Needing some help starting a layout from scratch. I have been out of the loop on model railroading for almost 20 years and now have 2 young boys (4,3) that are very interested in trains and thought that this may be a way to have some quality time with my boys. I know they are young but I figured never to early to start. Before that the layout I had was a small one at 6’x10’ as was DC. I really would like this layout to be DCC since that looks like the more realistic power supply.
Anyway, what info I am after is some basic general idea’s on how to get started. Room is not a problem. I have a full basement that we just use as storage and the washer and drier. I was thinking of starting off with one part of the basement that is 12’x20’. Not sure to start off small with the layout or just go all out. Thinking of going all out.
This will need to be built so I can take it apart in case of a move. So what books out there or online tutorials would be good to catch up on to help me out? I was thinking of having the layout more of a u-shape that way I would have lots of rooms on both ends for the turn around’s and a yard.
I live in the midwest and the line I have chosen is the CSX. Where this line run’s around me is very flat so I probably wont have any grade on this layout. I will probably put in a bridge or 2 but would cut out the plywood and make a stream here and there. I am sure I will have more questions later as far as track to use, electrical, and other stuff but going to take this slow and do it right.
I am assuming you are planning HO, and not N. The following does not really apply to N, but could work in 3 rail O (which would be more play value for the boys than HO).
I would suggest that something along the lines of an expanded double-track version of the Heart of Georgia (see http://home.comcast.net/~scottgperry/HOGpix/Better%20Starter%20Layout%20419%20Large.jpg) Better Beginners Layout. The original version is cut into 4 moveable sections from a single sheet of 4x8 plywood. There is a lot of good information about building the HOG at the web site. Other good sources of information on building a 1st layout would be a Kalmbach book containing some project layouts from beginning to end. Or use a Model Railroader project layout series like the 2009 Beer Line series. Finally, if you are willing to invest a little for more in-depth learning, the Kalmbach subject matter books are quire good. There is one on benchwork, one on wiring, one on scenery, etc.
With 2 young boys, I would use some of your space to widen each section of the HOG to 2ft instead of 1ft, and double-track the plan so they can both operate without interfering with each other all the time. The double track will help avoid collisions, especially if you use DCC.
Although such a layout would be moveable, please keep in mind that any layout, even a 4x8, will probably not fit unmodified in the next house. Don’t ask me how I know this. Let’s just say that being a part of Uncle Sam’s frequent relocation program has taught me a few things through bitter experience.
Thanks for the response. Yea I thought about doing a smaller layout but feel that I want to expand myself and try doing a bigger layout than what I had done in the past. I know my kids are young right now but I think in time they will appreciate what we do. I have been an HO guy all my life and I think that is the scale that I want to do.
Looking at going to my local hobby shop and see what kind of books they have and go from there, but nice to get input on some guys that know more than I do right now.
In my opinion, the HOG is not a good starting design. Jeff Wilson’s Building a Ready-to-Run Model Railroad (especially if the radii were expanded from 18in to 24in) would be an easier start, and could be expanded in to a “U” shaped layout as the kids mature. Order it here or from an ‘e-tailer’.
Alternatively, you could pick up a copy of John Armstrong’s Track Planning for Realistic Operation and build a layout based on the fundamental concepts there. Linn Wescott’s How to Build Model Railroad Benchwork is a great source on techniques. Order them here or from an ‘e-tailer’.
As you’ve determined you could go two ways - small or all out. IMO, small would be a 4x8 plywood layout. Fun, for awhile, they boys may be bored running around in circles.
I recommend checking out the Beer Line layout that MR did at the beginning of the year. Its designed as a series of modules that can be assembled in different configurations. This would be beneficial in case of a move and provide some flexibiility in the new location. You should be able to find back issues at your local library, provided they have a subscription to MR. Check it out. The series walks you through the basics of construction. You don’t have to build all the buildings exactly as shown and can change the scenery to suit you own desires.
Thanks for all the info. I will definitely check out all the books and learn from there. I think I have made the decision on a big layout. The wife and I plan on being in the house atleast until the boys go to college which will be 15 years from now, so I think big will be in.
