Hey guys, this is my first post to the forum and I am trying to build my first layout but i cannot find any plans that have a city along with a rail yard. Any recommendations? I really want this scheme for my layout but i can’t find the right plans. Thanks in advanced!!
trainman251 - Welcome to trains.com! [C):-)]
Are we talking HO scale or N scale?
Rich
HO,sorry i should have specified at first
AS richhotrain asked: What scale? Although many (pehaps most) model railroaders start out with a 4x8 HO layout. The size is very limiting in possible track layouts. With N scale more can be fit without the appearance of overcrowding but one must not over do it. A consideration which affects the scale chosen is the size of locos and cars you want to run. 4x8 HO layouts generally have 18" minimum radius curves (a few go down to 15") . This limits you to pretty much to short locos and 40’ cars. Using the same radius in N Scale allows larger prototypes to be run.
Do you want a continuous run? If you do, in 4x8 you are pretty much limited to an Oval, Figure 8, or Twice Around Oval in either scale. I have seen a few folded dogbones also. Double track is possible (so two trains could be run independently) and would give a more urban appearance but would take space from other features.
Published track plans are really just sugestions. When you look at a plan consider if it can be modified to achieve your goal. Plans for 4x8 are generally not real flexible, but it might , for instance, be possible to add a small yard either within the 4x8 space or with very little widening of the table, or on a narrow peninsula extending out from one side. Generally yard tracks can be made longer if they are along the outside of the space rather than into the middle
The scenery on the plans is a suggestion too. By adding more and possibly a few larger buildings a small town can become a city. Hills and mountains can be replaced by city scenery too.
This site has some nice starter layouts, many with urban scenery :
http://www.gatewaynmra.org/project.htm
thank you ho scale and scratch the 4x8 i just got word that i would be able to expand to 4x10
You do not mention what sources you have explored, but I would suggest the track plan data-base on this site. Look at all the back issues of MR you can get your hands on. The National Model Railroad Association has a Layout Design Group which can give you personalized assistance if you join up. (don’t rember the membership fee.) Buy sone track plan books. Look at all sizes of track plans. You might find what you want in a small portion of a gigantic layout.
Resign yourself to doing some revisions to the plan. You will not likely find a perfect plan.Don’t forget to talk to your local hobby shop. If they cannot give you any significant help, find another shop. A dedicated train shop is best for this. They may also be able to put you in touch with knowledgable model rails who could help .Check out model railroad clubs in your area for help and information.
Hope these quick thoughts are helpful. Good luck with your road!
motopac
Check out this web site.
Lots of track diagrams for smaller layouts.
Spend some time looking through it and you may find something of interest.
Rich
There are many possible approaches here.
You are saying youy want a H0 scale layout on a 4x8 foot table, with a “yard” and a “city”.
There are three challenges her in your request:
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The choice of a rectangular 4x8 foot table for the layout
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What you mean by yard, and
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What you mean by city
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The stereotypical H0 scale layout with a loop of track on a rectangular 4x8 foot table has several challenges in terms of fitting in a track plan onto the table, and in terms of how much layout facilities you get relative to how much floor space you use for the layout and adjoining walk-around aisles.
Some people feel it is too early to introduce these concepts to a beginner, others (including me) feel that it is worth telling people about these challenges early - and then letting them decide for themselves whether they still want to do the 4x8 foot thing, or whether they are able to learn from the experiences others have made about the 4x8 foot footprint.
Follow this link to learn more about challenges with the 4x8 foot approach, and to see some alternative approaches : http://www.layoutvision.com/id28.html
A good way to determine whether the 4x8 foot footprint is good for your purposes or not is to measure and describe the entire room you intend to have your layout in, and describe how you want to fit the layout into the room.
Surprisingly often (but not always), using a different footprint can fit in a lot more layout in the same space, while negating some of the challenges the 4x8 foot format has.
For instance, in my basement I have a room too small (it is 6.5 x 11.5 feet big - just under 75 square feet) for the traditional 8 x 10 foot space a 4x8 foot layout with 2 foot wide aisles on three sides need.
By doing a dou
4’X10’ much more do able for a city but I would recommend a, diagonal double sided scenic divider of some sort breaking it into at least two scenes or re-arranging the shape if you can to get the same effect.
One side being CBD and residential the other being the industry/industries that the city started from and the once grand now less well heeled side of the city.
Giving more scenic scope and also more operational interest.
Remember there is more to the city than just suburban trains flying about the place.and sky scrapers
Even though the sky scrapers and other tallish buildings will be your mountains and valleys
I have yet to see decent representations of those available as kits they all seem a bit short. you might have to make or bash a few of those to get the drama and enough of them for it to work.
As to a track plan cannot help much but given the city theme it is going to be at least a double main line and coach / rail car yard and at least a couple of passenger stops for the trains.
Hope you find what you want.
regards John
Where is your 4x10 going to go? If its in a dedicated room then a around the wall layout might be better suited. You would be surprised how many new modellers don’t think of that idea first.
If you have the choice, adding 1 foot to the width will often be more helpful than adding to the length. That is because it allows you to have a broader minimum radius, which will help with longer models and make things more reliable overall.
5X9 and 5X10 are better sizes for an HO “island” style layout. But as others have pointed out, an island style layout is rarely the best fit to a room or the best choice for moving the layout to a new space.
Best of luck.
Byron
The Kalmbach book “48 Top-notch Track Plans” contains two city layouts.
One is a 4 by layout, using Atlas snap-Track, with both passenger and freight operation; the other one is a 5 by 9 layout called the BTR RR, BTR standing for “Break The Rules”. It is a somewhat unusual layout, which certainly has its appeal.
Both are worth having a look at, if only for food for thought.
I suggest that you read John Pryke’s Building City Scenery for Your Model Railroad (found here at decent price; no longer available online from Kalmbach).
Also, buildings can be creatively combined to create a double sided backdrop/divider.
Some additional thoughts…
One could always elevate the city section above the yard and other tracks, thus allowing a contiuous run loop or staging to be hidden under the city section. A number of track plans in the data base and layouts in articles use this approach.