One room, two track plans

One room, two track plans

By Steven Otte associate editor | May 16, 2022

| Last updated on February 19, 2026


A look at the pluses and minuses of two design approaches for a small spare bedroom

Facts & features

Name: “The Loop” City Belt Line
Scale: HO (1:87.1)
Size: 9 x 14 1/2 feet
Theme: industrial switching
Locale: Midwest
Era: 1950s-1960s
Style: around-the-walls
Mainline run: 30 feet
Minimum radius: 18″
Minimum turnout: no. 4
Maximum grade: none

Name: “The Dogbone” Canis & Ossa RR
Scale: HO (1:87.1)
Size: 9 x 14 1/2 feet
Theme: Rural branch line
Locale: Eastern seaboard
Era: 1950s-1960s
Style: walk-in
Mainline run: 48 feet
Minimum radius: 18″
Minimum turnout: no. 4
Maximum grade: 2 percent

Download a PDF of this track plan!

two track plans
“The Loop” and “The Dogbone”
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