Practical size?

[Bandit Mick]

Have a good think about the scale/gauge you choose. Go to exhibitions when they open again and look at lots of layouts on the net for ideas. I went with OO because of space and financial constraints but keep looking longingly at O gauge. If I had known what was possible in O then I think I would have made a different decision.

[Walkingthedog]

You will be surprised what you can fit into a small space. Really depends what you want the layout to do.

[Dave S]

As Mountain Goat says, thats a workable 6 by 4 feet in OO land.
50 years ago N guage was twice the cost of OO as it required higher engineering, but I've read there is little price difference now.
My neighbour at time had N guage and modelled German railways that featured hills.
He had modular sections each about 4ft by 2ft so he could take in car to shows.
So...you could get more in by having raised sections.
I'm in planning stage and thinking of having an underground section (think Kings Cross Thameslink) so a sub level layer exposed at station and one or 2 points of circuit.
Or...Have say 2 rails shooting of to side and have an extension section that can be added on for odd occasion (if adjacent space available).

Back in 1962 I had board around 5 foot by 4 foot in living room, all track pinned down, electric points and it was hinged against the wall so it would come down about twice a year for a week at a time. Maybe you have room that would allow imtermittent use...but that does mean adding/removing rolling stock each time.
Dave

[sandy]

I would put a shed in the garden.

[Mountain Goat]

Have a good think about the scale/gauge you choose. Go to exhibitions when they open again and look at lots of layouts on the net for ideas. I went with OO because of space and financial constraints but keep looking longingly at O gauge. If I had known what was possible in O then I think I would have made a different decision.

Maybe 0-16.5 is the answer or the American 0n30?

[Mountain Goat]

I would put a shed in the garden.

0 gauge would be good as one can extend into the garden.

[GeoffAlan3]

N gauge offers the chance to run a longer train, in terms of number of items trailing behind the loco. Great for sitting watching the train(s) go by. And also the chance on your layout to have a shunting are while the trains go by another loco can be shunting and making up the next train to run.
This is possible on the board you have.