Asking for help with new layout.

We need a little bit more information about what you want out of the layout, otherwise we can't offer suggestions.  Here's some questions to get you started:

• Are you wanting to have a more realistic layout, or do you want to end up with a more postwar display type of layout?
• Are you wanting to model a specific prototype, or do you want to model with what road names you have currently (Santa Fe, UP, CP, CN, GN, NYC, exc)
• What kind of operation are you wanting (point to point, light industry operation, watching trains go in circles).
• Any extras like a yard, a specific industry or a station?

All of these, and a few more specifications will help us all give suggestions.  One thing you can do right now is search either for a free software program that does track planning, or go grab a pencil and a piece of paper.

One limitation we have though on this forum is that we can't actually design hte perfect layout for you, but we can give you suggestions in the form of advice or track plans.

This is roughly my 19 by 8 home layout.

John On the 57 STG loop you suggested I think 54 O-gauge track will work with 57 STG track to make 5 rail track. This would put track right at the edge of your layout.

I really enjoy the figure 8 on my layout and would suggest 42 figure 8 with 4 switches  form a double reverse loop.

Thanks Jim, I love the look of your layout and lots of things for me to think about.  As to the Std-57 going right to the edge of the layout, I will be going a bit bigger to have enough room for the larger loop, maybe 5'4" or so.

Thanks again,

John.

John,

Have you cross posted this in the Layout Design forum?

Jeff Davis

John, a big factor of your railroad design is, whose track are you going to use?

I use lionel tube rail, O27 AND O32 laid on Johnson Roadbed. Once you have your track you can do a lot of desiging with the track itself.

You may try and find a copy of Publisher of Classic Toy Trains, which has a ton of track plans in all space size and gauges. (Sorry Alan, I hope I didn't offend anybody.)

My layout's name is "The Nevr Dun".

Al

Here are some answers to a few of the questions from the above posts.  The type of layout I'm going for is pure pre-war tinplate toy layout in Standard Gauge, but hoping to incorporate an O gauge loop somewhere.  I didn't cross post in the layout forum because I get the feeling they are more into more realistic and/or post-war type layouts.  I figured that the people who already have the elements of what I'm looking for would all be found on the tinplate forum.  As for the type of track, I plan to use USA Track's standard gauge track in Std-57 and Std-42 and if I end up using switches I'll probably go with Ross's new standard gauge switches.

Thanks for the help thus far, please feel free to add suggestions, ideas and pictures.

John.

John, Good luck with the project!

My advice is before you claim any real estate, re-check what the wife actually said, what she really meant and get it in writing! Make sure you wern't just hearing things.

Well, for the overall desing of the layout, if indeed tinplate, then I would think a a layout like this would look  very classic:

2-3 loops of track

sidings on every track

one loop climbs up or is elevated above the others.

a bridge, tunnel, and station included in the setting.

as many operating accessories as you can fit.

However, there are no rules to this hobby, just guidelines.  We can give you ideas all day, but in the end, it is your layout, so have fun with it and make it your own.

good luck with the layout, and please post pictures when done.

This will give you an idea what will fit in the 5 by 12 space. I put 54 O-gauge instead of 57 STG because my program does not have STG 57.

I would elevate the 54 /57 loop and if you do not go 5rail a double cross over with Ross #4 switches to connect everything.

John,

I strongly recommend that you check out the various Standard Gauge layouts that are displayed on the "All Gauge Model Railroading Page" website.  The site includes track plans some with 3D diagrams of layouts in all gauges including several in Standard Gauge.  Most contain a complete list of the specific track needed to build them including a list of the accessories shown in the 3D diagram of the track plan.  Here is a link to the site http://www.thortrains.net/  and a link to the  one of the Standard Gauge track plan with 3D layout pages on the site.        http://www.thortrains.net/marx/funlayd1.html

Bob