| Perhaps the oval, no matter how you extend or | | | | outside loop will automatically stopand the train on |
| alter it, appears too fixed and static for you. | | | | the inside loop will move. Fig. 4 shows an oval with |
| You can make a distorted oval, and place stations | | | | a circle inside,and two possible dead-end sidings: |
| or other buildings at the curvedportions so the | | | | This layout, without sidings, takes 22 curved |
| curves will be meaningful. See Figure 1 on the | | | | sections, 4 straight sections, 2 half-straight |
| following page: | | | | sections, and a pair of switches. The sidings |
| No real railroad curves without a reason, and you | | | | shown would add another pairof switches, 1 |
| can always make your layout morerealistic by | | | | curved, and 3 straight sections of track. |
| giving your track a good reason to curve. | | | | This layout can be varied by making the inner |
| The distorted oval, without additions, takes 16 | | | | circle into an oval. This enables you toconstruct a |
| curved sections of track and twostraight, and it | | | | crossover from the outside to the inside oval. |
| fits neatly on a 4' x 6' board. | | | | Incidentally, some manufacturers confuse the |
| Even this layout needs a siding or two for | | | | terms crossover and crossing. Across-over is a |
| interest. In Fig. 2 you have two, bothrequiring | | | | combination of switches which enables a train to |
| right-hand switches. Choose one or both. | | | | pass from onetrack to another track running |
| With the distorted oval, you can even make a | | | | parallel with it. |
| passing siding and an inside siding ortwo (only one | | | | A crossing, on the other hand, is an accessory by |
| is shown in Fig. 3 on | | | | which one track actually crossesanother--usually |
| You can actually make, from this plan, the bent | | | | at right angles--without trains being able to pass |
| oval with a passing siding, anoutside siding, and | | | | from one to theother. |
| two inside sidings, each with a short second siding | | | | The layout in Fig. 5 shows an oval within an oval, |
| attached. | | | | with a crossover between the twoovals at the |
| All layout suggestions offered so far in this | | | | bottom. It takes 22 curved sections, 3 straight, 2 |
| e-course have not even used the fullcapacity of a | | | | half-straight, and fourswitches. |
| 4' x 6' board. The full width, or close to it, can be | | | | Another variation of the broadened oval (Fig. 6) |
| taken advantage ofby adding two half-length | | | | gives you an inside curve which canbe made, |
| sections of straight track, one at each end of the | | | | through proper switching, to lead into a dead-end |
| oval. | | | | siding. Or the train canmove onto the siding |
| (Track comes in 1/2 straight sections and 1/2 | | | | directly from the outside oval. |
| curved sections.) | | | | The distorted and broadened ovals may be |
| With this broadened oval you can handle every | | | | combined with the circle to give greatvariety in a |
| layout given up to this point and agood many | | | | 4' by 6' layout, as shown in Fig. 7: |
| more. With it you can place a complete circle or | | | | You don't need to use every feature of it -- just |
| small oval within thelarge oval -- and still have | | | | choose what you wish and what youhave track |
| room for some sidings. | | | | for. |
| One advantage of this type of layout is that you | | | | Another interesting layout (Fig. 8) that looks as if |
| can operate two trains at once, evenif you have | | | | it could not fit on a 4' x 6' board |
| only one transformer. The better switches for | | | | (but can, even though there is very little room |
| S-gauge trains areequipped with small button | | | | left over) involves a complete circlewhich need |
| switches that enable you to adjust them for | | | | not involve the large oval enclosing it. |
| two-trainoperation or for regular operation. | | | | A long curved connecting line, however, lets you |
| In regular operation, current flows to all rails so | | | | send a train from the inner circle tothe outer oval. |
| that trains move no matter whattrack they are | | | | You can keep two trains rolling around both of |
| on. With two-train operation, current flows only | | | | these at once withoutinterference. |
| into the loop forwhich the switches are set and | | | | When you operate your trains on this layout, you |
| not into the loop that is cut off by the switches. | | | | will wish that you could get fromthe outer oval |
| Thus, if you have switches set for the outside | | | | back to the inner circle without backing up -- or |
| loop, any train on that loop will movebut a train on | | | | rather, in addition tobacking up, for reversing |
| the inside loop will stop. | | | | actions are always interesting in themselves. |
| When switches are changed, the train on the | | | | |