Hello all,
I've been lurking here for a bit, reading and learning. Thank you for all the inspiration and advise!
I need some help with designing a new HO layout. I want to have something I will enjoy for the long run. HO is the scale... I know I could get much more operational interest by switching to N gauge. I have considered it but decided to stick with HO for various reasons.
I have a small bedroom to work with that is slightly larger than a 9x10 foot room with a door in the corner on the 10 foot wall - the door must open into the room. The room has a 4x2 closet that extends off the 9 foot wall opposite the door.
Layout will be set in the Northwest US. I like both steam and diesel, so the layout will be set in the early 50s to allow everything to look plausible. I model the Spokane, Portland and Seattle railroad, as well as the Great Northern, and my son also likes the Western Pacific. I'm not set on a specific prototype or specific location. Historic plausibility is not as important as running trains and having fun.
I would like to be able to run just about anything. An Athearn 4-6-6-4 challenger pulling a passenger train would probably be about the longest equipment I would consider. I'm thinking mostly freight operations with an occasional passenger train. To me train length is determined more by layout size than anything else. For passenger trains, 4 or 5 cars is fine. For freight trains I would like to run up to 12 cars or so (with maybe a longer freight now and then). To fit that type of equipment I'm hoping to maintain at least a 30" minimum radius for the mainline. For other tracks a slight smaller minimum radius (nothing less than 25") might be okay. I want to over estimate requirements so everything operates as expected even if I need to squeeze a little during construction. For operation I want continuous running capability - I like to run trains while I work on something else. I also like to leave 1 train running while doing some switching with another. Normally there will be 1 operator, sometimes 2. If more than that we can take turns.
--I shall be modeling a small engine terminal. I have a scale 90' turntable that will be incorporated into the new layout. After the engine service facility scene its a mater of what else fits. Some other scenes I would like to model include:
--A small town - some place to display model structures. I think a team track & freight house would be great for a siding. I'd like to have a grain elevator along another siding. A small platform along the mainline for passenger service would be more than enough.
--Lumber facility of some sort - just a NW thing more than a family history thing. I really like the look of logging shays. I am considering a logging oriented branch line on a second level (with much smaller minimum radius and steep grades).
--Icing platform - I think this type of model would help establish the era. I also think a re-icing facility would help establish a reason for the town being such a hub of rail activity.
I know this is small layout to fit all that into...
I'm looking to make sure I design a layout that will keep my interest. I also want a layout that will be both fun and intuitive to operate. I want enough complexity to be interesting while still being simple enough to get working. I have looked at Mike Hammer's layout schematic at length. I am intrigued by the concept of surround staging, but I'm concerned about the complexity and amount of space that type of staging would take. The last thing I want is to have it so complex that its no fun. I want to be able to walk in, turn on a train and enjoy.
I'm going to try to attach a diagram of the room. I'm working on several of my own layout schematics at this point, that hopefully I post soon. Thank you in advance for your comments.
slightly larger than 9x10
I've been lurking here for a bit, reading and learning. Thank you for all the inspiration and advise!
I need some help with designing a new HO layout. I want to have something I will enjoy for the long run. HO is the scale... I know I could get much more operational interest by switching to N gauge. I have considered it but decided to stick with HO for various reasons.
I have a small bedroom to work with that is slightly larger than a 9x10 foot room with a door in the corner on the 10 foot wall - the door must open into the room. The room has a 4x2 closet that extends off the 9 foot wall opposite the door.
Layout will be set in the Northwest US. I like both steam and diesel, so the layout will be set in the early 50s to allow everything to look plausible. I model the Spokane, Portland and Seattle railroad, as well as the Great Northern, and my son also likes the Western Pacific. I'm not set on a specific prototype or specific location. Historic plausibility is not as important as running trains and having fun.
I would like to be able to run just about anything. An Athearn 4-6-6-4 challenger pulling a passenger train would probably be about the longest equipment I would consider. I'm thinking mostly freight operations with an occasional passenger train. To me train length is determined more by layout size than anything else. For passenger trains, 4 or 5 cars is fine. For freight trains I would like to run up to 12 cars or so (with maybe a longer freight now and then). To fit that type of equipment I'm hoping to maintain at least a 30" minimum radius for the mainline. For other tracks a slight smaller minimum radius (nothing less than 25") might be okay. I want to over estimate requirements so everything operates as expected even if I need to squeeze a little during construction. For operation I want continuous running capability - I like to run trains while I work on something else. I also like to leave 1 train running while doing some switching with another. Normally there will be 1 operator, sometimes 2. If more than that we can take turns.
--I shall be modeling a small engine terminal. I have a scale 90' turntable that will be incorporated into the new layout. After the engine service facility scene its a mater of what else fits. Some other scenes I would like to model include:
--A small town - some place to display model structures. I think a team track & freight house would be great for a siding. I'd like to have a grain elevator along another siding. A small platform along the mainline for passenger service would be more than enough.
--Lumber facility of some sort - just a NW thing more than a family history thing. I really like the look of logging shays. I am considering a logging oriented branch line on a second level (with much smaller minimum radius and steep grades).
--Icing platform - I think this type of model would help establish the era. I also think a re-icing facility would help establish a reason for the town being such a hub of rail activity.
I know this is small layout to fit all that into...
I'm looking to make sure I design a layout that will keep my interest. I also want a layout that will be both fun and intuitive to operate. I want enough complexity to be interesting while still being simple enough to get working. I have looked at Mike Hammer's layout schematic at length. I am intrigued by the concept of surround staging, but I'm concerned about the complexity and amount of space that type of staging would take. The last thing I want is to have it so complex that its no fun. I want to be able to walk in, turn on a train and enjoy.
I'm going to try to attach a diagram of the room. I'm working on several of my own layout schematics at this point, that hopefully I post soon. Thank you in advance for your comments.
slightly larger than 9x10