Planning and Starting a layout
I see many requests on the forums for help at the planning stage for new beginners and from the comments many see a lot to learn. There is quite a lot of free software available on the internet to help with the planning process which is very good, but before you reach for your mouse and plan away I think it would be a good idea to consider the way I planned my layout, which was built before all this wonderful software became available. I'm not suggesting you should not use the software, on the contrary, I am suggesting using my method and the software.There seem to lots of requests for opinions of a particular layout plans and this is a very difficult area for others to comment on because unless you are modelling an exact replica of some real place then your plan is very personal to you. Others have different agendas and preferences which may conflict with what you are trying to achieve, and these opinions can only confuse your own aims. If you take notice of all the opinions, there is a danger you can end up with a layout designed by committee.
No committee has ever designed anything of any use to anybody.
Most layout designs are as a result of daydreams, the ideal layout you see in you mind, usually concentrating on a particular point or points you wish to model. It may be a particular place or track configuration you focus upon. To change this beginning into an operating layout is a big step, but can be made easier if you break down the big step into smaller ones.
A major mistake most people make is trying to fit a quart into a pint pot. You see Kings Cross station in your mind and yet the space for this monster is no longer than and ironing board and all in OO!
The next two steps will take you from the minds eye to some reality.
First, there are a couple of publications which I would recommend you read, both by Peco. '60 Plans' and 'Track Plans' written by Cyril Freezer. Don't just look and the plans, read the notes. As you will know, I do bang on a bit about the need for the operation of the railway to be considered as one of the first thoughts rather than the last. (read 'boredom and monotony' in Origins section of this blog). If you a planning a larger layout you can use the plans in the smaller layouts for part of the larger. Although these publications are now out of print, I found lots for sale on ebay by searching for the names in quotes above. They cost a few pounds each. The publications are for OO, there is also one called 'N gauge track plans'.
The next step I would recommend is to download the Peco Turnout Plans
http://www.peco-uk.com/page.asp?id=pointplans
These plans can be printed out and laid out so you can get a really good idea of how much space the junctions and your plan really takes up. Fitting the junctions into the space is a key part of the planning process.
For example consider a steam operated branch line terminus with a run round loop to release the locomotive and run round the train. You need to decide what size locomotives you are going to use in order to work out the length of the track between the end point and the buffers, how many coaches you plan to send up the branch, can they fit in the station length whilst the locomotive is running round, etc. Make an estimate of the locomotive length and the coaches.
A double track crossover (using long components) is 30" (760mm) long and a simple crossover (using medium components) is 14" (360mm).
Once you have laid out your paper layout consider the operational moves you can make and ask yourself if there are sufficient to entertain you when finished. If all you can do is to pull a train into the station, run round it and pull out again, then you'll be bored with it pretty quickly.
This exercise (with virtually no outlay) will do more in moving forward any plans than any software will do on its own and once completed, the results can be transferred to the planning software with the confidence knowing it will fit the space.
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