Hi I'm a newbie so go easy on me
I'm only at the planning stage and I have a limited size baseboard 4' x 2' 3"
I don't just want to design a layout without a purpose I would much rather be able to do an actual scene so looking for ideas please

Welcome aboard Derek.
So....you want to create an actual scene.
That's a tall order but can you give us a bit more of an idea as to where your interest lies ie era, area, steam or diesel, country etc

Cheers

Martin

Welcome Derek

You'll find plenty of inspiration, help and advice on here, just ask away 

I'm interested in Steam I don't know what I could achieve with a full oval and sidings, I used to have A larger scale before years ago and was drawn to n gauge because of size constraints that I have and also the detail that is available

Hi Derek and welcome to the forum.

Hi Derek and welcome!

I guess the thing is to accept that your available board size 4' x 2'3" isn't exactly spacious, so big steamers and long expresses are not really the best choice (nothing to stop you running them but it will probably seem rather "toy train" like?)   

Perhaps think about something in a more single track branch-line style with maybe a small rail-served industry, cattle dock or brewery as a reason for a siding or two?  Stick to short trains and smaller locos, they will look more in keeping.  Don't fill the layout with trackwork, but do try and allow a hidden storage siding or two at the back of the layout so that you can accommodate and alternate more than one train.

There are some classic Peco plans for small layouts which people still refer to.  I'm not the best to advise as my interests are Continental European rather than British, though of course the likes of Fleischmann and Minitrix have their own layout plan suggestions for various sizes.

Welcome aboard!

I have a layout 48" x 30", very similar in size to what you are intending.  It is designed to be gloriously 'train set like'.  The area is really good to work with and, for a more conventional 'serious' model railway, what Nick suggests would be ideal.  For a branch line through station, a single platform could be partly on one of the end curves, with goods sidings on the 'front straight'.  Fittleworth on the old LB&SCR is a good example of this general idea.

With best wishes.

John

Hello Derek, and welcome to the forum

Hi Derek,

Welcome to the Forum, but be aware of the bad jokes

Mike H 

G'day from Australia, Derek, and welcome to the NGF! 

 

Welcome! My first layout was a 4x2, I decided on a single track line in which everything is out in the open (no hidden areas) but with lots of perspective interest so whichever side of the board you are looking at you see a different part of a scene.

That choice meant I could have lots of fun with scenery and fit a lot into a small space, whilst still giving the impression that the railway served the scene, rather than filling the whole board with track. Being a single track rural branch also made shunting and operation more fun in my eye, since I could run all sorts of short pick up goods and ramshackle branch passenger trains, parking them up, running around, and shunting everything around.

Welcome to the forum!