Our first railway is a simple "loop in a loop" with two very small sidings. The siding on the lower left is so small it can only handle the shortest cars. Insulate it off, and you can park a hand car there. It will also handle short cars such as ore cars. The only problem you will have is the switch machine on the lower left switch. If you have hobby skills, you might be able to trim the adjacent roadbed, move the machine or alter the machine housing. If not, replace the switch with a curve, and omit the small siding.
(3) MTH 40-1001 10 inch straight
(13) MTH 40-1002 O-31 curve
(3) MTH 40-1018 3.5 in straight
(2) MTH 40-1005 O31 lefthand switch
(2) MTH 40-1004 O31 righthand switch
(2) MTH 40-1016 5.0 in straight
(2) MTH 40-1024 track bumper
(1) MTH 40-1017 4.25 in straight
(1) MTH 30-9085 Train store
(1) MTH 30-9056 Auto Parts store
(1) MTH 30-90069 Bagel Shop(crnr)
(1) MTH 30-90070 Camera Shop(crnr)
(1) MTH 30-9006 passenger station platform
(4) MTH 30-1078 O-scale round lamp
(2) MTH 30-11012 operating crossing gate w/signal
(1) MTH 30-9033 #494 rotary beacon
(1) MTH 30-11051 AF#23772 water tower
If you cannot mitigate the switch machine but want to keep the siding, here is a variant plan. The scenery and track plan are almost identical, but the switch and siding have been moved to the upper right corner. As with the above layout, we have depicted an urban area which can host small freight or a commuter or trolley type operation. In both this and the above layout, sidings were placed so a bumper-activated car like a trolley can be reversed just by using track switches.
(3) MTH 40-1001 10 inch straight
(13) MTH 40-1002 O-31 curve
(5) MTH 40-1018 3.5 in straight
(2) MTH 40-1005 O31 lefthand switch
(2) MTH 40-1004 O31 righthand switch
(1) MTH 40-1016 5.0 in straight
(2) MTH 40-1024 track bumper
(1) MTH 40-1017 4.25 in straight
(1) MTH 30-9085 Train store
(1) MTH 30-9056 Auto Parts store
(1) MTH 30-90069 Bagel Shop(crnr)
(1) MTH 30-90070 Camera Shop(crnr)
(1) MTH 30-9006 passenger station platform
(4) MTH 30-1078 O-scale round lamp
(2) MTH 30-11012 operating crossing gate w/signal
(1) MTH 30-9033 #494 rotary beacon
(1) MTH 30-11051 AF#23772 water tower
This plan is a loop extending into a longer loop, with a matched pair of sidings. It would make for a nice trolley pike or small freight shunting operation.
(9) MTH 40-1002 O-31 curve
(3) MTH 40-1004 O31 righthand switch
(2) MTH 40-1017 4.25 in straight
(3) MTH 40-1001 10 inch straight
(1) MTH 40-1005 O31 lefthand switch
(3) MTH 40-1018 3.5 in straight
(2) MTH 40-1012 5.5 inch half straight
(2) MTH 40-1024 track bumper
(1) MTH 30-90061 Coffee Shop(ocnr)
(1) MTH 30-90092 Bicycle Shop(ocnr)
(1) MTH 30-9011 switch tower
(2) MTH 30-9006 passenger station platform
(1) MTH 30-90023 Soda Fountain crnr
(1) MTH 30-90022 Jenny Lee Bakery
(4) MTH 30-1078 O-scale round lamp
(1) MTH 30-1089-1 traffic signal
One loop with four sidings! This track plan is great for many kinds of rail operations. It is especially good for getting the most out of operating trackside accessories such as log, barrel, lumber and other "loaders."
(6) MTH 40-1001 10 inch straight
(8) MTH 40-1002 O-31 curve
(3) MTH 40-1004 O31 righthand switch
(4) MTH 40-1018 3.5 in straight
(5) MTH 40-1017 4.25 in straight
(4) MTH 40-1024 track bumper
(1) MTH 40-1005 O31 lefthand switch
(1) MTH 30-9122 AF #796 sawmill
(3) MTH 30-9006 passenger station platform
(1) MTH 30-9119 AF #787 log loader 1 1
(1) MTH 30-90037 Elk River Logging Co
With three sidings in a loop, this little railway can be applied to many themes. It is great for trackside accessories, and also for scenery. Our example includes both.
(5) MTH 40-1001 10 inch straight
(9) MTH 40-1002 O-31 curve
(2) MTH 40-1017 4.25 in straight
(2) MTH 40-1018 3.5 in straight
(3) MTH 40-1005 O31 lefthand switch
(3) MTH 40-1024 track bumper
(1) MTH 40-1022 O-31 half curve
3) MTH 30-9006 passenger station platform
(1) MTH 30-9119 AF #787 log loader
(1) MTH 30-9122 AF #796 sawmill
(1) MTH 30-9129 watchman's shanty
(1) MTH 30-9078 townhouse
(2) MTH 30-9080 townhouse
(3) MTH 30-1079 O-scale square lamp
(6) MTH 30-11034 triple park light
(1) MTH 30-11012 operating crossing gate w/signal
(2) MTH 30-11014 hiway crossing signal w/sound
(1) MTH 30-9049 #395 floodlight(silver)
This tiny point-to-point railway is for an industrial-type dockside or freight operation. There is a bisecting bumper-to-bumper line for a trolley, "gang car" or similar reversing vehicle. We have portrayed a dockside railway with a small pier.
(10) MTH 40-1001 10 inch straight
(6) MTH 40-1002 O-31 curve
(6) MTH 40-1024 track bumper
(1) MTH 40-1018 3.5 in straight
(1) MTH 40-1005 O31 lefthand switch
(1) MTH 40-1004 O31 righthand switch
(1) MTH 40-1017 4.25 in straight
(1) MTH 40-1007 45° cross
(1) MTH 40-1012 5.5 inch half straight
(3) MTH 30-9006 passenger station platform
(1) MTH 30-90024 Thomas & Sons Feeds
(1) MTH 30-9110 operating transfer dock
(1) MTH 30-90004 freight station