Designing a layout when not much is known about Railroads

Ashpit Mar 3, 2020

  1. Ashpit

    Ashpit TrainBoard Member

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    We all have to face this dilemma. We want to get into this hobby; but, do not know much about railroads; or, railroading! I had both HO and American Flyer S-scale when I was a kid. Most kids just want to see trains run and don't really think about scale like operations. Many adults are this way, also. So, when I started my layout 31 years ago, I knew I wanted to design in some realistic operations; but, knew little about how to operate. This is the largest problem we all face when starting out and we all end up putting the kart afore the horse, in this matter! We are expecting that we can design a layout that will keep us happy, even though we lack experience! So, I am paying for my lack of knowledge back then, now! My layout does not have enough online businesses to take care of, although there are far more now, than when I started. Back 31 years ago, I began the process of designing my layout by reading John Armstrong's book: "Track Planing for Realistic Operation". This book is still available from Kalmbach: https://kalmbachhobbystore.com/product/book/12148 I managed to build a great yard for my model railroad using the information in John's book; so, I highly recommend this book! The facts I have just presented, might be why it makes some sense to build layouts previously designed by and recommended by people who have been in the design side of the hobby for years. If you can afford, you could ask for someone to design your layout for you.

    Now, given the fact that I have been in the hobby for more than 30 years, I do think I could do a better job of designing my own layout. The fact is however, at 70 years old the idea of starting over is not very appealing! Know that the process of designing a model railroad is a complicated affair and taking time to do so makes a bunch of sense! Starting small is a good idea, also. With a small layout, you can possibly incorporate the small layout into your eventual big one, not unlike what the famous John Allen did with his Gorre and Daphetid original layout.
     
  2. Grey One

    Grey One TrainBoard Supporter

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    I am 65yo. I've enjoyed designing model railroads since I was about 15yo, My father bought me a large pad of graph paper, pencils, straight edge, compass, and eraser. he also included the John Armstrong book along with, Lynn Wescott's, '101 Track Plans'.

    I am now working on my next to last layout and simplifying where ever I can while incorporating my three favorite aspects of model railroading.
    • Bullet trains will have their own elevated double track
    • Unit trains will have a semi-dedicated main line that will actually be a very long oval.
    • Slightly overlapping the main line will be a long point to point switching 'branch
    Much of the switching portion will be incorporated into my 'final layout', (when I have to move to a smaller place).
    These will all run on separate power supplies where possible thus reducing fancy / complicated wiring.
    So, overall?
    • Big loops for continuous running
    • Simple wiring
    • Simple scenery
    Due to visual limitations scenery will be basic and initially abstracted wiht place holders.

    Hope this helps.
     
  3. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    I have that track planning book, as well as lots of track plan books dating back to "Nine Scale Model Railroads" Atlas trackplan book. I found a great way towards layout design to simply be looking up railroad platt diagrams, and simplifying from there. I decided my final layout would be modular, using the very small T-Trak format. That way, when I get shipped off to a "home" by my kids, I can take a basic loop of modules and run my trains with the other geezers in the game room, handing out smartphones and train orders till I catch the last train to my final reward! :D
     
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  4. acptulsa

    acptulsa TrainBoard Member

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    Well, if it makes you feel any better, the real railroads were built when knowledge and experience were lacking too. And only a few stretches could be rebuilt as completely as they might have liked.
     
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  5. Ashpit

    Ashpit TrainBoard Member

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    I didn't think I was bringing the topic up to make myself feel better! I had thought maybe I could help those just starting out with some information to get them headed in the right direction. I'm guessing that I'm likely not the first person to attempt to help those just starting out! I also know that at least in my case, I couldn't wait to get started on my layout. I would be thinking that this might be the case with others, too. My suggestion would be to slow down, do some studying, buy some reference materials and do a lot of "Easy Chair Model Railroading".

