Help Needed for Layout Ideas

Model-Railway-2013 · July 03, 2012, 08:08:36 PM

Hi Guys

I have decided its high time I started to build a layout.
The space I have made available is 8ft x 2ft

Tho for the right plan I will go up to 10ft x 2.5ft.

Ideally I Would like it to be a branch line station, either a terminus or through fair. It must have a viaduct crossing a river & some form of warehouse for shunting. Early BR days

I keep coming up with ideas then decide against them, So I thought that you guys could throw some ideas my way.

Many Thanks

Lawrence · July 03, 2012, 08:11:56 PM

Can't help you on the BR side of things but it sounds a good space for a double dog bone with some shunting in the middle

Try downloading SCARM and having a play, see what you come up with

painbrook · July 03, 2012, 09:18:58 PM

Take your time to decide and remember there are a lot of plans available to you, lots of the guys will tell you where /how to access the info, I would suggest that your chosen era, area and operation, eg, branch line, main line, industrial etc will need to be decided before you finally pick you design. Another thing to keep in mind is the space you have available 8/10 ft x 2ft (20x4ft in OO)

, a good size. Finally(thank god) how are your diy skills re the viaduct/river. Cheers john. By by everybody, good old Sooty.

Model-Railway-2013 · July 03, 2012, 09:43:52 PM

Quote from: Lawrence on July 03, 2012, 08:11:56 PM
Can't help you on the BR side of things but it sounds a good space for a double dog bone with some shunting in the middle

Try downloading SCARM and having a play, see what you come up with

Thanks I have now downloaded SCARM and will give it a try

Quote from: painbrook on July 03, 2012, 09:18:58 PM
Take your time to decide and remember there are a lot of plans available to you, lots of the guys will tell you where /how to access the info, I would suggest that your chosen era, area and operation, eg, branch line, main line, industrial etc will need to be decided before you finally pick you design. Another thing to keep in mind is the space you have available 8/10 ft x 2ft (20x4ft in OO) , a good size. Finally(thank god) how are your diy skills re the viaduct/river. Cheers john. By by everybody, good old Sooty.

I have built many layouts in the past, But I have not had a layout for over 5 years now, I have all the items I will need stored in boxes. I have the time now to begin a new layout. My last layout was in the shed and measured well in excess of 30 feet long. I moved house and no longer have the shed

.

I am finding it a challenge to come up with a design that is smaller in size from my last layout. I think I am trying to cram to much stuff into the design, This why I have taken a step back & asked for other peoples ideas, Someone always has something that I might not of thought of.

I will deffo by looking at the types of industry I want.

Thanks

Newportnobby · July 03, 2012, 09:47:07 PM

Unless I missed it, you haven't said whether you want a roundy roundy or end to end layout.
Either way, if you run the track at a height above baseboard level, you can easily run from the fiddle yard over a viaduct and into the station without having a dropped baseboard where you want a viaduct. At 2.062mm to the foot, decide how high your viaduct would be then set all the trackage at that height.

Model-Railway-2013 · July 03, 2012, 09:52:18 PM

Quote from: newportnobby on July 03, 2012, 09:47:07 PM
Unless I missed it, you haven't said whether you want a roundy roundy or end to end layout.

I am easy on this fact, but if i goo for a roundy roundy I am going to loose space at either end, as I don't want to see two curves of track at either end, I don't mind at one end tho ( if that makes sense)

scruff · July 04, 2012, 05:58:10 PM

Have you looked at Lemon street?
it was adapted from a CJF trackplan with a terminus above a continuous loop with return loop on the lower level, It was featured in Railway Modeller too.

Ambitious? yes, doable? definitely!

Mark

Model-Railway-2013 · July 10, 2012, 04:16:25 PM

I've come up with a plan that I like, What are your thoughts on it.

[smg id=1501 type=preview align=center caption="track plan"]

8ft x 2ft

the plans not perfect as I am getting us to using scram, but the basic idea is there

MinZaPint · July 10, 2012, 05:52:49 PM

I like the thinking behind your plan but wonder if your curve is going to be a little tight to get your canal and bridge in, below a pic of my reversing loop on a 2' wide board, I would go for your max 2.5' at least at that end.

How much stock have you got, your fiddle yards are quite extensive and have you thought how you might turn trains for their return journeys? Although I have the reversing loop I have far to much stock for the layout and am intending to have a cassette system (easy reversing) from the point you can see on the right of my pic, something similar where your fiddle yards are might do the trick. For shunting you might want to consider a headshunt towards the engine shed to clear the main lines, best of luck and keep us posted

Model-Railway-2013 · July 10, 2012, 06:29:05 PM

I have a dry run with laying track out on my desk which is 10ft long in its self. I think I am happy with the curve and I think the canal might move yet.

as to the reversing of stock, I have had thoughts about automatic shunting.

Where the train will enter the fiddle yard, stop, auto uncouple and then run to the end, stop, the points change. The loco runs round, stops, points change and rounds back. Ready to depart again.

I know it sounds ambitious, especially as it will all be done with relays and reed switches (lots of wire). I am developing an idea of a type of on-board magnetic coupling, to allow for the automation.

At test board will be built to develop the idea. it all might come to nothing in the end but I have had this idea in my head for years. If don't try I will never know.

OwL · July 10, 2012, 07:50:04 PM

In answer to the OP's first question, Can i suggest a Grand Terminus. With that much space a good piece of work could be achieved.

Maybe this for inspiration:

Liverpool's alternative N Gauge Station 'Lemon Street'

N GAUGE LEMON STREET STATION

Hope it helps

Model-Railway-2013 · July 10, 2012, 09:07:27 PM

Tho Lemon Street is a good example of what can be achieved with the space available, I feel there is far to much going on for my taste.

What I am after is the feel of space, with plenty of scenery & a small amount of industry, may be a small dairy.

Something that looks like the landscape was there before the railways arrived, rather than the railway arrived first.

Pengi · July 10, 2012, 09:21:23 PM

What about basing it on part of the Arun Valley line? Some of it is very rural and there is the river Arun meandering by and under the track. Arundel station used to have a goods yard. If you are feeling brave then you could have an image of the castle in your backscene.

Model-Railway-2013 · February 14, 2013, 02:33:25 PM

Well it has been a long time since I started this thread. The layout plan I came up with did not turn into a layout due to circumstances.

But Things have now changed and i hope that i now can build a layout.

I have come up with a new plan. It is 8ft x 2.5ft. A branch line terminus with a hidden reverse loop to turn stock around as the layout will be operated from the front. I know this may cause a few issues if stock derails but there will be plenty of access from the top via buildings/ scenery that can be removed or if there is a major problem i will just have to pull the layout forward and get in from the back.
Any way does this plan look right to you guys, I like it but I would like a second option