Through some trial and error and lack of knowledge… I have failed to create a layout. So I ask for help here. I started this endeavor about a year ago, through the eyes of my 3 year old son and his love for trains. After buying some track, and building a basic 4x8 layout table and many many many times setting a track only to remove it. I discovered the atlas CAD program, this has saved me time from setting track. Also using the CAD and laying tracks on my floor to see how systems I have designed worked, I have come up with some requirements of how I want my layout to work. So here is my plea to all, to have some kind of layout design help.
It has to be small 4x8 ideal but maybe a little larger (lack or space)
a small staging yard so i can keep cars on the layout without removing them to much
a over pass, rail going over rail, so that i can create a multi-level look.
having a way to leave a line set to expand the track in the event of adding, providing I have more space in the future.
I know the last one makes things a little complicated due to wanting to keep a 2-3% grade. I have looked up hundreds of layout designs and nothing I have seen yet fits what I am looking for.
Take a look at MR´s current project layout, the Virginian Rwy. Part 1 is featured in the Jan. 2012 edition. It´s a 4 by 8 HO scale layout, featuring a number of those things you are looking for.
I am not sure, but your aims are not unreasonable, except one. On small layouts grades must be steep and getting them at about 4% is probably the best you are able to achieve. OTOH trains are short and some engines are great pullers. So these grades will not be a real problem.
BTW an island type layout is a space hog. probably not the best choice. Beside reach-in problems, unless you are able to walk around your island, you will have to face small radii and a limited choice of equipment. But just then the waste of space it takes is huge. On the page you’ll find an alternative for the island type Virginia Ulrich mentioned.
There are a number of plans for 4x8 layouts, but you are early in your working, I’d suggest getting some other books also. There are several to help getting started as well as layout planning books by our host. Go to SHOP on the black line above, then to books. There are several catagories that will give you good information on getting started. If you subscribe to MR you can go to the layout section and there are many layouts of all types listed.
As suggested, a 4x8 is a space eater, as you have to have room around at least three sides to be able to reach all areas, so you are looking at using a space about 8x10 at a minimum. An around the room shelf (or part of the way around a room) will often use space that is not usable for anything else and is out of the way going over desks and other furniture where it would be difficult to put anything else. If you have to cross a doorway, there are several options, including a section that will completely lift out to be stored elsewhere.
Do some reading while you do some drawing of your ideas and II think you will be able to come up with a layout that you and your helper (or is it you are the helper?) can build and enjoy.
My first question is what scale are you using? I am guessing that it is HO, but N scale would good for that size layout.
Secondly, what era are you modeling? The size of your locomotives and longest rolling stock are very important. For example, an N&W Y6b (2-8-8-2) would not look good on that small of a layout and would not like the small radius curves. Then neither would the 6 axle diesels. [2c]
I agree with others that have responded with to the selection of reading material that can provide a good resource for track plans. There is alway John Allen’s original Gore and Dapheid layout that he built on a door frame.
You don’t really have to have one track crossing another to get “a multi-level look”. I use Woodland Scenic foam subroadbed. On my last layout I used 2% grade risers to separate the inside and outside loops of a twice-around. They were only about 1" apart (one track raised 1/2" the other lowered 1/2") but it made a difference scenically. To do and “over and under” on a 4 x 8 in HO pretty much all of your mainline is going to be either going up or going down.
I am using HO scale. As far as an an era, I was thinking about 40’s because most of my locos are steam (I have some books about railroading history, but not sure I am going with the whole “era” layout as of yet), not sure of all the types but… I know they are 0-6-0, 4-6-0 and the largest I have at this moment is a 4-6-4 Hudson. 90% of the rolling stock I have are 40’ box cars. I was told by a few locals who got me in to this (mostly by donating to me some of the locos) that the lowest I should go is 18 rad, but try to stick to 22 or larger. I have been getting MRM by the issue and have yet to get to getting a subscription. So I should ask, what are good books for beginners?
the best book ever is Track Planning For Realistic Operation by the late John Armstrong. It not only covers how to design a model railroad but also how real railroads operate and about what that could mean for a model.
Some basic books by our host or digital downloads could help you with the build itself.