Getting started

[Anonymous]

Hello,
I am thinking about building my first train layout. I have been wanting to do this for some time and have two HO trains one disel and one steam w/ a loop of easy track. The room in witch Im going to build this layout is 11.5 X 9 but I can use only part of the room for the trains. I do have room for a 4X8 layout if I can get some plans for folding benchwork other wise it will have to be 4X6. Plus I will still need track plans. Any help on the folding bench work and plans would be great. Im very new to the hobby so I will be asking for a lot of help and am veyr greatful for any and all help.

thank you....

[Modeloldtimer]

I know you said you have HO. BUT!
If you want to have a nice RR in the 4X6 size may I suggest that you check "N" gauge.
N gauge now has nearly everything HO has. You should enjoy runing 5 or more locomotives at the same time using DCC in N gauge. A 4X6 size RR in "N" gauge is a nice size. The 4X8 that you mention should be the smallest size for HO unless you just want to make a small yard on the 4X6. For HO main line Cruves you will need a minum of 18" radus track. Passenger or large freight cars will not look nice on 18" radius curve track because of the overhang. Some cars might even rub on turns. Couplers also might give you a problem when using long cars on 18" radus track. However running passenger and large freight cars in N scale on 16" radius is a large radius turn. N gauge locomotives and passenger cars can handle curves on 9" radius track.
I use to have a N gauge RR until my eyes told be to go back to HO. If you want a large RR in a small space out check out Z scale.
Something to thing about... Good Luck whatever way you go...

[Jetrock]

How much of the room can you dedicate to trains? Have you considered an around-the-room layout on a shelf (at maybe chest height) which would allow you much more of a layout while not sacrificing huge chunks of the room?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Modeloldtimer

I know you said you have HO. BUT!
If you want to have a nice RR in the 4X6 size may I suggest that you check "N" gauge.
N gauge now has nearly everything HO has. You should enjoy runing 5 or more locomotives at the same time using DCC in N gauge. A 4X6 size RR in "N" gauge is a nice size. The 4X8 that you mention should be the smallest size for HO unless you just want to make a small yard on the 4X6. For HO main line Cruves you will need a minum of 18" radus track. Passenger or large freight cars will not look nice on 18" radius curve track because of the overhang. Some cars might even rub on turns. Couplers also might give you a problem when using long cars on 18" radus track. However running passenger and large freight cars in N scale on 16" radius is a large radius turn. N gauge locomotives and passenger cars can handle curves on 9" radius track.
I use to have a N gauge RR until my eyes told be to go back to HO. If you want a large RR in a small space out check out Z scale.
Something to thing about... Good Luck whatever way you go...

Very true.
I would reconsider by going with N in your situation. You will get more room out of what you have to run trains.

And by the way, [#welcome]!!

[challenger3802]

A 4'X6' layout in a room is plenty big enough for a branch line. My own layout, which is presently at the baseboard construction level, is only 6'6" x 4'6". It is on two levels with a run round loop. The curves are a little sharp, but on a UK branch would not look out of place. As the operater is in the middle of the layout, you have to turn round to follow the train, tricking your brain into thinking that the train is travelling further than it actually is! One half of the loop is under the "top" station and with believable scenery is in the hillside. The upper section is reached by a point in the tunnel and a raised section along the front of the layout, rising 5 inches in approx. 6 foot. There is scope for a goods yard by the upper station and a couple of sidings + buildings at the lower station.

Hope this helps
Ian

[challenger3802]

Books on small layout designs ( and bigger ones too) are available by the author Cyril Freezer. The books are still in print and should be available on Amazon.com

[Anonymous]

Hello and thank you to all for the ideas.
after about two and a hafe hours in my local hobby store I will be building in N scale. So now I have the size layout the scale and am almost done with the bench work, but now comes the hard part the track plan. I have looked at some books and looked online but what Im seeing in plans is so limited and doesn't give me a good idea of what Ill need for track. Any help or ideas please let me know .
thanks
Dutch

[Anonymous]

Just sent you an email with my thoughts. Feel free to email me back. I am goin through the same thing, and have read every book I can get my hands on. For starters, check oout the Altas website (atlasrr.com) for some pre-fab ideas. Here are some other sites of members from this forumthat have helped me and some other things I found on my own.

http://users.iafrica.com/c/ca/caroper/

http://www.mustangone.com/NorfolkSouthern/index.html

http://www.nscale.org/

http://www.mrrkb.com/mylayouts/axdrr/

http://www.nscale.org/defaulteng.htm

http://www.railimages.com/gallery/edmurphy?page=1

http://www.railserve.com/Models/Layouts/

[NZRMac]

Try here. http://www.atlasrr.com/

they have some good layouts or do a Google search you should find a few!!

Ken

[egmurphy]

Dutch,

I'm not sure what size you finally decided on. Here's a website with a bunch of small track plans for N scale. While you probably won't find exactly what you want, at least it will be another source of ideas. It's always easier to make a track plan bigger by stretching it out. It's hard to shrink them.

http://www.naisp.net/users/mfischer/m_train2.htm

The smallest plans are at the top of the page. Scroll down for some that are a bit bigger.

Regards

Ed

[pbjwilson]

I always reccomend this website.

www.gatewaynmra.org/project09.htm

It's a great 4x6 in HO.