I have a 5’ x 6’ area to work with. I would lixe to have the appearence of long trains running while keeping the trains to 15 cars or less. I am also looking for a railroad that would suit my likings. I would also like a semi-mountainous theme. Tunels and bridges would be nice to include.
Hi crakafool,
Welcome to the forum.
What scale are we talking about here? That can make a BIG difference.
Also, if you do a 5’x6’ layout you’re going to have to have access to the two long sides and one short side because there’s no way you’re going to be able to reach all the way across it for maintinance or derails. Just food for thought. See this for more on this (this is written for a 4x8, but the same issues apply): http://home.earthlink.net/~mrsvc/id28.html
Do you want continuous running, railfanning layout, operations, switching, staging, a yard, what interests you? Take a look at this site and be thinking about some of the things that interest you: http://ldsig.org/wiki/index.php/Category:Primer . This should help you formulate some real ideas.
Also, if you get a chance, pick up a copy of “Track Planning For Realistic Operation” by John Armstrong. No model railroader should be without it! It has way more then just track planning tips in it. Trust me, its some of the best money you’ll ever spend on your railroad!
Also, there are no “stupid” questions. We’re all new at some point, so don’t be afraid to ask stuff, OK?
Hope this helps!
Is 5x6 the size of the room or the layout table. If it is the size of the table, I would butt the 5’ end against the wall with aisles on the 2 6’ sides. I would have the mountain down the center as a view block with the peak near the wall. The track plan would be a basic oval, tunneling through the mountain at the end near the wall and going around the mounain on the other end. With the mountain serving as a view block, you can model two distinct locations such as a small town on one side of the mountain and a mine on the other.
If your room is only 5x6, that isn’t much to work with. That almost dictates an N-scale layout with an around the room design. Even then, it is going to be a very small operating area inside the oval. If your shelves are only 18" deep, that only leaves you a space 2x3 to stand in and operate your layout. The other option would be a switching layout but that isn’t compatable with your desire to run 15 car trains.
Sorry im looking at N Scale I already have a 62" x 42" table but im looking on a track plan to finalize on.
This is what I have now. If any changes what would I do to it? Scenery and Road name are not finalized either so Im open to any sugestions. Sorry I cant figure out how to post pictures from RTS 7.0
Posting from RTS can be a trick. If you open the file and just “save as” to your desktop you can Email it to me and I’ll be happy to post it for you. Just click on my profile and send me an Email with your address, I’ll reply to it and then you can send it to me. Once I get it I’ll do the conversions that need to be done and I’ll host it for you.
I’ve been going into the 3d view mode, then hitting ctrl-print screen keys, then opening up a paint program (mspaint under start->programs->accessories works) and pasting into a new image, then cutting out the section of the screenshot I want.
I also just ran into a feature where you can select all your track in edit mode (and other bits), hit ctrl-c to copy, then go into a paint program and paste that as well, and you get the grid lines as well.
Thats interesting.
I “save as” to my pictures as a bitmap file, then go to my pictures and open it in paint and “save as” to my pictures as a .jpg, then upload it to my host site and post it.
I think you are approaching this backwards. Your road name and location determine your scenery and industries. Your scenery and industries determine your track work. If you go the other way, what happens is you have track work with scenery and industries that don’t fit.
I would recommend you read the beginner’s guide in my signature.
The only problem I have with that is I only have a 62" x 42" area to work with. Im open to working with any roadname but i just need ont to start out with. Right now I have 2 AC4400’s in both CSX and BNSF and a BNSF SD-40-2.
You have plenty of space to work with but if you don’t think things through, you will box yourself in a corner.
For instance, I designed a NS track for myself in a slightly larger space. It meets all the requirements above. It is only 14" longer than yours. The lower section is an open space in the PA hills near an abandoned coal mine. The upper section is an interchange track and urban canyon with industrial switching.
You have to know where you are going or you are not going to end up where you want to be.
The only problem with that is I am limited to the dimentions of the table i already have built. And the layout is in a corner so it is only accessable by 2 sides unless its pulled out from the wall.
Also how did you post that layout plan I still trying to figure out how to. I have 3rd planet Cad-rail and RTS7.0 so if its with any of them let me know.
Each of those programs have a “save as”, “export”, or “print to bitmap” function. Once you’ve created a bitmap, convert it to a reasonable sized .jpg and put it somewhere on the net. Then use the image function and insert the images URL.
Now you need to stop seeing your limitations and look at your possibilities. You have plenty of space to have a nice layout. You have the equivalent of a 7 x 12 HO layout and most people are limited to a 4 x 8 or smaller.
