Hi guys-Merry Christmas ! I am getting ready to build my first layout in years, and my first one larger than 4X8. I want to build one to take up most of the available space provided by an extra bedroom. I have no idea what I am doing when it comes to design . I need good sources for layout designs, and need your suggestions. Thanks !
I'm in your same situation, but further down the track as they say..... First I'll ask you a few questions: 1. What are the physical constraints? Small room, large room? A lyout in the middle of the room vs. around the walls? 2. What access do you have to maintain? Closet? Window? Storage cabinets? 3. What scale are you modeling? 4. What kind of layout / scenery do you want? Flat land vs. mountains? Lots of scenery and little track or lots of track with little scenery? Is a spaghetti bolw O.K.? 5. Continuous running vs. switching? A combination of both? After numerous iterations, here's what I came up with for myself. I've got a 15' X 9.5' bedrrom with a closet that had to have access. HO scale. I wanted broad curves so I could run the largest locomotives. I like mountains. Scenery is nice, and my family would like it "done to the hilt." My first major design ended up being a spaghetti bowl with over 200 feet of main line, little switching, and all the space for scenery being covered with track. It was three levels as well, with the train looping around a mountain and crawling up one wall to get to the next level, and running under the mountain to get to the staging area. The layout was kind of horseshoe-shaped with a duck-under to get into a "lake" for maintenance access for part of the track. Full access to the closet was maintained. My last iteration is an around-the-room design with a duck-under. Access to the closet is reduced but livable. I'm down to about 160 feet of main line, but I've got a decent switchyard, and two main lines, and much more space for scenery. This design is all on one level. Multiple levels with this design would be harder, but not as needed. http://www.trainboard.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi/ubb/get_topic/f/33/t/000475.html? It's a good idea to look at other people's designs, but in the final analsis you need to design your own to match your own needs and wants. Mark in Utah
Can you do a crude or not so crude diagram of your room, where the door is and how it swings and where windows are? Why don't we take it from there. If you don't have a scanner, maybe something rough drawn using a "paint" program. Don't forget to add dimensions, and if you can a grid (usually one foot grids).
If you need help doing up a rough sketch please send me the dimensions and I will be happy to do it for you and post it. email to: grey_one@windingstream.com Are you looking for a "pre packaged track plan"? using something using sectional track? [ 24. December 2004, 15:22: Message edited by: Grey One ]
Thanks for the replies so far ! I will post measurements, and a layout of the room a.s.a.p. To answer some of your questions: 1)Ho scale 2)Combo of orbiting trains, and switching. 3)I would like to add a tunnel/mountain type run if possible. 4)I would like to have a riverfront yard, with container shipping. 5)I would also like a (separate from the above) riverfront coal terminal if possible. 6)It would be nice to have three-four mainlines Now, I know that is a TALL order, but this is the first room that I have had the entire use of, and I want to go as big as possible.
Seeing as this is a multi scale forum can you tell me what scale you are talking about? I think your best option is to look at lots and lots of model railroad mags and start a crapbook of track plan ideas. If you have a room you are modelling in, you can create a plan for your benchwork and then fit the track to the footprint. Some people draw the plan full scale on the floor of their train room , then use a plumb line to transfer the plan to a benchwork above the floor. They say it helps if you make a list of things you plan on doing: 1. Time period 2. Type of railroad, shortline branchline, heavy main etc. 3. Types of commodities you plan on shipping over the layout. 4. What part of the country is it going to be in? 5. What roadname? Freelanced?
