My layout

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Here some shots of my puny, tiny, wee…you get the idea, 4x8 layout. I’m a little frustrated by my limited space. I can’t fit in all the things I’d like to, bridge, lake/river, wooded scene, elevation change yada yada. This a modified layout Atlas HO-6 out of book #9

My industry spurs are going to have a coal yard below…maybe???..

…and the freight depot you see in the pics temporarily taped up below. That 3rd spur???not sure a holding spot for the hoppers waiting for their turn at the coal yard? The building there noe is just temporary.

I know I’m probably going to have problems not having a run around but once again space constraints strike. I plan on using the inside loop for that function.

The cluster of buildings is where a early 50s rural downtown area is aproximated to be. The only thing I need to figure out is where to put my tree lined quaint neighborhood. Any and all advice/suggestions is welcome. Ignore the roads you can see under the green paint they will not be where mthe roads are going for this layout.

BTW, none of the industry spurs are tacked so changes can be easily made. Thanks for looking

J.P.

2

Don’t be discouraged. Some people do a lot with a 4 x 8. It is an average-sized layout.

You can have everything you mentioned if you work it right.

3

Hey that looks great! Great use of space.

4

SpaceMouse, does the upper and lower deck connect? I can’t make it out from those screen shots, very nice btw :), looking to mymic some of what you’ve done =D.

Also, I see you’ve got two tracks going in/out on the left side of the picture but only one coming in/out on the right side. Is one of those a dead end or do you have a switch under the “deck”?

EDIT

blech, ok clicked on the image to zoom it in, I see how the decks connect LOL should have opened my eyes wider. Still curious on the two tunnels on the left though.

5

The brown is upper level and grades.

The blue is lower level.

The pink is tunnel.

The green is sidings; one up, one down.

The lowest yard track and short switcher pocket never got built.

6

I had 4 4x8s over a 50 year time period before I had space for what I really wanted. You will probably get there sooner. I did learn how to do some things in the process.

Your track plan seems to emphasis scenery rather than track work. That would be my preference as well. In one layout I added a figure 8 in the middle and had a three level trestle, but I had to use 16 inch radius curves and 5% grades so it limited what I could run.

As you build, keep in mind that there will be another layout in the future and build your buildings and bridges so they can be moved with distroying them.

7

Arthill - that is a VERY acurate observation I am most interested in scenery, though I do want some kind of “function”…such as shunting cars and hauling freight[:D]…sorry my son is a huge Thomas fanand it always winds up sticking in my head…though I can see the attraction…they have some very well done scenery work on that show.

8

IF it is scenery that you want, you might consider running a backdrop through your layout, slightly off center from a diagonal. Then you can have 2 scenes to scenic. You also increase operations because the sidings on one side become staging for the other. You have a lot of room to grow.

9

I’ll be jiggered Chip! I have left my N scale 30x60 in favor of an HO 3’x5’. It looks similar to what you have here, but the upper level will not be connected to the lower level. People say one must have at least a 4x6 HO and since I have no space, I am out to prove them wrong! It will be a steam layout at about 40" high, and I have the grand idea to put a diesel layout lower on the legs (underneath) at about 26" high. (no helix…no room!). I get two, TWO, TWO layouts for the space of one!!![;)]

-G

10

You could connect the levels, but you would just about be guaranteeing that you are building a logging or mining layout with geared steam.

11

I’ve got 5x12 feet, which is more than a 4x8 but, of course, it’s still not enough. I built a layer of subway tracks, complete with stations, as the first level and then built the “street” layout above that. Because the subway trains are not as tall as auto-racks or container cars, I was able to short-change some of the clearance height requirements, and I can run very steep grades between the levels because the trains are so short.

I put full subway-tunnel scenery in the lower level, which is generally only visible from the video camera in the front of the train. With this layout, I’m getting to build a lot of scenery and run a lot of trains.

Chip, I think you need a subway for Rock Ridge. If nothing else, just a subway station entrance would be a scenic element that Mel Brooks would heartily approve of.