Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
QUOTE: Originally posted by kleimeyer If I was building an HO layout in the described space, I would go for an older era like the roaring 20's with a town or two on each side of the 16'x4' section and a small fiddle yard on the 5'x2' extension. Mostly small 40' cars and whatever branch line locos you like. A single track main line with runarounds in each town and a passing siding or two as long as your longest train. Dividing the 16' length down the middle also allows a loads in empties out operation from one side to the other. Some foam hills inbetween towns with tunnels to break up the run and you're in business.
QUOTE: Originally posted by ndbprr First of all 4' wide is much too wide unless it is in the center of the room becasue you can't reach that far. I am 6'5" With a 38" sleeve and can just reach 36". If you can keep it away from the walls put a scenic divider (backdrop) down the center and you have just doubled the usable railroad with a 24" reach on both sides. Curve the mainline so you have some room inside and outside the main for industries and switching. Basically look at some plans and steal what features you like from each one then doodle a lot at first. Invariably you will try to put too much track in and it won't fit so go back to the drawing board often and have fun.
QUOTE: Originally posted by SpaceMouse Pretty much anything you need is available online. I have no hobby shops within an hour or so of me (that I know of) so almost everything I've gotten has been on eBay or through an Internet dealer. Once you get the software, post you plans on the layout forum and people will give you some advice and ideas on how to improve what you are doing. A good book to get right away is [i]Track Planning for Realistic Operations[/] by John Armstrong. IT will give you the fundamentals to work from.
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
Tom