Need some input and ideas please!

[Anonymous]

hello everyone, im new here on the forums, but ive been railroading for quite some time now. i just recently moved into a town house and im limited to a 4x8 or 5x10 layout size.[:(] but anyhow, i want to do a really detailed model and im fresh out of ideas. i want to have atleast a DOUBLE main line with some yard storage . i would also like to incorporate a bridge of some sort in it, probably just a single track. i was wondering if anyone out there would know of any nice layout designs i could study or take a look at? anyand all suggestions are appreciated..! thank you![:)]

steve

[Anonymous]

Small layout sites:

www.gatewaynmra.org (HO scale)

http://www.naisp.net/users/mfischer/m_train2.htm (N scale)

You might also get some ideas for really really small layouts from:

http://www.carendt.com/

Double main is difficult, but not impossible in 4x8 in HO. Much easier in N scale. If you have the whole room where your 4x8 table is, could you go around the walls instead? To have a 5x10 with 2 feet all around for access means you effectively occupy a 9x14 space. You also have the option of modules. If you do not want continuous running, you could have a neat switching layout in 2x16 (same square footage as 4x8).

Hope this is helpful. Good Luck!

Andrew

[leighant]

Will it necessary to set your layout against a wall? For a small "table" layout, I like a layout divided down the middle longitudinally with a backdrop or scene divider so you have two scenes and twice the length of scene, AND so that the visible scene on each side is a rail line going through the scene and disappearing, rather than one obviously going round and round a loop.
There are wireless walkaround control systems. For a two-sided layout this small however, one "poor-boy" solution would be a throttle tethered to one end of the layout that would let you control it from either side.
Being operation oriented, I don't like to think of a yard as "storage" but as operation. It would be hard to build a real "operating yard" for classifying mainline through trains on this small a layout, but it might be possible to work in a mini working yard with one runaround track and a stub.
I can envison a pretty neat layout even this small representing a section of heavy railroad in a big city with THREE features that perform some of the function of yards...a very small "drop-off yard" as described above, one hidden layover track from which a through train emerges to drop off and pick up cars for a local switch crew to handle, and an interchange track with another railroad. The interchange could be built to resemble one end of a small yard with the tracks going off the layout or under a bridge as if it extends on and on. This layout would feature intense local switching, and mainline trains running through.

[ndbprr]

If you cut a 4'x8' sheet of plywood in half you could justify a river cutting the layout in two and extend it a little to allow for the bridges. A 4' wide layout is a bear to get to the back if it is against a wall however. You are prtty much limited to about 22" as the outside track radius and something less for the inner track meaning don't plan to run large engines and 86' box cars. If you could grab two walls you might do better to make a narrower railroad 2' to 2 1/2' wide with a return loop on either end or both ends. One loop is called an out and back and you could have a yard and engine terminal on one section and industries on the other. Chances are if this is your first layout it will just be the first of many as you grow and decide what works for you.

[Anonymous]

thanks for the ideas and advice guys, i appreciate them all. im considering adding a 4'x4' extension to the 4x8, kind of a "L" shape. anyone know of any track plans to accomidate this style of layout? im no good at designing track layouts. any plans are appreciated.

many thanks![:D]

[Anonymous]

I asked the same question: http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7926

[Jetrock]

The only problem with a 4x4 added to the 4x8 is it means the center section will be relatively inaccessible. If you have access from all around for this shape (requiring a room at least 10x14) you could split it with a backdrop in the middle and have quite a lot of layout and never have to reach in more than two feet--but in the same space you could have an around-the-room layout 2 feet deep with considerably more total area. One thing to keep in mind is that trains look better from the inside of a curve than the outside.

[Anonymous]

Kalmbach publishes a track plan book entitled "101 Trackplans for Model Railroaders," written by Linn H. Wescott. It has an entire section of 4x8 plans, and you might want to consider an enlarged version of plan 20, or a combination of the other plans. Have you considered a figure 8 within an oval? Just a thought. Also, you might think about a multi-lap plan. Finally, you might want to sacrifice some scenery for a decent sized round house.

Best of luck,
Daniel

[Anonymous]

Check out any of the Atlas catalogs at a local hobby shop. They have a couple of pretty good layouts featured in them. Some with overhead picures, great way to get some new ideas for your layout.

[Anonymous]

thank you all for the great help and ideas!

steve

[der5997]

Steve: If it's detail on a smaller layout that you are after, try surfing some UK model railway sites. The Brits generally speaking have less space for layouts than N. American modellers. Consequently, they have developed the art of super detail on a smaller layout. Sorry I haven't any URLs to give you, but perhaps some one else can fill that void.