Where to start?

[geojay]

I'm about to commence helping a younger family member to design a layout, my first involvement for about 20 years. Back then, I used Peco OO track and analogue control. How should we go about designing a layout? I think the 'side of a room' space available rules out loops at OO scale so it'll be a linear back and forth type layout. Is there any reason not to keep using Peco track? I'm happy to see they're still around and hopefully will be for a while yet...

I see lots of mention of SCARM and I see that there's are various libraries available for Peco track in SCARM.I'm also aware (via the family member) of Anyrail, is that also a good option? Is there any advice for how to get started with CAD for designing a layout? Any pitfalls I need to be aware of?

I'm not too worried about how to wire it up at this initial design stage? Is there anything I need to bear in mind in terms of layout design considering how we'll wire it?

Thanks in anticipation...

[IanS]

Back and forth type layouts may not appeal to a young family member - it depends on their age.

Peco track will be fine.

AnyRail is my program of choice although be careful - I spent years planning then decide putting track down was easier and more rewarding!

[sandy]

You can use computer design programs if you like spending hours on the computer and still end up with things not working out. And spend ages doing it. Last year when I started with my last layout. I started out with a scribble on a scrap of paper and spent time looking through Railway Modeler magazine and others looking for ideas. Have a look at layouts on line just to get ideas. Once you have a plan in your head get some track down. See if it fits into the space you have available. I used second hand track I bought on ebay cheaply to prove my plan before new track laying began. Start with a circle of track to find the board size required not forgetting the radius of track needed, remembering that most larger locomotives in OO require second radius or greater. First radius is to be avoided for anything but 0-6-0 and 0-4-0 locos in 00 gauge. The first thing you need is a pl;an in your head then perfect fitting it in the space available. While doing all this you may find that OO will not work in the space you have so think about TT or N gauge. TT is very new and not much available yet but it may become just as popular as oo is. Possibly ? Or you could work it out on paper first but I prefer the hands on approach. But that's me.

[Brian]

I have to agree with Ian that an end to end layout may not appeal to younger users who often want trains to run continuously.
Have a look at on line free to use track plans and see if there is anything that looks like something you may like to build and of course there is no reason at all why you cant alter any pre drawn plan to suit your own needs. Here is one such web site... https://freetrackplans.com/index.html

As stated, in OO Radius 1 is very tight and only suitable for smaller locos and carriages. So if at all possible, make Radius 2 the smallest to be used.

Peco track and points are considered to be very good, especially their points and in Code 100 are the same rail profile and fully compatible to Hornby tracks rails. Note: Peco produce two code 100 track styles - Setrack where curves are premade and to a set radius matching Hornby track sections and Streamline where larger footprint and radius points are used and flexible track sections also used plus points in Insulated frog, Electrofrog and some in Unifrog in Code 75 currently. The major difference between the two are the track parallel spacings - Setrack and Hornby is to 67mm centre to centre while Streamline is 50mm centre to centre. Note all distance and radius are always to the track centre line.

Peco also produce in Streamline Code 75 rail profile sometimes called Fine scale.

Code xx is the height of the rail in thousandths of an inch. Most OO stock will run on Code 100 rail, but older deeper flanged stock may have problems on the lower rail height Code 75 track.

If space is a problem then as you haven't started as yet, consider N gauge or even the new TT:120 items appearing. N is approx. half the size of OO, while TT:120 is approx. 2/3 OO size i.e. larger than N but smaller than OO.

[bulleidboy]

It would be useful to know what space you have available? Will it be set up permanently? Once your board(s) are in position you can start planning. Personally I think a sheet of A4 and pencil is all that is required. You mentioned Peco - their track is probably used by most members of this forum. With the exception of points and crossings, my layout (three sides of a 10x7 room) is entirely Peco Flexitrack. I knew what I wanted and found a layout (end-to-end) that I stretched to fit the space I had available. I knew that I would not be running tender locos with ten coaches, so just adapted everything to fit.
Best of luck and let us know how you get on.

[yelrow]

over here in France, peco track is like hens teeth. My supplier says there is a supply problem.

[Walkingthedog]

You’ll be surprised what you can fit in a small space if you don’t mind only being allowed to run certain types of train.

I can only run small locos and goods wagons.

[glencairn]

Hi geojay. All good advice from the above members.

You do not say how old the younger member of the family is? Whatever their age allow them to run trains the way they want. Keep it lighthearted and fun. I say this because by keeping a fun element they come back time and time again. Give the younger member responsibility in the running of trains.

I have five grandchildren operating my layout at different times. The youngest is now six years of age. Though the layout is now end to end, all five operate their favourite part of the layout.

Glencairn

[Gixer]

I'm going though the exact same journey now with my son.

The way we're going it is by having the biggest board possible and then just laying track. This has got my son really involved in the planning stage and having his say on what he wants. We have laid track, tested and lifted more time than I care to think but really enjoyed the process. We are working with the track we have got and only buying extra if we are missing specific points, etc.
Whats working so far is a long single line running around the outside of the board for a high speed train and then a shunting yard with engine shed, good yard and quarry on the inside, lots of interesting things to do.

My son lacks the skills to do some of the modeling (not his fault) so in this really early stage he much more involved in the planning and me the structural building. This will change when we get to the detail, he's really excited by static grass

To start we used one of those Hornby pieces of track with the power connectors to power the track and as we confirm sections I'm soldering and drilling.

[Brian]

<SNip>
To start we used one of those Hornby pieces of track with the power connectors to power the track and as we confirm sections I'm soldering and drilling.

Hi
I hope you're not soldering the track sections together?
This shouldn't really be done as then there is no allowance for expansion or contraction of the rails