Plans for a micro layout

[IkBrunel]

I like the sound of this a lot. What would you add and where?

All that you need to do is to ensure the lengths of your track and sidings are appropriate to hold a given number of rolling stock (wagons).

For your three sidings (on the right of the layout diagram that you have provided), you want to ensure that you can hold 5 wagons on one of these sidings and 3 wagons on the other two. For the main-line (on the left of the diagram that you have provided), you want to be able to hold your locomotive and 3 wagons. This is representative of the "classic" Inglenook (5-3-3). If you are running short on space, you can change this to a 3-2-2 "minimal" arrangement, but with this change, there is a reduction in the number of shunting combinations that can be achieved.

See http://www.wymann.info/ShuntingPuzzles/sw-inglenook.html for further details.

Thank you for that. Would you be tempted to put two lines coming in down allowing for an extra set of points and more shunting

[crewearpley40]

3ft x 2 ft 9 I would allow 4 x 3 to allow extra track    , scenics  controller

[rob_au]

Thank you for that. Would you be tempted to put two lines coming in down allowing for an extra set of points and more shunting

Certainly. If you have the space and spare points/track, why not? The only advice that I would give is to be careful not to make the layout "too busy" with too much track, particularly if your goal is to practice layout and scenery construction techniques ahead of working on another, larger layout (but of course, it could equally be argued that more track gives greater opportunity to practice that element of layout construction).

[IkBrunel]

Thank you for that. Would you be tempted to put two lines coming in down allowing for an extra set of points and more shunting

Certainly. If you have the space and spare points/track, why not? The only advice that I would give is to be careful not to make the layout "too busy" with too much track, particularly if your goal is to practice layout and scenery construction techniques ahead of working on another, larger layout (but of course, it could equally be argued that more track gives greater opportunity to practice that element of layout construction).

<a href="https://ibb.co/myHr5JS"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/C9npKBW/56-A25-B39-595-C-4005-841-B-52-CCBF0-B5642.jpg" alt="56-A25-B39-595-C-4005-841-B-52-CCBF0-B5642" border="0"></a>

Excuse the terrible drawing but I could add another track behind it as my board is wider than that in the picture. I could put a point as I have on the really poor digram and even one further up if I have enough for not shunting if you think that would be a good idea?

[rob_au]

Excuse the terrible drawing but I could add another track behind it as my board is wider than that in the picture. I could put a point as I have on the really poor digram and even one further up if I have enough for not shunting if you think that would be a good idea?

I don't see any reason why not. At the end of the day, this is your layout and ultimately, you should be happy with it. If you feel that you would be happier with some additional track to play with, certainly include it in your layout design.

It comes down to rule #1 - Your layout, your rules.

And please share some pictures as your building it! These are always great to see!

[AlexanderJesse]

You'll not be able to do a huge amount owing to the sheer simplicity of the track plan but, given a small fiddle yard stage left, you can have a play now and then. It's also a good place to photograph things and practise that as well.
The fiddle yard could be simple cassettes, a sector plate, traverser or just a small add on board.

or go with mick ' s idea ..... be honest are you constrained by space limitations ?

I am limbered with this particular layout as the baseboard is already made. It had a small loop on it with point and sidings. I was used it test locos and run trains/ shunting whilst I laid track on my main layout. Now that's down and it's a continues loop I'm fancying a little project that I can run trains On whilst testing out landscaping techniques. I would prefer to make mistakes and have to redo them on this before I do it on my main layout.

There is a plan called north east coast branch in the plan book but there's no way I could shoehorn it on to that board. It's a shame beaceuse I've visited this place many times.
https://www.osbornsmodels.com/peco-new-plan-007-n-scale-north-east-coast-branch-7687-p.asp

What would your idea be for a small board of this size?

Planning to do a layout for scenic building tests, this second peco-plan seems better. There are more scenic elements that "should be exercised" 

Now... how to adapt it to your base board...
Take the proposed plan and slightly rotate it clockwise. (I know it looks better if the tracks are not parallel to the board edges... but small places require compromises)
Then take your baseboard as 77x55 in order to get the station parallel to the long edge. You can then model almost up to the bridge on the short edge.

At least this gives you a station, some cottages, some greeneery, water and a bridge to model. If you want to be able to run around add a second board (temporarily only) to close the loop. This attachment could be unmodeled.

[crewearpley40]

3ft x 2 ft 9 I would allow 4 x 3 to allow extra track    , scenics  controller

I would allow for 93cm x 84cm

[Newportnobby]

Here's something in 77cms x 55cms with a little more track on it but you'd still need some form of off scene storage for trains to enter the scenic board. Unless DMUs, coaches/wagons would require propelling onto the scenic board as there's no room for a run round. Station to go as previous plans.