Adopting Viaduct Tracks to Narrow Spaces

Viaduct tracks, especially double viaduct tracks are hard to adapt to narrow layouts of 30 inches or so wide. The smallest radius Tomix viaduct curves, the Tomix 1161 C317-280 in a 180 degree curve almost runs the whole width of a 30 inch table.

You can use a single track viaduct, but one of the great sights that sets Japanese model trains apart is trains passing up above the streets on elevated viaduct tracks.

Tomix elevated track on an earlier version of my layout.

After creating my current 30 x 60 inch layout I set out to see if I could fulfill my long unfulfilled desire to have a truss bridge across my train layout along with viaduct track. The issue has been the narrow width of my layout tables which were created for another purpose but are about as big as I can go in an apartment.

I have found that by using a single C317-280 45 degree curve sends the tracks across the table at a far more realistic angle than a sharp 180 degree curve at the end of a table.

Realistic viaduct curves for narrow layout tables.

There are several options for the S140 straight viaduct sections in this example. I used the Tomix 3052 double track bridge, but you could also choose any of these:

1061- S140 double track viaduct straight
1066- S140 double track concrete viaduct straight
3051- S140 double track bridge (blue)
3053- S140 double track bridge (yellow)
4047- Overhead railway station with store (with 3062 Viaduct 140-55.5 as a track base)

Another option is to use a 3068 double track girder bridge set which allows you to use stock Tomix track. Two or more 3068 girder bridges would allow you to add 1247 double crossover to the viaduct tracks or a single track crossover could be created with two N-PR(L) 541-15 switches.

To just to see how narrow you could make this layout I created a simple double track preliminary plan that downsizes this track arrangement to a space as narrow as 26 inches. The concept plan below requires a space 26 x 96 inches, which is four inches narrower than my tables. Its not a completed track plan as grades still have to be established to link the viaduct track with the surface track (and I don`t anticipate having the time to do this for some time). Additional track could be added to make a more interesting layout.

Many Japanese trains would be right at home on curves like these, but they are too tight for realistic Shinkansen operation. Shinkansen trains on tight curves like these may take on the appearance of a toy train.

If you reduced the number viaduct straights you may be able to use an even narrower table, but I haven`t worked out this or the return curves in the figure eight.

The curves are C243 and C280. The track pieces needed are:

Tomix Fine Track 1022(S280). Straight 280mm. 18
Tomix Fine Track 1061. Straight 140mm. (double track) (viaduct) 2
Tomix Fine Track 1099A(S33). Straight 33mm. 2
Tomix Fine Track 1099B(S18.5). Straight 18.5mm. 2
Tomix Fine Track 1121(C280-45). Curve radius 280mm, angle 45º 8
Tomix Fine Track 1124(C280-15). Curve radius 280mm, angle 15º 4
Tomix Fine Track 1125(C243-45). Curve radius 243mm, angle 45º 8
Tomix Fine Track 1143(C243-15). Curve radius 243mm, angle 15º 4
Tomix Fine Track 1161. Curve radius 280mm-317mm, angle 45º (double track) (viaduct) 2
Tomix Fine Track 3052. Straight 140mm. (double track) (bridge) (green) 3

It is possible to create a realistic double track viaduct section on a layout table as narrow as 26 inches and enjoy running trains on double track viaducts in true Japanese model railroad style.

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