I am just starting in this hobby…I have been out of it for 30 yrears, I am wondering how much it would take to start building a layout?. Also what size of a layout is a good one to start with?..How much would it take to by my engines and rolling stock?..
Thank you,[:D]
Pat
hey hows it goin, im in n scale also, i started out on a 2x4 not really enough however. Ide say anywhere from 3x4 to 4x8, thats all up to your space and limitations. Don’t purchase a set to start, your better off buying a nice engine and some cars. Use flex track, take your time. Unit track isnt bad but you can really develop skills using flex.
Look into microtrains, atlas, kato for engines. And most off all have fun.
oh btw, cost wise take out a nice loan! Spending and buying never stops in this hobby, ask anyone! 
Ain’t that the truth! I’ve got over 3K in my HO layout.
[#welcome] back!
I too was out of the hobby for 30+ years and got back into it last summer. I started out with an 4 x 11 (n-scale) but it has gone through about three iterations now. I got something that looks like the letter E. One thing I really didn’t like in the original is the 4 foot width. Too hard to get to things unless you can access all sides. But if you can do that, you are probably wasting good space. So now most of my layout is 2 foot width with a couple wider areas for turn arounds.
I have about $1600 into this thing with very little scenery (this winters project). I have 7 locos and 20 cars. I really like my Kato and Atlas engines! Very smooth running.
I won’t buy another Bachmann.
Hope this helps and enjoy the hobby.
Peter
p.s. this forum is a great place for priceless information.
I built mine to NTRAK module standards. sections are 30" deep, and either 2,4,or 5 foot lengths, (two 5 footers make one 10 foot module) and three foot corner sections.
Boy, is that a familiar line. Trust me, you’re not alone in coming back to the hobby after a long absence. Things have changed a bit, but it’s still fun.
Although you don’t mention how much space you have available, or how big you were thinking, I’ll just throw out one more option. A very popular method in n scale these days is building a small layout on a hollow core wood door. They’re light but very strong and stiff. Easily moved if you can’t leave it up in position. They come in a standard 6’-8" length, but are usually available in widths ranging from 18" up to 36" (which is what I have).
Here’s a good website with small N scale layouts that you might like to look at:
http://www.cke1st.com/m_train2.htm
You don’t mention where you are, and I don’t know if you have access to a good hobby shop. There are a number of good on-line vendors who specialize in N scale, and usually offer discounts of around 25-30% off msrp. You might try looking at this vendor’s site, just to get an idea of the prices that you might expect to pay.
http://www.wig-wag-trains.com/
Regards
Ed
Hi there, I recently started an N scale layout, 8ft x 2ft 9in, I find this wide enough for me to be able to reach the far side of my latout, it has a twin loop lots of spurs and an end to end preserved mountain RR.