I also get the feeling you’ll be happier with something you can scenic, however small it might be. Pick a single scene that you can integrate into a full layout later and go for it. John Allen’s legendary Gorre & Daphetid started out as a 43" x 68" HO tabletop.
LOL
Here is my final suggestion. How about a layout on pulleys raised to the ceiling when not in use? LOL
Seriously, though, if you are that hard pressed for room, I think you should stick to drawing plans for future layouts when you have the space instead of frustrating yourself trying to build a layout on an 18" x 36" dresser top. The power supply alone will take up 5 percent of the available space. Add a structure or two and you pretty much run out of room to do anything with track.
Rich
Steve you nailed it on the head! Yes, I do want to practise my scenery skills and try different methods so once I can build a decent layout, it will be a masterpiece! 
And to knwo that Tony’s amazing layout started that small… well now im inspired!
Believe it or not Rich, a couple years ago, my dad and I actually thought of doing that! We dreamed a bit bigge and wanted hydraulics but my mom had to be a killjoy and so we scrapped our dream of a floating layout in the sky haha!
But ya, liek I said to steve, I do want to practise my scenery makign skills on this mini layout. True there will be minimal track, but hey… I’ll take it over nothing just so I can get my feet wet in the actual hands on work 
PS… sorry for my atrocious spelling. I am at work and my computer doesn’t ahve spell check for the web and I’m typing REALLY fast so I don’t get caught lol!
Hey, be careful! I have an excuse to be on the MR forums at work! [(-D]
Hey Steve, do you knwo of any free layout design program I can use on the web or download for free? I really don’t want to pay since mine is so small, however I would like to get my ideas down.
Atlas distributes a program called Right Track that’s free. It’s made for designing layouts with Atlas track though, so if you’re planning on using another brand, it will be only of general use to you. You can get it from http://www.atlasrr.com/righttrack.htm .
Most of the commercial track plan software makers offer limited versions of their programs for free. The demo versions might be full-featured, but don’t let you save or print; others are limited to the number of components you can use; etc. Check out http://trackplanning.com/download.htm , http://www.anyrail.com/download_en.html and http://sandiasoftware.com/demo9.htm .
Awesome thanks Steve! even if the atlas is for their own products, I just want to get the idea of how it’ll be laid out, doesn’t have to be exact at all.
And look at you Mr. Cheeky Associate Editor! Advising me to screenshot! FOR SHAME!
I’ll do it though [;)] haha!
I have no idea what you’re talking about. [swg]
There is also a program called XtrakCAD. that is free. Do a search in google and you should find it, it has a somewhat steep learning curve but is more powerful over RightTrack IMO.
I’ve been following this thread for awhile because I love small layouts. If you really are set on using HO then this layout is going to be severly limited. I tried the Righttrack software and using the code 100 track which offers the smallest turnouts in this space. I tried several different approaches but could not really make anything that would operate well in this space. Even just one small turnout in the center of this space looks like it makes all the connecting tracks to short for even one car and a small switcher to clear the points.
Since I don’t model in HO I don’t know how small a switcher loco is now a days so maybe it is possible due to my limited knowledge.
Here are some options:
-
Build this as a diorama. Operation really isn’t possible in this space on HO. Learn to build, scenic and detail on the layout for when you have more space.
-
You mentioned this is on a dresser. Can the dresser be moved so that there is an extra 6 inches on both ends? Adding an extra 12 inches and having 6 inches overhang both sides makes a big difference. The extra track will hold a small switcher loco and one car and make operating possible.
You could maybe do something with sector plates or traversers hidden inside structures(see the Carl Ardent site mentioned) to get out of the space needed for turnouts, but it still would be very limited.
- Honestly, making the switch from HO to N is the best option and choice you can make if you really are stuck with the size mentioned and what to operate a layout in the end. As a modeler who had to move from HO to N for space reasons I know the feeling but I can tell you, if you really want something you can operate, you will be more satisfied with N in
Thanks a ton for your suggestions ajkochev!
I’m decently good at picking up new software so I’ll give your suggestion a go
What if i am adding a 4 foot section of lead track that can start turnouts off the actual 18"x36" dresser area? What I am begging to think is to have it on top of my desk to store, then take it off and oeprate it in a common room like the living room or basement. I know I am going to have sever restriction in operating. I have accepted this and I think I am fine with it right now. I just want a mix between diorama where I can practice my scenery skills and a semi operating layout just so I can learn how to wire, install track ect (which I have no experience in whatsoever so its important to start learning).