Now if you haven’t done so, read my beginner’s guide and start putting together your vision. Without a vision you’ll never be happy with your layout. The best design someone else comes up with will be their vision and won’t make you happy.
Do your homework. This is the only chance you get to plan.
OK thankyou for the help with thoes programs. The only problem with not looking at my limitations is that I only have a 62"x42" area to work with I cant go any bigger. When I built the table I built it as big as I could.
I have read your guide and believe it will be very helpful. Im just looking to have my layout plan reviewed and I am looking for any sugestions in a roadname because I am still undecided.
There is not one person in model railroading that doesn’t want more space, and compared to many, you have monster space.
Picking your road name is important.
Your Road Name determines you location possibilities.
Your location determines your terrain, scenery, and industries.
Your industries are limited by available models.
Your available models determine your trackwork needs, access roads, support structures, etc.
You make a layout plan based upon your trackwork needs.
If you draw the plan before you determine your road name, location, scenery, industries, etc. you are in for a lot of grief. Sure you can jot down a few ideas. But eventually you to plan from the beginning. Otherwise the chance of boxing yourself into a corner where nothing really works is high.
OK, I have crakafool101’s plan for you to see. (His plan, not mine)
Some of my thoughts… is the layout on wheels? If not, reaching to the back could be an issue for maintinance or derails.
You have a lot of action in a very tight area. An urban scene would play to the strengths of this plan and look very natural.
The small runaround area in the bottom right could double as an interchange area with an off site RR to give you that “outside world” connection.
On the small spur in the lower left I’d add a turntable and modest engine servicing area. Turntables are still in use today in many places, so diesels and turntables do mix. Also, without one you have no way to turn a loco.
All in all, a very nice little plan. I like it. It has a lot to offer.
Thanks for posting it. The table itself is light enough that I can crawl under it and lift it with my arms so thats not a problem when it comes to moving it. I like your idea of the turnable, I originaly wnated to include one but I didnt think I could, I guese I thought wrong. I was planning on a Urban/City sceen so that will work out. Do you have any sugestions on the era? Im still open to any ideas about that. Also what kind of fleat would I have with this layout?
Thanks again, Zack
As to the era, what interests you?
Whatever it is, it’ll have to be small.
So,…do you like steam or diesel?
Steam could be a small 2-6-0 or smaller, and diesel could be a VO1000 or something smaller.
The real question is, which one speaks to you?
Also, do you like the 30’s, 50’s, 70’s, the latest in scenery, or something else?
What do you think of when you think of your favorite trains?
Wheels would be a better idea, lifting is going to cause more derailments and put more stress on anything loose on the layout.
Asking us to decide what is right for you on your layout guarantees that it will not be what you want. It’s time for you to step up to the plate and make your own decision about what you like. Take all the time you need, but it has to be your choice. We can’t know what you like. We don’t know your favorite colors, we don’t know your favorite time of year, your favorite time in history, or even whether you like steam or diesel. You have to decide if you want a common road name or an obscure one.
Phil does nice layouts and can give you good ideas, but if you want a good layout for you, you have to figure out what you want. He can’t know that. No one can. Believe me, if I came up with a plan for that space, it would be totally different. Not better. Just my style, not Phil’s. Would you like mine better. Who knows. Until you figure out who you are as a model railroader, we’re just blowing butt-smoke on the wind.
In other words, you have to do your own homework. Do you really want us to tell you what we like so you can invest $1000-$2000 and a year or two of your life into something only to find that you like something else.
Is it really your plan to have a bunch of people invest time in drawing something up to tell you what they think you want, then tell you what road name is best for you. You want us to pick the structures? Tell you where to buy them?
You need to get a vision. You need to see your railroad in your head. You need to see yourself running it. We can’t do that.
Do your homework. This is your layout.
I Would like to go with a modern roster with a fall to winter setting. My main question would be what kind of locomotives would I have in my fleet? Like I said I would like an Urban/City theme but I am knew to the hobby so what kind of Industries would I include. This being my first layout It is just a learning experience for me. Later I plan to build a larger, better layout. Anyways I would like some sugestions I will be making the final decisions Spacemouse so It will be my layout but im looking for some help to get started.
I know it seems like I’m busting your chops, but you have to make the decisions.
Unfortunately, the locos in your fleet depend upon which road you pick and what you are having them do. Likewise, the industries depend upon which city you pick.
You may have do do some research. We all did. Dig around on the Internet. Look at pictures of other people’s layouts. Go to http://www.railimages.com. There are thousands of layouts displayed there. Find something you really like and bookmark it. Then find another, and another, and another. See what they have in common. See what you don’t want. Which engines appeal to you?
After you’ve gotten 10-15 that you like, close your eyes and see your layout. What do you see?