Prewar Trackplans for Small Layout

I don't have a track plan for this simple layout. It is only 45" x 75", but you can see how I placed my accessories.  I also have a track for the milk car. I spent a lot of time trying to make it look somewhat like a city while keeping the tinplate feel. Note the custom plots for the villas and bungalow that fit in the curve.

I know Lionel has created tons of small track plans in their catalogues and other places. Not sure where to find them as a group but someone may know. There is always the temptation to cram a lot of track in a small space. But since pre-war basically runs in circles, I left a lot of space for accessories. On a 5' x 8', I would definitely do two independent loops.

Really love your layout Will !

           Bill

Here are some pics of my prewar layout, its 10 x 7, and contains both standard and O gauge. It certainly can be scaled for your desired size. Currently I can run 4 trains at a time and have 1 additional standard consist in waiting.

The inner O gauge loops allow for 2 smaller consists to run independently or 1 larger one on the connected loop. Also the switch placement was sized to allow me to remove the 2 closer track circles and replace them with a crossover track to form a figure eight.

For Christmas my wife bought me the terrace and station. This required me to change the inner circles to a circle and an oval to accommodate the new addition.

Hopefully these will give you some additional ideas, keep us posted on your decision and build.

Here's a track plan and some photos from my old tinplate Christmas layout I think it was about 4" x 9.5".

It actually made it into the magazine, I'll see if I can find that material.

This is what I was trying to remember the other day. Thor Sheil (RIP) has a lot of simple track plans on his website:  http://thortrains.us/oldlay.html

And more on this page:  http://thortrains.us/

NNJ Railfan's question gives me the opportunity to boast that I still have the instruction booklet that came with my dad's Lionel outfit in 1937 here in Australia.  There were a number of pages of track plans at the back of the book.  If you are working with tubular track, these may still be just as relevant today.  I love the photo on the first page of the manual (2nd photo attached).

Very cool !