Where do I begin?

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Greetings everyone,

So I’m ready to finally build a model railroad after years and years of thinking about it. I left California where I was in a 700 sq ft house and moved to Missouri where now my basement is bigger than my old home. Not to mention, there are quite a few nice model rail road stores out this way as well.

After visiting once such store, I think after looking at Scaletrains N scale series and the level o detail, I’ve finally made up my mind and will model N scale.

Also, after much contemplation on what modern class I I want to model, (it was a tie between a CSX/NS coal route, a BNSF midwest sub, or UP’s Donner pass route) I’ve finally determined that I wnat to model the UP from Roseville, CA to Sparks, NV.

Now, however, I feel like I’ve bit off more than I can chew…

For instance, I’m not sure how I can free-lance my route, decide my grade, or even build my yard. I’m also stuck on whether or not I want to build this thing in modules or go ahead and frame the entire thing and then fill it in over the next 20 years.

I’m thinking maybe I’ll just starting by building the Roseville, CA yard.

I guess I’d appreciate it if you could provide me with what you thought were the best textual resources that you used when you were in my shoes, because right now I’m staring at a big blank canvas and am suffering “writers block.” Oh and I’m working with close to 1,000 sq ft.

I look forward to everyones advice.

IMG_2332 by garin price, on Flickr

IMG_2331 by [url=h

2

this is quite a room you got. i definetly see myself getting lost in there, especially with N, so much can go in!

so for starters, can you perhaps provide a floor plan with area dedicated to layout? from there we can start looking at “the squares”. to resolve my “writer’s block” i picked up the one and only Armstrong’s track planning for realistic operation book and reread chapter 7 and 8.

good luck.

PS. i would definelt consider upping into HO for that kind of room. your call of course

3

You’re going to need more lighting. edit I swear I know the dif between your and you’re

Start with John Armstrong’s Track Planning for Realistic Operation.

I am building modules, more than 4’ long but less than 8’ because I plan to move. I could not figure out how build what I had in mind, without turnouts overlapping the edge of each module if I went with 4’.

Sounds like you have analysis paralysis. I don’t have a cure for that one.

4

I started modeling N-Scale when I was a kid and remained in N scale when I picked up the hobby again, so I’m with you.

I must say, if I had the kind of space you have at your disposal, I think I would switch scales to HO in a minute.

There sure has been a lot of around the room layouts posted in the MR magazine through the years. Maybe get the monthly pass or whatever they call it and look through issues for something that interests you.

5

Welcome to the forum.

In my humble opinion, the most important things to do at this stage don’t involve drawing track plans. Instead, spend some time visiting other layouts and doing research to decide what elements you wish to emphasize in your own layout. Model railfanning, operation, replication of real-life scenes, etc. trade-off with one another to some degree (even in your enviable space). Think also about era and the specific part of the Donner crossing that you wish to model (or use as inspiration, if freelancing)

Determine how many hours and how much money you wish to invest and over what period.

Determine if the rolling stock for the period you wish to model is available. Limited runs mean some will likely need to be purchased pre-owned.

At the same time as you are working on these, make the future layout space comfortable, well-lit, and as dust-free as possible.

You may have, indeed. Refining that goal to some subset of the roughly 140 real-life railroad miles is necessary for practical modeling. Starting from that overall picture, “cropping” it down to something manageable is more art than science, but can certainly be done.

For building a foundation of layout design knowledge and specific prototype research, hard to beat these:

Track Planning for Realistic Operation

John Signor’s Donner Pass: Southern Pacific’s Sierra Crossing

The Southern Pacific Historical and Technical So

6

Hi there and in short … Lucky You!!!

Given that our tastes can change over the years, I am with Big Daddy with the module thing so that your layout can grow as time and money allow… I don’t think available space is an issue.

There is a modular group in the east of Melbourne here in Australia that all the “club” owns is 4 90 degree curve modules while the rest of the modules are owned by the individual members with set standards ala but not quite Freemo!

For example, they insist on a given mix of WS foam for the colouring, specific ballast coverage, position of roads paralleling the tracks etc. Their system allows for exhibitions and mixing and matching of modules to suit their given operating patterns, which over the years, yours may change as do theirs.

Have Fun in the mean time!

Regards from Australia

Trevor

7

Hi there. You are lucky indeed to have so much space… My two cents: If this is your very first layout, I recommend you start small, I mean in terms of layout size. An oval with a few switches. That way you can try things, including N scale, and make mistakes with limited damages. It also gets trains running quickly, so you won’t get discouraged too fast.

Simon

8

As Byron suggested, spend some time doing some research. Operate on other layouts, even though they aren’t your area of interest. See what other people have done.

Then decide what and how much you want to build. Here’s the thing nobody tells you, you don’t have to put everything in, mostly because you can’t put everything in, you don’t have room. You will only have room for certain things, decide what those are.

You don’t have to fill up every square inch with railroad. Its OK if you want something simple in a large space. Wide aisles are worth more than an extra 50 ft of run.

Its also not an either or with modeuls and a permanent layout. You can build a non-modular/sectional layout in phases, you don’t HAVE to build all the benchwork at once. Actually I would suggest figuring out a section you can build that gives you some operation and build that part of the layout, get it up and operating, then build the next section, and so forth. If you design a 1000 sq ft layout and then build it in four 250 sq ft phases that’s way more fun than building an entire 1000 ft layout at once.

Taking some time to figure out what you want to model and how to do it is well worth the time spent.

9

You begin at the beginning. I like the idea about starting off with a simple oval with maybe a spur or two in N scale to make sure that you want to continue with N. Buy a locomotive, and a few cars and do some simple switching.

Meanwhile, do the initial planning and research that cuyama recommends.

Afterwards take the plunge.

10

What a large room for a layout! I echo what others wrote about planning and starting small. Trying to build such a large layout without any understanding about what’s involved is a recipe for disaster. Yes, do join local clubs and even visit a hobby store to see if they have a place to meet others.

For books, I’d get anything by Jeff Wilson. He makes everything digestable. No need to get any scenery books now since you’re way too early in planning.

No question your room needs more light and a schematic of the room. This includes locations of outlets and switches. Once done, I’d put that way and start figuring out what you’re trying to model for location, era, industries, etc. Answering these questions sequentially can start to fill in the spaces of your canvas.

~Lee

11

I totally agree with this one as well. If you care to check your messages, I have some simple reading for you that like another in these pages, you can expand at your will,

Anyway the ball is in your court

Regards from Australia

Trevor

12

Track planning software would be a good start. Some are free, some cost money, but if you can come up to speed it can help you a lot.

13

Welcome.

As others have mentioned, you need to do some research first, develop an overall footprint for the layout (including how much basement you want unfilled with layout), then do quite a bit of basica carpentry to get the room prepared. lighting, maybe paint the walls a very light sky blue, etc.

Then think about building the yard.

I’ll add. I model modern era, and I find it much easier to do research by visiting sights in real life, rather than resorting to books and the internet. Based upon that, I probably would have chosen a Missouri-themed layout to make those railfanning and research trips a lot closer. Although, if you have your heart set on the UP and the far west, its tough to give up. I’m sure there is plenty of research material on the area too.