Copyright 2001 T. Sheil & A. Sheil  All Rights Reserved

All Gauge Model Railroading Page

O-54 Layouts on a Budget

Yes, even wide radius layouts can be made to fit your budget

The wider radius of O-54 curves demanded that we use a 5' by 11' table as our base.  That's only three feet longer and one wider than a 4' by 8' board.  It might cost an extra $10.00 worth of lumber - $15 at the most.  That should not be a problem.

If you want to go no lower than 54" diameter, you need to use 72" switches.  Neither Lionel, MTH nor K-line make 54" switches at this time.  72" switches are more expensive, so we have purposely planned this layout for very gradual expansion.

Note that the switch machines on the real switches can be moved to either side of the switch.  That is not illustrated here, as our software only shows the switch machines in one mode.

Here we have our oval on a 5' by 11' surface.  A pair of switches makes a reversing track.   If you were to add them one at a time, you could have a siding until you acquire your second switch.	Add these sidings one switch at a time.  The left siding is curved. You can add a single siding to the right, and add the second later. Though we show all sidings at once, they can all be added incrementally, one at a time, as you acquire switches and track
It tales two switches to make the final set of sidings from the top.  Again, you can add one switch to make a single spur, and later buy another switch to make it a double.  Though the second switch is 72", the curve added to make the second siding is 54".  It works, since 54: and 72" curves are 16 sections to make a circle.  (42" use12 sections,  and O-31 and O27 use 8 sections of track)

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