What would you do ?

[Anonymous]

I am working on developing a new model railroad ( the fictional Oklahoma Midland ) so I am posting a number of polls and questions. I thought of asking what other people would do if they were in my shoes. so what would you do if: you are only 12 yrs. old and it is your first layout, have a 10x14 bedroom that has to share space with a twin bed, desk, shelf, and night stand, You want to still hyave room to walk and be comnfertable, you want to have realistic operation, easy access, western Oklahoma branchline, 40's to 60's era, and a rual setting. Thanks !!!

[Anonymous]

OTN--I would probably model early diesels--no F units or steam though--turning facilities take up a lot of space. RS3s or GP7s would work well--Rock Island had both and would do well to work a branch line or a shortline or the Oklahoma Midland!!!

[Anonymous]

Have you bought equipment yet? If not, you may want to build a small 2x4 N scale layout or a very thin shelf layout in HO. The one disadvantage of the shelf layout is it would probably have to be point-to-point.

[Fergmiester]

Please don't take this the wrong way but.......


At 12 enjoy yourself! don't try to conquer the empire you want just yet!! Run the trains tinker, read, run, enjoy, have fun and don't get anal just yet.

Learn by other's mistakes, read this forum, enjoy, learn and kibitz

But don't get set in your ways just yet...... you're in your prime.

Set up a 4 x 8 layout and don't worry about radii or grades

JUST HAVE FUN and learn by your mistakes.

Regards

Fergie

PS I use to be 12......

Along, long time ago

[Wdlgln005]

I'd start my roster with RI or MKT small diesels. You may have to start with ATSF-UP units if RI-MKT is hard to find in your LHS. EMD GP or Alco RS types, caboose, some boxcars & covered hoppers. Your town could be big enough to demand a small switcher.
About 1/2 of the cars would be for the home road, then expand with direct connections (ATSF, UP, BN, MP), only 10% distant connections like PRR-NYC etc.
In your space I'd go for a 2x4ft Nscale layout that has possibilities to expand onto another section over time.

[Anonymous]

I was in your shoes almost exactly when I was about 13; we had just moved to Virginia, and I had become interested in N-scale. With my father's help for basic benchwork, I designed a basic shape which would fit between my desk and the outside wall, with a large bulge into the center of the room, looking something like a grand piano shape. Overall, it was 6 feet long by 3.5 feet deep at the bulge, and 2 feet deep at the narrow end (which fit between desk and wall). I knew this was going to be the shape of my layout long before I knew where the track would sit on it!

I played around with various sectional track configurations to fit the space for some time, just sitting loose on the bare plywood top. Back then, we didn't have Kato's Unitrack, which would have made things go a lot more smoothly. In the end, I came up with figure-eight style mainline loop which also elevated and ran around the outer perimeter, for a decent mainline length, but I did have to use tight 9-3/4" curves and steep grades to manage it. For an OK branch line, you wouldn't want so much spaghetti-bowl. Still, you could do the same thing I did, and figure out a rough overall shape for your layout based on your furnishings, and then fiddle with Unitrack (or any other sectional track) to determine a satisfactory track plan. I had so much fun toying with track arrangements, it is what led me into my current profession as an architect! These days, of course I'd do most of my design work on a computer instead of with actual track segments, but there's something just purely fun about crafting temporary layouts out of train-set track.

I think one of the key things that worked about that little layout, though, was that it did not have rectangular corners. It protruded out into the room, sure, but its swept curves and gentle corners made it easy to move around. So, I'd say go with N-scale, and build yourself a smoothly-curved plywood top to begin with. I think you've got a good start on your interests, as far as having a region and era in mind; it's much more than I had at the time.

[Anonymous]

Hmmmmm, all great suggestions. I have been considering evrything and unfortunantly have already bought some HO scale equipment, so N scale isn't my first choice. I geuss i could build a micro withy the HO stuff and build the piano shaped layout with N scale however that is a last resort. I also have a 4x6 plan in mind and a narrow shelf layout also. thganks for all the suggestions, I geuss it is back to the draing board ( a.k.a. my desk ) Thanks !!!

[Anonymous]

Train Nut I know how you feel I'm getting my 1st layout at 14 here's some tips 1st measure your room 2nd Don't get kits start with if you aren't handy and HAve fun and Don't do it in a circle

[trainfan1221]

OTN, just make sure you buy good equipment so that you can enjoy your trains. It makes a big difference...and remember that a little switching adds interest. Good luck.

[Noah Hofrichter]

OTN, you might want to consider a shelf switching layout, like someothers have suggested. You could maybe model a town or a yard and design it so it could fit in to a bigger layout when you get to that. Write now I have know where near the room I want for the new layout I'm planning, so i figure I'll build little sections of it that I can attach to the big layout in ten or 15 years when I get my own big house.

Hope this helps, Noah

[Anonymous]

I would be torn between a 4x6 HO layout with switching as a priority, or a shelf switching layout.

Resist the temptation to put as much track in the space as physically possible.

Don't bite off more than you can chew. Don't be too quick to shy away from something, but don't over-reach yourself.

---jps

[IRONROOSTER]

I would look to build a small table 4x8 (or 3 1/2 x 7)with a shelf extending off it down a wall as far as possible. Build a loop of track with one reversing track across the center of the table such that a train leaving the shelf can circle on the loop and run through the reversing track to head back to the shelf. The shelf should have a small yard with a turntable for turning the engine. Stick to small engines and shorts cars to 40'. Add a few industry sidings.
Good luck
Paul