Model Railway Forum

Hi, I need some advice on designing a small layout on a 6 x 4 baseboard. I want to build a horseshoe layout with a Scottish Highlands backdrop. In the middle there will be mountains etc. I want a small terminus station at one end with one (?) siding and poss a small station halt (?) halfway round hidden from view by the mountains where walkers will get off to climb the mountains. I’ve scoured the internet including Freetackplans.com but can’t seem to find a simple design as this will be my first real layout. How many sidings should I have. I will be using a class 37 (DCC) with two carriages. Any suggestions will be most welcome.Thks

Hi
What scale/gauge? Assuming OO then...
I really think you'll be pushed to get a U shaped layout onto a 6' x 4' baseboard. As by the time the 180 degree curves have been laid there wont be a lot of room left for much else!!
Don't forget you will need access to at least three sides of the baseboards for maintenance and generally working on the layout. You cannot reach across 4 feet from one side! About the most is around 2feet to 2ft 6inches! Without causing damage to items at the front of the layout.

Good advice from Brian. It really is surprising how much space even a small amount of track takes up. I started with an end to end but increased it to a horseshoe which is 10 by 8 by 6. I laid a curved track between board 1 and 2 and was surprised how much space I needed to have quite a flowing curve. Hope you manage to find a suitable track plan - going to exhibitions and having a good look around comes up with alternative and quite innovative ways to use a space no matter how small.

Would it be easier if I went N gauge rather than 00 gauge as my 6 feet x 4 feet is a fixed baseboard on legs and is restricted space-wise.
thks

Yes, as a rule of thumb you'll get twice as much in the same space in N than OO.

Brian wrote: ↑Wed Nov 20, 2019 2:06 pm Yes, as a rule of thumb you'll get twice as much in the same space in N than OO.

I thought it was 4x as much if you consider it as two dimensional?