Newbie and New Layout

[Anonymous]

Hi,
I been reading this forum for awhile and now it is time to ask a question or two. I’ve negotiated some room for a model railroad. Wall space is taken up with doors and windows which eliminates an around the wall layout. So the final space is one section 4X9 with a T-section off that running 5X 8 to 10 feet. (Wiggle room my wife calls it)

Question one. Would it be best to just plan a simple one level layout to get some trains up and running, or would I be better off trying to figure out the final look before I even start?

Question two. If I lay out a simple “loop” of track just for that purpose, can I go back and cut in switches later without a major track problems?

Thanks
Brian

[ARTHILL]

It is wise to know what the final will look like, knowing that you will change your mind as you go. There may be some wisdom in putting in the basic bench work for both levels first even if you do not add track for a while. Remember that working over a semi finished section is much harder.
I always get a loop running so I can play with some trains, It is not hard to put the turnouts in as you go and add the other track later, but I have certainly cut in and added turnouts later, or moved them.

Have fun for the joy has just begun.

[dgwinup]

You can do what I did. After a long absence from model railroading, I decided to build a small layout (N scale) just to re-acquaint myself with the hobby. I put an addition on later, but overall, the layout is still small. Now I'm ready for a larger layout and in the meantime, I have had a lot of fun with my little layout.

Start with something small, maybe a siding or two. Play and learn from that while you decide what you want to do in your larger space. You will have better success by taking the time to plan a larger layout.

Making changes after track has been laid is more work than doing it at the start, but many modelers make changes as their layout progresses and as their desires change. Go ahead and get started. Having something to change is better than having nothing at all!

Darrell, quiet...for now

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by btdowney
So the final space is one section 4X9 with a T-section off that running 5X 8 to 10 feet.

Wow, that could get really thick for reaching purposes right at the center of the "T" That's about a 30" reach.

QUOTE: Would it be best to just plan a simple one level layout to get some trains up and running, or would I be better off trying to figure out the final look before I even start?

Ideally you would want to plan out the whole thing. But if I had tried to do that when I was a new I would never have come up with something that I liked long term becuase I simply didn't know enough to know what I wanted. Even today I like to keep an "island" of a flat 4x8 just to continually try new track arrangments and see how they, work, look, and operate.

QUOTE: If I lay out a simple “loop” of track just for that purpose, can I go back and cut in switches later without a major track problems?

Yes, many layouts have grown from cut-ins. Even the great Gorre & Daphetid grew from cutting into an original 4x6 layout.

I actually recommend this for a while. Just layout track in various configurations and run trains on them for a while. Note (as in write down else you may forget after 3-4 times) what works and what doesn't and then try a different arragnement. I would think you would soon start discovering what sort of things work for making it interesting for you.

[IRONROOSTER]

[#welcome]

If have an idea of what you want the layout to look like, then I would plan it out beforehand. Build the mainline with whatever turnouts it will require so you can get some trains running. Then go back and add the rest of the track. You can always change things later if need be.

OTH if you're not really sure what you want, then I would tack some track down and run some trains. This will give you some experieince with what is possible in your space. Once you decide what you want, then plan it all out, take up the track and re-lay it according to your plan.
Enjoy
Paul