Hello from Mansfield!

[sandy]

Welcome Andy
I am building a layout at the moment in one of the front bedrooms 9ft X 9ft approx: in OO gauge. I have managed to get in a long run double track folded 8 main line with country station and branch line platform, goods shed and small engine shed. Also the other side of room has a branch line terminus station (very small). By adding another removable baseboard in the centre well I have managed to include a Loco yard with turn table engine sheds and coaling tower. Because of the small room size I have had to use tighter curves than I would have liked and there is not much space left for senic details.
The reason the Loco Yard Baseboard is removable is so I can get to the windows to clean and open them and change the curtains ect:

[Andy_C]

Hi Sandy.

I spotted your layout and thought the dimensions similar.

I need to get some track planning software sorted for my iMac. I can then start to have a realistic idea of what I can fit in. I’m also looking for track plans of Mansfield railway station in the 50’s. It had a TMS and goods yard. It may start the layout planning juices flowing.

I was also interested in your board lift, which is why I visited your layout thread.

Cheers

Andy’s

[sandy]

My advice is to forget about planning software or you will be planning for ages and getting nowhere. Look at other layouts in magazines on here, any where, and get picture in your mind what you want to do and get some track down. It will develope. I got most of my idears from Railway modeller magazine. Also some layouts on this site to be honest. I spent ages with bits of paper trying to do good track plans and it was not till I got some track down things started to happen. I wasted a whole year trying to find a good plan.

[Andy_C]

I get your point, but I’m a few months off from breaking ground as I’ve two other bedrooms to sort, to free up what is currently my office.

So it won’t harm anything for me to have a play with planning stuff until I can get some boards up.

[Dave S]

IMO for me, plan has to come first to know where boards need to be in loft space.
Held up anyway waiting for tanks to be moved.
The software (Anyrail) is great at letting me know radius on my plan and have to hand 1st to 4th radius notes for streamline, so I can see where problem parts are, such as curves too sharp. The software also allows to set height above board and 3D view, so passovers/bridges can be worked out.

I thought I had a good plan, made up not based on reality, but interesting, with objective of observer not being able to predict train entering tunnel A always appears at exit B - or it could be a different train from lower level making that exit. Tried to provide flexibility of routes and 4+ trains able to run at same time.

Today I took a different approach and modelled a real life junction with nearby terminus. I found signal board photos and sketches online and google earth for the real McCoy. Not sure what plan to go for yet, but will likely come up with more ideas before I start screwing down.
I have flicked through 2 of 12 years worth of Railway modeller circa 1970's - 1980's to give me more ideas as you say.

[Walkingthedog]

Things never quite work out as you think they will, no matter how many plans you make. Did mine with a pencil and a sheet of A4.