Here is e.g. a list of questions he asks prospective clients, to help them organize their thoughts and describing what they want from their layout: http://www.layoutvision.com/id13.html
He also describes what he considers to be the four cornerstones (protoype inspiration, staging, major industries and interchange) that most layouts benefit from having: http://www.layoutvision.com/id8.html
And why a 4 x 8 is often the worst choice. Don’t trust every one on this forum.
IMHO a great pike for dad is very different from a great pike for the boys.
Going big is great, but start by designing your big empire so you can have a “phase one” operating in a year. And if you like, make a drawing of your room and post it on this forum.
102 Realistic Track Plans, is a good book to buy; it contains chapters about the design of plans also. A very compressed version of Trackplanning for Realistic Operation by John Armstrong.
Great Model Railroads and Model Railroad Planning, yearly published by MRR are great to have. They’ll give you lots of background information and even more inspiration.
for what its worth, my advice would be to skip the first two links. LDSIG will present far too much information and just confuse you. I’d find a trackplan from one of the suggested books and try to stick with it. The benefit of something like the Beer Line or a layout from start to finish book is that it will show you step by step the construction of the layout. I’d skip the SpaceMouse link because, frankly, it doesn’t tell you much and is a waste of time. His layout design concept centers around late 1800s trains which means small equipment and short trains. Completely opposite what you’ve mentioned as a CSX prototype based around today. Mostly importantly avoid analysis paralysis. As a newbiew you’re most likely to suffer this when you try to design something completely from scratch instead of going with a design from a book and making slight modifications to it to fit your space and needs.
It’s true that there’s a lot there, but if you want to dig deeper, it’s a good resource that’s fairly well organized.
I was referencing his beginner’s guide, in which just one or two paragraphs of the 4 pages covers his 1800s layout. I think the rest is a decent summary of layout design principles found in various books, principles that can be applied to modern layouts as well as old time. It’s something quick to read while waiting for access to the other books.
Well I think I have come up with a couple of things that I want on my layout. Since I am in the midwest and I work in Agriculture I think I want to stem my layout from that. I would like a pretty good size grain elevator, ethanol plant, and some modern gas station(s). So my rolling stock will consist of: hopper bottom cars, tank cars, double stack cars, and may throw in an Amtrak train also.
I will continue to look for some “blue print” layouts to get some ideas as far as running the track. It is tough to decide where to run it and layout the buildings. Just basically right now putting together what I want on it and then I will place these things then may be run the track around it.
To me it sounds like you have made a fairly clear start on what you want to do - an H0 scale layout that fits into an area that is at least 12 x 20 feet, with a modern midwestern modern CSX theme (ie Illinois/Ohio/Indiana).
It sounds like continous run is an important design criterion.
No duckunder/lift-up may or may not be an important design criterion - it sounds like you are thinking U shaped with turnback blobs at the ends more than donut with lift-out/swing gate across the entrance ?
But what are you asking us? What type of advice are you looking for?
While I agree with Silver Pilot that over-planning things (instead of just trying and seeing how things go) can cause design paralysis, I think he might be a little too quick to go (in effect) “just buy a basic book and build the project layout in that book”.
You have previous layout experience. If you don’t want to (or don’t feel like) doing a test layout, then you obviously don’t have to.
But for whatever it is worth, I would start with the link to Byron Henderson’s web page of questions he
I started in the same boat as you about 1 year ago.I have an area of 12’ x 36’ and 14’ x 18’ available to use( L shape). Going “all in” was all I could think of. I have been planning and researching alot and came up with a 32" x 8’ shelf plan that is based on the grain elevators along the Hiawatha line in Minneapolis. I decided to start small so I could see the progress.I have 2 kids, a job, other hobbys etc. It can be hard to keep going on something if you dont feel like your getting anywhere. I have just started my layout last weekend, with 2 inch foam and 1x4 pine. Screwed, glued and painted in one night. All track and switches installed and wired the next night. Went to the hobby shop today and bought a new hopper and some scenery supplies. By starting small I have been getting “into it” a lot more because I can see and plan the progress much better then having a whole basement to fill. I can easily add the small shelf into an “all in” strategy, maybe when I am retired…in 30 years.
