Opinions Requested!

[Anonymous]

I am in a quandry! I have several engines( Ranging from a Hiawatha 4-4-2 to a Big Boy) that are a part of my " Sthilndabox Railroad!" I have an area that is approximately 25X14 feet available. I've never built a layout,so I'm thinking i should keep it simple, and go with an round the wall layout . I have about a 50/50 mix of freight and passenger equipment, and i would say my era is early transition. Any Ideas?

Thanks!

[Big_Boy_4005]

That might be too much passenger, but it is your railroad. Around the wall sounds nice, but there may be other variations of that that give you longer runs and even more possibilities.

[Anonymous]

Oren:
Think first about the advantages of a round-the-wall layout. 1) Everything's easy to reach; 2) Plenty of room for a lot of "main lines," sidings, spurs, and straight-a-ways; Not as much room for a lot of structures and diorama as with other types of layouts, but that saves you a lot of money,too.
Some dsadvantages: 1) If you want to be able to reverse your trains you have two choices - a round house or a reversing loop, or a combination of the two. It's very difficult to reverse an entire train on a rountable unless the roundtable is as long as your trains - not likely. 2) With a "Big Boy" to operate on the track, you're tallking about, at least 24" radii if not 26", which means at little over 4 feet to turn for it to do a 180 at each end. 3) You'll probably have to use #6 & #8* turnouts to give the Big Boy plenty of room to change tracks, which that isn't all that bad; just takes up some more room. 4) With walls 14' X 25' long, you're going to have to buy spools and spools of wiring, whereas a more concentrated layout, like a "U" or "L" shaped layout, the wiring would also be more concentrated.
Admittedly, there are arguments for all kinds of layouts and their advantages and disadvantages, and I would be the last to make an opinion on what's best for someone else. It's like my hobby shop owner always says, "It's your railroad. Do with it what you want to and just have fun. So I say the same thing to you---have fun and good luck. Let us know what you decide.

[PennsyHoosier]

Both Crabb and Big Boy make excellent points. I'll add this. You have probably already done this, but buy some of the layout books and read them, and then read them again, and then read them again! Around the wall is fine. Try also to work in some interesting modifications to the simple arrangement. You'll appreciate those "bumps" as you build and then enjoy your layout. Also, when it comes to rolling stock, if you like passenger (I do!), it's okay to have plenty of it. Enjoy those things that give you satisfaction. Best, Lawrence

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the help guys!!

My problem has been indecision. I have been reading so much, and have seen so many ideas, i literally don't know where to start! I want to start USING my fleet right away. I have been on hold for almost 9 months,and it seems like i just don't know where to start. I don't want to be impatient and just throw up a loop of track, but i also know i don't have the skills to build a lay out like George Sellios!!. Some suggest "Just get'em running" while other sources advocate using cad-cam and what appears to be fairly complex track planning!

Seems like the easy part was aquiring the rolling stock!

[PennsyHoosier]

When in doubt, add more rolling stock! Seriously, you've spent some time thinking about this--spend a little more. There's no hurry. But don't wait too long either. If you simply want to get a train running, build a simple oval witha couple of switches. That way you can see the trains go 'round. That will get you all the more focused on what you really want to do. Bottom line? GO FOR IT! If the trains are running, all is good! [:)]

[Anonymous]

around the room with a center peninsula. Using 30" radius curves it will fit with 30" aisles as well. Get a tack template at the hobby shop and draw out a scale diagram of your room and start doodling.

I wanted to test out my room (which is almost the same dimensions 13' X22') so I put a ledger beam around the walls and built some bench work around the room just to have fun...

I left up the test loop for a few months, ran trains, tested DCC, goofed off ...until I had a track plan. I am now in the middle of building the layout (I consider it job security - double decked, big helix). I re-used all the wood from my test benchwork in the new layout.

My two cents,

Guy

[Anonymous]

May I make a suggestion...John Armstrong. No one has contributed more to Model Railroad planning than he did. His book, Track Planning for Realistic Operation is a must read for anyone considering a layout of the size you contemplate. Almost Every hobby shop will have a copy. The book is now in its 3rd reprinting. I have an original from decades ago [ I remember the day my Dad and I bought it] and the new revised 3rd. BTW, John passed away recentl. He was in his late 80s or early 90s, but still quite spry from what I have heard, and was still doing layout design consulting and writing articles right up to the end. He is one of the greats like John Allen, Lynn Wescott, Al Armatage, Frank Ellison , Bill Walthers etc, whose contributions to the hobby were so important. Growing up in the 50s and helping my Dad uild a few model RRs, I was introduced to all these fellows in the magazines and catalogs and books of the era, and on thru to more recent years. They are all now igone from this world, but their legacy is huge, even if not well known to the newer model RRers out there. Build a loop to get them running, and then study up with John Armstrng about WHY a RR runs the way it does, and how to plan your minature to reflect the reason and function of the real railroads.
Jennifer

[Anonymous]

While I was planning my current layout (#4) I had a 1X12X15' that I used as a "test" track. If you would start out with something simple like this it would give you a chance to lay a couple of switches, install switch machines, try some wiring and even build a small grade and try some scenery.

A 14 X 25 is a nice size layout, but that's going to be a lot of maintance for one person. A beginner would even have a harder time as you'll be learning how along with the doing.

I think that this size as a first layout is going to lead to a lot of fustration and not much satisifaction. It'll look go on paper but the expertise just isn't there. Start with one wall, if you don't like my shelf idea, and play with it for several months and then expand.

Have a blessed day and remember SANTA FE ALL THE WAY
Bob