Track Plans

What Track to Use?

There are a few different brands of track that can be used to make portable layouts. To make portable layouts, you need a track with a roadbed and the ability to "snap" together.

I looked at Life-Like Power-Loc track (which is now Walthers Power-Loc), Kato Unitrack, Atlas Tru-Track, and Bachmann EZ Track. Comparing these, I thought Bachmann was the best of the brands. It had the most types of switches, curves, and straight pieces compared to the others. Also, I had some Bachmann track already, so I could just add to it. Over the years, I would buy a few pieces whenever I needed to add or make something new, so eventually I wound up having a nice collection.

And another thing is that Bachmann has DCC controlled switches. These are great if you're running DCC because the switches don't use wires and are very clean looking as a result. To operate the switch, it is controlled by the "accy" or accessory option on your handset. And you can program routes to control multiple switches so that they all switch at the same time for a route. So now I just buy the DCC switches when I'm buying a switch.

The following is my current inventory.

Curved Sections

18" radius, 30 deg - 21
18" radius, 15 deg - 4
18" radius, 10 deg - 4
22" radius, 22.5 deg - 19
22" radius, 11.25 deg - 4
26" radius, 18 deg - 5
33.25" radius, 18 deg - 5
33.25" radius, 6 deg - 4
35.5" radius, 18 deg - 5

Switches

Turnouts

RH DCC - 3
LH DCC - 1
RH #5 - 1
LH #5 - 1
LH #5 DCC - 1
Wye #5 - 2

Crossovers

Left crossover - 1
Right crossover - 1

All the Rest

Straight Sections

9" - 25
3" - 8
2.25" - 9

Crossings

30 degree - 1
45 degree - 1

Various

Bumpers - 4

4x8 Track Plans and Smaller

There are a lot of really good track plans out there, some in books, some in magazines, others on the internet. But to narrow it down to only track plans that fit on a 4x8 train table, the list is much smaller. It's hard to fit a nice layout on a 4x8 table. The following are some well thought-out track plans that use Bachmann track and are 4x8 or smaller.

Timesaver

The Timesaver track plan by John Allen using Bachmann track (top) and Atlas track (bottom). A lot has been written about the Timesaver as a switching puzzle game to play.

Micro Timesaver

The Micro Timesaver track plan is similar to the Timesaver and about the same size, but it uses regular left/right switches instead of the #4 Bachmann switches.

Madison Central

This is probably the best track plan for the first-timer. It has been featured many times in different publications and videos. Here is my SCARM trackplan for it.

Dusty's Layout

This track plan has several types of industry for good switching fun. Dusty posted lots of photos here on the Model Railroad Forum, showing what the finished layout looks like. This layout and others are at the SCARM website.

Mike's Small Track Plans

Mike's website has a bunch of HO layouts that fit on either a 36"x78" door or a 4x4 table. He designed using Atlas track, but you can modify them to use Bachmann. There are a lot of interesting layouts, and with each he describes the operation.

Crazy Model Trains

Crazy Model Trains has a bunch of layouts using Bachmann EZ track that you can buy, and many fit on a 4x8 sheet of plywood. There are no SCARM files, but just layout images.

Track Plans I Made Up

Because I have three passenger train sets - the Surfliner, Coaster, and Super Chief - that have cars requiring curves with radius of 22 inches or larger, I needed a track plan that would handle those trains. Plus I wanted to be able to run two trains if possible, and have a yard and one or two spurs. So lots of requirements. All had to fit on an 8x4 train table and use my existing Bachmann track. Is such a track plan possible? Here are three plans that fit the bill.

Trainyard Loop

Railyard can handle switcher locomotive. Big 22" curves for the large passenger trains. Passing siding for two trains.

Yard and Spur Loop

Two independent loops for more action. Can handle trains requiring 22" curves, like my Super Chief, Coaster, and Surfliner.

Yard and Two Spurs

Two loops with two spurs and a yard. Outside loop has 22" curves for those big passenger trains.

Fooling around with SCARM some more, I came up with a few more track plans for my Bachmann track that might work on a 4x8 train table. They are not that great quite frankly, and here are three of them I came up with.

My Original Layout

Here's my old original layout. It's possible to park a passenger train on the inside loop to pick up passengers while a freight train is going around the outside loop. Not 22" though. But be careful where they cross!

Waterlevel Western

I based this on the Atlas track plan of the Waterlevel Western which you can see on this YouTube video. They also sell the entire track kit in Atlas track, but this plan is for the Bachmann EZ track system and is a tiny bit different.

Twice Around Yard

Again, a track plan I made up that has a yard and a crossover.

Micro Layouts

Micro Layouts are another great way to go, and I might make one of these. A Micro Layout must be smaller than four square feet, so there is room to fit it in a room with very little space. Also, many of these are nicely done with great scenery and detail. It is a good option for a person with no room for a track. Pizzatopia is one such plan is you can see what can be done with such a small tiny layout. And more videos can be found at his YouTube site, including this great video showing many layouts at the 2023 Small Layout Meet.

Kraft Trains

Kraft Trains has 4x3, 6x4, and 8x4 HO scale track layouts. He uses Atlas track and has a complete listing of all the track necessary to create each track plan along with all the optional structures that go with it.

SCARM

The SCARM website is a great source for almost a hundred different track plans in HO scale. Only two are for Bachmann EZ track (one of them is Dusty's nice 4x8 layout), but the others can be useful for ideas. SCARM is a free downloadable software useful for planning a layout.

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