Finally, layout underway

John,

Take your time with the track plan.  Do you have anything in mind?  If you’re anxious throw down and oval and run some trains while you think more about a permanent plan. 

 

John, good for you. I am also getting rteady to start another layout in a bedroom in a condo. Mine will probable be only 8 X 10 or 11.  I'm going to go with an around thwe wall layout abut 3 f wide.   I too am going to use Mianne benchwork as soon as I het moved in.

I know the feeling.  After around 10 years of collecting I finally started my layout around a month ago.   It is about the same dimensions as yours.

 

Good luck and keep us updated with your progress. 

Good Luck John. I too  have just started a new layout with my Mianne benchwork. My dimensions are 19'x4' with 8' of it 6' wide.(Furnance and Oil TanKs can't be moved!)After spending more time with RR Track ver 4 I have come up with something which works for me.

A twice around loop with sidings for 9 trains. Once I decided that I would rather run longer trains and one on this level I was able to get work in the basement! I even have room for an O27 dog bone in the middle.

Enjoy

Bill 

Good Evening Doctor,

That's great news. You mentioned your layout will be simple. Doctor, keep it that way. You will have more fun and enjoyment with this style of a layout. Remember, there will be days when you won't work on your layout but just run trains. That's OK. Most of all remember to have fun.   

Good for you Dr John! Get the first level running then add a second level! Plenty of room.

John, after all this time, I am excited for you that you are finally have a place to run trains.  As for being able to have a cool layout on the space you have, you may be surprised with what can be accomplished in that area.

 

When I move into my current home 7 years ago, I had a space in the attic to build a room for a permanent layout but knew it would take toe or three years to get it ready.  So I build a temporary layout in a playroom that was 8 feet by 12 feet with access to three of the four sides (one of the 8 feet sides against the wall.  Using 072 and 081 curves, I was able to have two independent loops of track connected by a set of switches.  By rotating the loop on the table about 5 degrees, I was able to have a siding on one corner with a Lionel engine house and room to park several large steam engines.  And by using 072 switches was able to have a small yard.

 

I created a town and residential area in the middle where I could reach comfortably.  It took me four years to get the layout room completed and I was really glad to have that layout during that time.  If I had not been able to finish the new layout, it would have sufficed.

 

Good luck and happy railroading,

Don

It seems that the once all young collectors are now all the middle age operators. Its great to hear that you have joined this collector migration. Collecting is fun but IMO there is nothing better than seeing, smelling and running your trains. O72 track requires a table 6' wide to make a semi-circle or whole circle turn. You appear to have that space available. In any case enjoy building the layout and the fun and relaxation that goes with it. My advise is to plan carefully and build at a pace where it remains relaxing.. If you push layout building it often becomes like work and can bring stress. When I get tired I just forget about the layout, run the two loops that I have completed and go back to it a week later. I  never work on trains more than 2 hours in any day. This greatly helps keep the hobby fun. Good luck. You will LOVE the result.

John, I'm glad to see you're getting your layout going.  I simple double mainline layout with a yard or industry spurs should be simply lots of fun.  Here's an 8 x 14 regular O gauge layout that might provide some inspiration.  The outer loop is O84 and the inner is O72.