The train guyHello forum, I am a new member as of 5 minutes ago. I have always visioned even as a kid that one day I would build a true large layout. I have read, watched videos and had visions in my head of what it would look like.
Hi there!! Welcome to the forums!
I'll second Henry's suggestion to read John Armstrong's 'Track Planning for Realistic Operation' if you haven't already. I read the book after I designed my first layout. Fortunately I hadn't started to build it because the book demonstrated very clearly to me that my plan was quite disfunctional. It wouldn't have done half of what I wanted it to do.
A couple of years later I had an opportunity to design a new 20' x 25' layout for my club. I used Armstrong's principles and the club members were pretty happy with the results. The layout got built and it works fine.
I will mention that I have used 3rd PlanIt to design my layouts. It is a fantastic program. IMHO, it is well worth the investment.
https://www.eldoradosoft.com/
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
I’m on my fourth and final layout. Each layout was a challenge, that’s normal. I switched from Lionel 027 to HO in 1951 and so my layout is HO scale.For my final layout in 1989 I started out with a ‘Must Have List’ and went from there. I grew up in the 1950s so that era is first on the list, 1950 to 1956. I knew what I wanted for my final layout so in no particular order. Roundhouse and Turntable large enough to handle a UP Big Boy. I got my Big Boy in 1963. The Big Boy is gone now but replaced with SP articulateds.A diesel maintenance building for my early SP diesels.I simply love mountains so a nice grade climbing a mountain was a must have.I lived near Cloudcroft NM for many years and the Mexican Canyon Trestle (built in the 1890s) was great so a trestle is on the list along with a Howe Truss Bridge.I always fantasized a dual track mainline and having a double crossover was a must.I spent a lot of time in my teens hanging out in the El Paso SP yard so a small yard was also on the list.I really liked the Alamogordo NM SP Passenger Station (SP type 22) so that made the list.From that list I came up with this:I ended up with everything on my Must Have List and after 31 years I’m very happy with my dream layout.Take your time and have a lot of fun building your layout!!!Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Yes, go ahead and share. I promise not to laugh (why would I??). If this is your first layout, you will need to find out what you like about this hobby. You also need to learn a lot things - that's the fun part in my opinion.
Very few model railroaders get it right on their first shot. Looking at plans is a great idea, but I would suggest you find a 4 X 8 and start with a loop and a few switches to put a real foot in the hobby. Too many people suffer from plan-paralysis... A plan should reflect what you like, whether it's operations, kit building, painting or electronics. The only way to find out is to actually DO something. And yes, you can plan and do things at the same time, just don't spend too much on your 4 X 8...
Keep us posted!
Simon
to the forum. Your initial posts are moderated.
We look forward to seeing your progress. Posting pics in this forum is unlike most forums you maybe familiar with. There is a sticky that tells you how. You cannot cheat an use google photos or copy a photo into the text.
As a newbie I have to warn you, you will want to cram too much in the space you have, use smaller radiuses that you should.
Atlas track planning book is notorious for including too much track.
John Armstong's Track Planning for Realistic Operations is a must read.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Hello forum, I am a new member as of 5 minutes ago. I have always visioned even as a kid that one day I would build a true large layout. I have read, watched videos and had visions in my head of what it would look like.
The one thing I never really put a lot of thought in was a track plan. I assumed that would be the easy part. Man was I wrong on that one... that has been by far the biggest challenge above all others. If I have went over it once I have went over it hundreds of times in my brain.
Well, the time has come to begin the build. I do not have all the answers and I am in many ways winging it as I go. I have the general idea of what I want but things do take on changes all along the way.
I thought I would take some snap shots as I go and share them on this forum. All I ask is not to laugh, be mean, or make fun of the pictures to my face.
I am not sure if at some point you guys saw a video or pictures of other layouts that became inspirational to your own layout or not. I know I did and I have watched hundreds of videos on YouTube with regards to hobby of scale trains.