Hey, I know there are lots of posts about trackplans. Ok, I model in HO, and I plan to stay true to that, for all my big layouts and home layouts once I graduate and move out. I love that scale. But my grandma’s she has a small spare bedroom with her computer and stuff and some of my youngers sibblings toys and stuff. I want a small train layout. It has to be pretty small and cant be wider then probably 2 feet. Not very long either maybe 5-6 feet I dont know somewhere close to that. I am not affraid to go N with this one just cause it is just something for me to do but if there is a good HO scale plan I’m in. Even though I model Transition any era is good. Any ideas guys? I want some industrys to keep me busy, and I want a layout that will keep me interested. Thanks Ya’ll Mike
6 feet long is not long. But if you go N scale, you can find an H0 scale plan that is 1.83 times as long (160/87.1), ie 6 feet x 1.83 = 11 feet and model that in 6 feet of space in N scale.
You might want to have a look at Andrew Martin’s web page of small shelf plans for switching ops and see if you can find something you like there:
http://andrews-trains.fotopic.net/c374578.html
I wouldn’t go over 2 feet (24") in depth for a shelf layout. 18" is probably better, if it is not going to be too noticeable in a room intended primarily for other uses.
Good luck in coming up with a plan you like.
Smile,
Stein
You might also check the 2 x 8 Layout Design Contest for ideas.
Thanks for the great sites guys, I will have to look through them both tomarrow, I have to get to bed (School tomarrow). Mike
I suggest that you view and adapt one of the many small train layouts shown on:
Since you seem to be dedicated to HO for future layouts, I would stay with that scale and go with a switching layout that could later be incorporated into a larger track plan. That should fairly easy to do with just about any switching layout. No sense in wasting the time, effort, and money you will invest in this layout.
I’d agree with jecorbett - a switching layout might work better for you. You also could check MR’s layout database (if you’re a subscriber), and Iain Rice has had some smaller HO layouts that are along the lines of what you might like. He had the Roque Bluffs layout (I think that’s the spelling) and had some switching layout ideas in his first Kalmbach book (I think it was “Small Smart & Practical Layouts” or close to that). My current layout is a modification of one of his layout combined with some other ideas:
Rice’s layout ideas are designed to fit the top of a bookcase in his office area (which is around 2’ X 7 to 9’, I’d have to look up exactly, but even the 9’ could be trimmed with some playing around with the placement of turnouts, etc.).
Hope that helps,
Jim in Cape Girardeau