being an absolute beginner, i want to design my own track plan. i have a 4x8 space to work on, and i want to lay something out that would fit and be functional and also be fun to operate. i know nothing of railroad operations, so if someone could, and i know its a broad question, give me some info on how i should design it, like the basics of what i need along the lines of yards and spurs and whatnot. also i have another 4x1.5’ peice of plywood coming off longways that i want to put a yard on.
It also depends if you want to use n-scale or ho-scale (etc).
generally u will need a passing siding(s) somewhere. this will let u run multiple trains, and will be necessary if you have industries coming off of spurs or branchlines in opposite directions, and for your yard.
for a small layout, it is nice to also hav an interchange track with ‘the outer world’, where your cargo/passengers have a place to go to as opposed to running around over and over in a loop (assuming u will hav some form of a loop).
make sure ur layout follow an overall “theme”. for example, if your layout is set amongst prairie wheat fields, it wouldn’t make sense to put a rocky mountain in the middle with a tunnel thru it. it also wuldnt make sense to have a steam locomotive pulling modern intermodel cars. the same goes for industries… you wuldnt put a grain elevator in the mountains!
putting a backdrop in the middle across the table to act as a view block will help to make the layout look much bigger. it will hide maybe 50% of the tracks at any given time. it will also allow u to model more space… for example, u can hav a rural scene in one side and a city scene, with your yard, on the other.
for operations, i think it would be best if you looked at some pre-made track plans in books as a guide. then u can modify them or borrow ideas from them on your own layout… this is probably the best way to design a track plan.
btw, i don’t have a layout myself! i am a beginner just like you.
just my 2-cents… wat do all u pros out there think?
See if you can find some model railroaders with layouts in the area that you can visit (try the local hobby shop for contacts) and find ideas that you like or don’t like.
Everyone has different ideas on how to do things - for instance, that section you’ve got sticking out to the right looks like an excellent place for a staging/fiddle yard, where you can bring cars in from railroads that are “off layout” and take them out as well - you can make up trains there too.
I have a “thing” for point to point layouts - or at least railroads that appear to be point to point where you only see one mainline at a time. So I’d agree with the vision block thing down the middle and start your layout at the yard (I’m assuming you can walk completely around the layout) bring it across the top, with spurs and sidings for industry, curve it around the left side and vision block (22" if you can swing it) with a nice bit of scenery, and then more industry on the near side - complete with a little yard and runaround track, so you can stick your loco back on the front end of the train for the trip back to the main yard.
But that’s just me - others prefer a lot of track, curving here and there, that allows for a lot of running as well.
Others would have you build a loop of track with the yard off one end.
All of these are perfectly acceptable - just remember, it’'s your layout and your decisions (as long as they obey the laws of physics!) are the ones that count.
You are correct, it is a very broad topic. I think the best recommendation would be to go to a local hobby shop and look over the various design books they would have on the subject and to consider the following as a minimum.
You have a lot of options to consider: Do you want a flat top design? Are you going to cut up the plywood and create risers for the track? If not are you going to use risers? Do you want scenery dividers on the layout? What form would they take? mountians or a sky divider for instance, are you going to run more than one train at a time, to allow for blocks or wiring in general, and several more questions.
You did not mention scale size? Reagrdless, you need to consider the above into your research. The best thing you can do is take a bit of time to plan.
Do a Google search for (model train track plans) or (HO train track plans) or you can go to the AtlasRR web site. They have a lot of HO and N gauge illustrations you can download. You can always modify what see to suit your needs.
i probably should have been more specific with my explanation… its a flat top plywood layout, and its up against a wall, so a divided layout wouldnt work. heres an updated plan:
The gray area is a wall, the train is HO scale. also what is intermodal?
Keeping in mind that you want this layout to have ‘legs’, and by that I mean an ability to move you along well, over a good length of time, you have lots of potential there. Your prospective ‘yard’ looks to be in the right place, and you could get three adjacent tracks in there with a few shacks and a warehouse. One and-a-half feet is not very wide. If you could get on your knees and grovel for even 8 more inches in width, you might even fit a roundhouse and table in there…if you wanted one.
As for the rest of the layout, at 4’X8’ (in HO) you will be constrained to a loop, perhaps, and maybe a mountain spur with a grade around 2.5% across the near front with a mine or logging camp at the end. Mountain lies against the far wall, and the main loop would enter and exit a tunnel under it. The industry would sit near, and somewhat above, the right portal. A small village at the base of the mountain, a creek or flooded quarry nearby. A short spur running along mainstreet to a flour mill? Lots of things are possible.
intermodal refers to the transport of containers found on semi-trailers by rail.
either the containers are carried on special cars, or the entire trailer portion of the semi is transported on a special flatcar.
this isn’t in north america but you get the picture:
You can go to the Atlas site & download Right Track Software. It’s a Free program for track planning. It’s not the best but the price is right(free). The problem you will have is with your RR against the wall you will not be able to reach back side. You might consider moving it out or putting it on casters.
Tom
I would recommend John Armstrong’s book “Track Planning for Realistic Operation”. I have found this book to be the most helpful in track planning. It shows you what the railroads do and then shows you how to do it on a model railroad layout.
Enjoy
Paul
If I am reading your message correctly I presume you already have this flat top space available…? If so in addition to taking the other people’s advice, mine is to not worry about getting it perfect to begin with. I always try to keep a 4x8 and a bunch of sectional track sitting around just to try stuff out on. I’ll lay it out and run some trains to see if it is going to “act” how I expected it to. The sectional track allows easy changes. While experimenting I don’t nail track down, if it starts shifing on me I’ll use double stick tape on the back or in extreme situations thumb tacks.
Once I have something I like and that works I write it down and try something else. Eventually I get enough good ideas which I “part” together to make a completed layout.
Here is one I thought of when I saw your space. With your 1.5x4 extension you could move the beginning of the yard tracks down to give the turntable more room, and extend them for a really big yard.
This was not done with all sectional track. There are two curved turnouts, and several sections of flex track.
The majority of the layout, 4 X 8, certainly has possibilities, and you do have an area for stub end staging. I like that. Besides John Armstrong, which of course is a great suggestion along with the Atlas plans, check the web. In fact just type in “HO model railroad track plans”, you’ll get a whole list. Also, check out the Turtle Creek in the pages of Model Railroader. It is a really nice layout, especially with the addition, that really expands the layout and adds to activity. Actually over the last several years or so MR has had several layouts right up your alley. There is good copy, with easy instructions on how each railroad was constructed. Of course any good hobby shop should have some book on layouts and construction.
The four feet at the end limits your radius, therefore limiting the rolling stock you might want to run.
Make sure you read the manufacturers recommendations on radius. For example some of the newer
freight and passenger cars would not look right on the curves. To long and too much over hang.
Even the new Walthers Passenger cars won’t really make even a five foot curve which is a 30" radius, they really require six feet or 36" radius.
You may want to look at cheap doors for you table, and cover it with blue or pink foam, steady it with legs, quick easy, and you are ready to go.
See you next time.
Robert WTRR, Hub City Division
