Who has had a good experience with a layout designer that they think is the best? Thanks.
Original Post
The "best" designer is you my friend. Because you know what you want.
The extraordinarily abbreviated and condensed version of design is the 5 W’s of the model railroad Design Process:
WHO name of my railroad(s)?
WHERE is my railroad(s) located?
WHY was it constructed?
WHAT does it do to generate revenue to survive?
WHEN did it/does it exist?
When you are designing a model railroad layout, you will need to know the name of the railroad that you are designing, exactly where it is located, why it was constructed--for what purpose(s), and what it does for a living. Finally, does it still survive? That information is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.
Design involves mechanics as well! Use appropriate length cars for the curvature you choose---too long equipment on sharp curves may resemble the wild mouse at Disney World! :-)
BE sure to design your railroad as a point to point scheme and try to get away from the endless sea of circles. Railroads go from place to place. They don't chase their tails. If you have limited space, that may be a challenge to overcome but consider it.
Give yourself and other Operators something to do. If you build another loop/circle, you will tire of it quickly. Since the beginning of time, most people build loop after loop.
Think of this...imagine two table forks faced in "opposite" directions where the handles face one another and the times face away. That is what railroads are designed like! :-) Take your train from point A to B. And, give it a reason to do it.
What is your favorite railroad(s)?
Where is it located?
What particular place are you wanting to model?
What does it carry? Freight? People, both????
What do you want it to do? Yard operations? Branch line? Narrow gauge?
I think I need to write a book. :-) I've only been thinking about design issues for 42 or 43 years... :-)