I really want to stick with the HO. I do not plan on being in this room long since I’ll be out in a short time frame hopefully. Then I can build a bigger layout and add my 18"x36" section to it. If I switch to N, I will need to buy all new equipment and buildings and as a poor university student, you can understand my budget constraints
4 feet of switching lead for a 3 foot layout is way too much - you won’t be able to use all that extra length in a sensible way. But if you can add an 18-24" switching lead, then you can use that.
If you have gotten you web browser fixed, look at those 4 1/2foot track plans I posted. They all allow quite a bit of switching - including the one with just had a single (removable) lead track added.
If you haven’t gotten your browser fixed, then fix it
Smile,
Stein
There is a free program availabe that is still in the developement stage called SCARM (Simple Computer Aided Railway Modeller). http://www.scarm.info
Easy program to learn plus has the ability to view in 3D.
Btw - another resource for lots of small switching plans (in H0 or OO scale) - have a look at the track plans by Hugh Flynn (and “Shortliner” Jack Trollope) on the old (not longer being posted to) rmweb forum - see e.g. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=66&t=24472
Don’t recall any track plans being 3 feet long, but the plans show a lot of interesting ideas for small layouts.
The current RMweb forums can be found here: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/
Smile,
Stein
The 2003 issue of Model Railroad Planning was all about shelf layouts, and several of them were supposed to fit in a 3ft length. The one I liked was a shadow box plan by Iain Rice that folded up into 3ft, but was 6ft when in operation.
Carl Arendt’s micro-layout site (http://carendt.us/) has numerous plans that would fit into a 3-4ft length, sometimes less. The site is still up, although no new content has been added since Carl’s death last March. Two of my favorites from his site are Wye River City - 3ft plus 1ft cassette/switching lead - and Mower Lumber Company - 4ft x 9". I will be building adaptations of both as part of my HO/HOn3 shelf layout on parts of 3 walls in the spare bedroom.
my thoughts, your choices
Fred W
The first new update on Carl’s page after Carl’s death was posted on November 1st 2011, thanks to a volunteers who stepped in to help maintain the site in Carl’s memory: http://www.carendt.com/scrapbook/page107/[](http://www.carendt.com/scrapbook/page107/)
Updated index for the website: http://www.carendt.com/scrapbook/linkindex/index.html
Smile,
Stein
Just doodling with a pencil, a track-planning template, and a Walthers catalog last night, I was able to come up with a workable, if quite compact, engine terminal in 18" x 36". It includes a Walthers 90’ turntable on one side, a Walthers two-stall engine house on the opposite back corner, and in front, two turnouts providing two routes to the turntable and a spur for a Stewart diesel fueling rack. Since operations on this layout would support only locomotives, not cars, you’d only need a staging/switch lead cassette of one track 2’ long or less. Very workable, and a lot of possibilities for a great superdetailed scene.
I’m of a mind to work up some large-industry layouts too, but something tells me they wouldn’t have as much operating potential.
Steve that sounds pretty fantastic! I am making a Single bay engine house from Pikestuff right now, but I am sure I can adapt the track plan and use the second track as a junk gondola spur or something.
When you say lead cassette, are you talking about that lead extension that we were considering that I could store vertically? The ‘cassette’ part threw me off. I don’t know too much MRR lingo [:$]
I would love to see that engine facility layout that you did and anything else too! A small, super detailed scene would be perfect to use! If you manage to create something for a large industry too (or even a couple medium/small industries that only need 1 or 2 cars to fill their needs, I am game for that too
Thanks Steve!
Arvanlaa,You are my new inspiration. When I read your post asking for advice on a dresser top layout I looked around at my own layout and realized how fortunate I am to have an entire room in my basement to work with. As I looked over my layout, I saw how much space is just wasted. I am now commited to using every available inch of my layout and not forgetting how lucky I am! I trully hope that you are getting some great advice that will give you a layout you are proud of! Thanks for opening my eyes!
Mark.
I’d love to see your plan. Here is a quick sketch showing (to scale) a H0 scale Walthers 90’ turntable and a H0 scale Walthers two-stall enginehouse on an18" x 36" layout:
Smile,
Stein