Well I am wanting to redo the layout again. I am going to try the DCC thing out. I need to get with the times. So I was thinking maybe a decent size layout. I measured out about a 8x8. I can still play with the numbers some. I thought maybe some of you guys would have some good ideas. I model HO, and I am more a yard guy/switching guy. My wife rather have me do a layout where the train rides in a circle and not a back and forth. I don’t wanna do a lift gate, I guess do to I never did one. I think I would like a point to point if it was a good one. I really like the one Spacemouse had in his 12 x 10 layout contest. If I could come up with something like the Kintetsu Utsube Line I think I would be happy.
Can you give us a list of given’s and druthers? The vision has to come from you.
I like doing some switching. Yet, I would like to get my wife involved in this one to. She likes the train to be able to go around. I like the point to point, if its a good one. I have looked at a few websites for a point to point. Most of the are 8 ft long and like 18 in. wide. I guess the thing I don’t like about the point to point, is that you are kinda limited to 2-3 engines. Mainly if the layout is 8 ft long. I will hopefully pick out a couple I like, and lay some track down as a rough draft to see if it will work.
So an old west logging layout set in Wisconsin in the winter would be okay?
Check out my Beginner’s Guide to Layout Design. You can click to it below. Takes about 5 minutes to read.
If you don’t have the late John Armstrong’s “Track Planning for Realistic Operation”, you should buy it. After reading it, the only problem you’ll have is too many ideas you want to try.
Oh… and you’ff find that DCC rocks!
Rob, here is a plain that got me going on my new section that is 9.5 X 5. I changed it while buliding but it still the starting pont.
Then it changed to this.
With the sizes you are talking about you have room for more stagging than I have. My self, I have yet to get to the switching stage of MRRing.
Hope I was of some help.
Cuda Ken
If you truly have 8’X8’ space maybe you could consider a “doughnut” shape with a central operating area?
This would give you long mainlines on each side, reasonably broad curves for bigger locos and room for some siding and yard operating…
You might be able to do a double mainline with crossovers for meets too. Do you specifically want a shelf layout?
Thanks for the idea guys. I moved some things around in the basement, and I think I am going to do a point to point. It will probably be a 5ft straight table, into a curve. After the curve the next section will be 12ft long straight, and then into another curve. That curve go into another 5ft straight table. The curves will be 22’. The 12ft section will be alot of mainline switching and several sidings. The 5ft tables, I would like to do a lumber company on one, and a coal mine on the other table. Now the width will be about 2 ft and I will probably cut that down to about 1ft or in sections. Its going to look like a E <— with the middle piece missing. I did alot of reading and looking in the Model railroader mags for ideas. We are painting the hallway tomorrow. Gotta make a trip to Lowes and pick up some paint and new wood tomorrow.
I am sure someone will ask why not make a run around layout with that much room. I have done several of them, but for awhile, I have be turned on to the point to point.
Seems to me with that much space, a plan might be in order, with the cost at $50-100 sq/ft, it’s cheaper to make the bulk of your mistakes on paper. Still theres those that still go with the trash and rebuild school of learning.
Hi Robby P
I am thinking get a good 8x4 layout split it down the middle and add a longer plain track run.
8x4’s often lack running and scenery space which can mean some clever thinking to gain both, so care is needed not to tip the balance too far the wrong way??
I am not great at track plans but would sugest a continuose run that can be used to run in loco’s and gain milage between stations.
But have your stations and yards arranged so that it can be opperated point to point
If you do not want a lifting flap then you will have to have a duck under, OK if you are young but can be problomatic as you reach senior years.
This point is worth thinking about as a good layout will last a very long time and an even better one will grow like the Gorre and Daphited (spelling??) did.
regards John Busby
here’s an excellent 8 x 8 ho scale track plan, it shows you how to do everything. i forgot who originally linked me to this site. hope it gives you some ideas! http://www.hogrr.com/