Hello everyone. I’m looking for 4x8 layout ideas. I started my first layout last year… but had to put it aside. Mind you though, at that point I only had one length of track down, so I accomplished nothing.
Recently, after gaining interest again, I reviewed my old track plan to decide its not what I really want… So now, I’m looking for some more layout ideas. I’m not really sure what I do want, perferably something with a few industries/town with room for switching and links for expansion in the future. I know its asking a lot… but I’m not really sure what I want.
Well… The BNSF, a famous 1:1 scale layout pases through our town. There is the mane lion (nee NP) and next to it a siding for the team track. There used to be sidings for some grane elevators, but those are gone now, as is the siding.
An ethanol plant was built in our town, and the plant has four tracks parallel to the mane lion. It receives grain (in grain cars) and coal (in coal cars). It ships Ethanol in tank cars and dry brewer’s yeast in hoppers, possibly the same hoppers but then they would need to be cleaned before corn or other grains could be used in them again, but most of these kinds of ares are always cleaned between ladings, and so a car cleaning plant might not be too far away.
Around the other side of the table you build “Dickinson, ND” or really any major town where the railroad changes crews on its passing freights. Actually, crews do not change at Dickinson any more, but they run all they way from Mandan to Glendive, but Dickinson is the halfway point and trains may be held here for hours before a slot appears in the inbound traffic for the release of outbound traffic.
Other industires on our little stretch of mane lion (about 40 miles) are two different grain elevators, a brick factory, terminals of the Bakken Oil Express consisting of two four track loops and looking for all the world like a model railroad layout from the air. Halliburton is building a farcking sand depot in our town, and others are building a trans shipment point between rail and truck for the needs of the oil industry. A diesel oil refinery is also being built in Dickinson, but that plans to serve western North Dakota, and does not really plan rail shipment of diesel, but who knows, they may just do that yet, especially as it will adjoin the Bakken Oil Express.
Google a map of “Richardton, ND”, look at the ariel view, and see the different rural industries along the line. Or you can pick any lenght of railroad that you like and use that as your exemplar. As for the
Are you looking for layout ideas, or track plan ideas?
A generally good layout idea is to divide the space in half and have a separate town on either side of the divider.
Another good layout idea is to cut the 4x8 space into shelves and put it around the outside of the room. Much more train space without a lot more room space consumed.
Also as the Lion is suggesting there are many really interesting prototypical situations that could be sited as good ideas for a layout. I always look to small Kansas towns for track arrangements such as Kiowa or Stafford where the Santa Fe crossed the Missouri Pacific. In addition to the grain elevator, fuel depot, lumber yard, team track, stock yard “industries”, there is the interchange with the other railroad.
If you are looking for track plan ideas, the ubiquitous 4x8 has had more plans published for it than any other size imaginable. Do you have any of the books of track plans? If you would say what you like and dislike about pre-existing ones it would help us find things in the “right direction”. What was your original track plan and what about it is not to your wanting?
Byron’s article is an excellent one, and can be summed up in one concept:the 4x8 layout is convenient, because that’s the size of a sheet of plywood. It is, howver, a very inefficient use of space. There are so many better shapes you can create with that same 32 square feet of wood.So, my layout idea for you would be to rip that sheet of plywood down the middle into two 2x8 sheets, and get creative with your layout. Trains don’t have to run in a circle.
If it’s track plans you want, you can buy books of them, and find hundreds more on the internet. If you can tell us more about what you want in your layout, we can help guide your search.
A 4x8 layout is a good way to start - it was mine and many others first layout.
Take a look at the Gateway Division’s project layouts here. These have actually been built and will give you some good ideas for a first layout. Most feature some switching - some more than others.
I also gree that you should look at Byron’s Layout Vision website. His site also describes the San Jacinto District.
And to further encourage you to consider an around the wall pt-to-pt, there is an article in the Nov ‘69 MR, “What makes an outstanding layout?” that describes a 15x39’ U-shaped layout.
Many good idea above, however, if you have limited property rights and have to stay 4x8, I would reenforce the idea of a scenic divider. I am currently only on a 4x6 with a divider, but my trains to somewhere (out of sight). My divider is not centered nor parallel to the sides, I just think it looks less obtrusive that way. On one side I have a two track siding servicing a team track on one leg and a grain dealer and fuel dealer on the other. On the other side a passing track, could have a short stub siding if I wanted.
The ends of the divider can be disguised in a number of ways. Ii use a stand of trees at one end and a rock cut at the other. Other ways include a bridge, tunnel or just going around a large building and there are other ways.
I can operate two trains, one at a time in DC. Now that I have DCC I can operate two, though it works better if I have someone to operate the second train.
Alright, thank you everyone! I’m unable to break up the the 4x8 into alternatives, as I simply do not have the room. Currently, my 4x8 piece of wood rests ontop of our pool table, thats barely used, in the middle of the room so I have access all the way around it. I’ve also thought about N scale. Its early enough to switch, but I’m mixed between HO and N scale. HO has a HUGE variety of everything, and N scale is somewhat limited (although, it is progressing fast). What does everyone think about N scale? I know 4x8 isn’t a whole lot of room, especially for an HO layout, but I’m not the biggest fan of trains running in tight ovals all the time- I find it unrealistic. Now it sounds like I’m changing thread topics… HO vs N scale? Mainly it comes down to available space, realism, and cost! Thanks again everyone!
Another vote for a scenic divider. It’s a good way to break up the layout and make it appear larger than it is. And if you have room off to the side, you could add a narrow board with a couple of staging tracks on it.
4x8 Layout 1:1 scale. (actually, it is 1 x 2 MILES!) : ) This is the terminal of the Bakken Oil Express. Both loops are now complete, each loop has four tracks. the mane lion of the BNSF passes at the bottom of the layout. The street on the right, 115th Avenue, is a gravel / dirt road choked with oil trucks bringing oil to the terminal. Locomotives here fly falgs of many different railrroads including NS and CSX. Most of the oil goes to the east coast rather than to Texas. It replaces North Sea Crude at the eastern refineries.
Lion provides an excellent clarification. The transport of oil via pipeline or rail or whatever is not a simple thing. The network is complex and oil from a particular location doesn’t necessarily go to where one would think it would. Wow, we’ve really strayed from the OP’s original query.
Yea… its not zippy at all, I tried posting back a while ago but it’s never shown up. I’ve thought about going to N scale as well… whats everyones view on N scale layouts?
