connected with wires to a second or third power pack and/or through additional on-off (SPST) switches to provide separate power to each train. We’ll show you how to do that in a future issue. If you are running the E-Z Command® digital system control and locomotives with decoders none of these gaps, wires or on-off switches are required---except the ones for the wye (mentioned above)---will be needed. If you do not install the two pairs of turnouts (at “G” on the plan) that connect the inner and outer ovals, you can simply run two trains with two separate analog power packs. HO scale E-Z Track: © N scale E-Z Track: © Large Scale track: Williams by Bachmann Track: ABOUT THE TRACK PLANS Most of these plans are designed to provide only a mainline route with, in some cases, a rather complex branchline. You can add addi- tional track in the interior of the layout to create your own branchline, yard or industrial complex. But you will know from the start that the layout will fit the space. The plans are reproduced to a constant scale so, for example, an N scale plan for a 2 x 3-foot area will be illustrated at half the width and length of an HO plan for a 4 x 6-foot area. However, the plans are not intended to be engineering drawings—all are basic diagrams BUILD THIS HO SCALE LAYOUT WITH THE “WORLD’S GREATEST HOBBY TRACK PACK®” This is one of most complex layouts you can squeeze into 4 x 8-feet (plus that 2 x 3-foot extension) and there’s a lot of track. The majority of the necessary track sections are included in the World’s Greatest Hobby Track Pack but you will need 10 more turnouts and a few dozen pieces of track, in addition to the 9-inch straights and 18-inch radius curves from your original train set. Qty.: KEY: Item No.: Description: 8 NA 44501 18” radius curve 5 NA 44511 9” straight 2 NA 44561 18” radius turnout-left 8 NA 44561 18” radius turnout-right 1 F 44514 4.50” straight 2 H 44591 Hayes bumpers 2 Q 44592 Connector Track Asst. (use 1.50”) 4 TC 44502 18” curved terminal rerailer 1 TS 44510 9” terminal rerailer with wire 10 Z 44512 3” straight to provide the locations for the specific track sections so you can assemble the layout shown in the matching photograph. If you are attempt- ing to recreate them with a computer program they most likely will not appear to align, but the plans were used to assemble the layouts in the photographs. This 4 x 8-foot layout features a 2 x 3-foot extension in the upper left. 15 WILLIAMS BY BACHMANN O GAUGE TRACK REQUIRED “Double-Track Mainline” for a 4 x 8-foot area: Quantity: 16 22 Item No.: Description: 00201 curved track O-27 or 00212 curved track O-31 00203 9 1/2-inch straight track O-27 or 00212 10-inch straight track O-31 WILLIAMS BY BACHMANN O GAUGE LAYOUT “Double-Track Mainline” for a 4 x 8-foot area: This is as much O gauge track as you can squeeze onto a 4 x 8-foot tabletop. The layout is, essentially, a double-track mainline. With trains running in opposite directions the simple design provides some exciting and very realistic recreations of real railroad action. You can assemble the layout with either O-27 or O-31 track. You could, if you have the track sections, assemble one oval with O-27 and the other with O-31 track. None of the track sections are marked on the plan because only one size curve and one size straight are used. LARGE SCALE LAYOUT “Shortcut Route” for a 4 ½ x 7 ½-foot area: BACHMANN LARGE SCALE TRACK REQUIRED: Quantity: Item No.: Description: 1 94351 left hand turnout 1 94352 right hand turnout 16 94501 curved track 4 94651 1’ straight None of the track sections are marked on the plan because only one size curve, one size straight and one size turnout are used. The long stretches of tangent track give the trains enough room to stretch out before whipping through curves on this Williams by Bachmann O Gauge layout. For maximum action and realism, run the two trains in opposite directions. 16 Bachmann Large Scale locomotives and cars need lots of space, which makes them the ideal model railroad for operation on a floor. You can, however, squeeze an interesting layout in an area a bit smaller than a ping-pong tabletop. The siding provides a place to park those extra cars. If you want to run two trains at once, however, you will need a completely separate oval outside this one that could fit in a space as small as 5 1/2 x 8 1/2-feet.