Model Railway Forum

Hi all my layout is starting to come together.

I'm planning a 8ft wide by 6tt deep board with a 4ft by 2ft well, giving a 3ft deep section across the front with a screen hiding the rest of the oval track, leaving a 1ft deep board around the back. This is somewhat scaled back version of my original around the room but for the door corner and 2 little island for the return loops either side of the door.

I am now wondering whether to extend the sides out by 1ft (I have space in the room) to allow a 2ft board at the back for future expansion. The back board runs across a window wall so can only access via the well/command centre. My current design just has twin track across and round corners to the front with no points or anything yet and be hidden by the screen I made. The 3ft board at front be the main part to start with. I could also extend one side by 4,ft wide by 2ft deep across the adjoining wall.

So my question is would a 2ft board along the back give a standard width to work with or is 1ft sufficient. Of course with a 3ft side means the well would be 3ft deep

i'd say the minimum would be just wider than the number of tracks you want on the layout... in some places my railway boards are only about 1 1/2 inches wide (ish)

Which is why I originally thought 1ft for 2 straight tracks and a bit of space. I'm wondering if there's a min depth to allow modelling say buildings or to build industry in the future. There's a difference between space for track and usable space isn't there?

As I say I have the space, the wall is 9ft long on the short door side and 10 ft opposite side and an extra ft now will save time effort later if I wanted to expand I guess

There is no set size for a baseboard, just try not to go wider than 3ft unless you have all round access.

Who knows what sort of landscaping you will do, what type of buildings you will add, that is entirely up to you. All you need is enough width to take as many tracks as you want the right distance apart. You’ll have to decide how much extra width you will need for buildings, hills, fields, power stations, pig stys etc, your choice.

The minimum width will be just wide enough for what you want to model. As has been said a single track and no scenery needs only 1 1/2” but if you want to add detail the width must increase to what is workable.

As an example my OO layout is generally 15” wide but expands to accommodate a turntable and a goods shed in a couple of areas. It also narrows down on a small lift out section to join the ends. That section has some scenery so is about 10” wide.

20190417_140253 by Steve Mumford, on Flickr

So I think from the trains I have it's been suggested be suited to 70s industry.
The main board be 8x3 with a screen obscuring the back view.

Having laid track out and trying it out need to make a few adjustments;
1) trains fowling skirting board by a couple mm but scrap by, once on proper bench should be ok

2) also fowling the screen I quickly made need to re centre possibly cut a little noggin out but should have 20cm gap between the end of screen and first track

3) i have a point either side which are a bit close to the walls again once off floor have skirting board thickness extra finger room

4) not sure if I've laid track exactly to plan and think I'm off in places as using track parts that I have no idea on part numbers on with plan I've followed or parts I have altho it all joined, not tacked down and just about runs
Need to change one point as trains seem to stall over it.

So I think fiddle yard at the back where trains can be swapped out and have spare ready to come on and one coming round can come off so may be go wider.
Eventually goods yard can be added top right

Might be best to go for the larger measurement unless you really do know for certain what you have planned for the area in question. Adding a bit of extra width later is a bit of a pain - as I can testify.