    The big difference between Model Railroaders and Full Scale Railroaders is "Beginnings and Destinations". "Beginnings and Destinations" are very real for Full Scale Railroaders and are "Pretend" for Model Railroaders. I am a prototype modeler and model a specific railroad at a specific time of its' existence although the geography of the land my layout passes through is completely freelanced.

    In a recent survey I made on another FORUM, I found that fully 1/4th of model railroaders do not follow a prototype nor a specific era and are totally freelancing.

    Standing at the beginning of the journey, if the Model Railroader can even understand the choices to be made, simply beginning can seem a daunting task! What makes it easy is it is only a hobby and even if confused by all the choices it is all still a bunch of fun!

    It is possible and maybe even likely that people just starting out, pay no attention to any of this!

    The right direction is the direction you choose!
     
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2020
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  6. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    This, is where MOST model railroaders want to start. Get a big loop of track, long train where the loco couples with the EOT car, and full steam ahead!



    Go Hello Kitty, Go!

    In N and Z, the popular starting dream layout is the Hello Kitty Shinkasen:
     
  7. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    Tony Koester's Realistic Model Railroad Operation (Second Edition) book woiuld be a good place to start. I admire your desire to better understand the prototype.

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  8. Ashpit

    Ashpit TrainBoard Member

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    Hardcoaler, Yes, this is one of the many books I have on operations.
     
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  9. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    You may have this one too, but John Armstrong's The Railroad: What It Is, What It Does is a serious "down to brass tacks" book.

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  10. James Fitch

    James Fitch TrainBoard Member

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    While I have used computer software for some graphic stuff, I still prefer to use graph paper (11x17"), pencils, scale rule and compass etc for layout design. Here is my early draft sketch of my current, unders construction layout, although it doesn't show the 5 more benchwork sections added.

    [​IMG]


    Books are a good thing. I've worn out my copy of John Armstrongs Track Planning for Realistic Operation and recommend it. I also still have the Nine Scale Model Railroads bood (N scale if I recall) which nails down cork and track, which I still do, and the 101 Track Plans book too. It's always good to look at lots of track plans to get an idea of what works for you and your space and scale.

    Ultimately, unless you pay a professoinal, it is best for the individual to see what works best for them after reviewing lots of material.
     
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  11. traingeekboy

    traingeekboy TrainBoard Member

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    After many years reading about what you are supposed to do - Yup read all those books and tons of articles too - I realized I tend to like playing with my toy trains. I break the rules a lot now in favor of what I like.

    Not saying the OP should do that, but it's what I do.

    I will add that just about any layout can be interesting if you have a way you prefer to run the trains. It's make believe so any kind of operating scheme can be adapted if you think of it more as a game.

    My biggest regret is taking apart many of my previous layouts. I should have stuck with them and seen what would happen.
     
  12. Ashpit

    Ashpit TrainBoard Member

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    After 32 years building this layout, I think I know what I want to do with model railroading, also! Train Geek Boy I'm glad your happy with what you have designed. I'm simply attempting to tell those just starting out to do a lot of studying before committing to a design.
     
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  13. traingeekboy

    traingeekboy TrainBoard Member

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    It's hard to know when you begin. I built a switching layout after reading oh so many articles on it. I realized I get bored just switching cars around. It was a 11 X 1 foot HO scale layout.

    I think new model railroaders should build 2 small layouts. A little switching plank like a Time Saver and some kind of oval layout. There really are different kinds of train fans and until you've tried it, you just can't know.

    My current planned designs are focused on running trains because I am like a little kid and I love the roundy roundy. So my dream layout is all about fast passenger trains. :p
     
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  14. RailMix

    RailMix TrainBoard Member

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    That could easily be one layout. Just incorporate a time saver into one side of the roundy-round and maybe a couple of staging tracks on the other side. That type of layout would give you a little taste of everything and perhaps could grow in the desired direction once you figure out what it is that you like. You could also easily add things like an interchange and/or a small yard or just concentrate on the roundy-round if you like.
     
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  15. RailMix

    RailMix TrainBoard Member

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    Having had time to consider my previous post, I would have to say that the roundy-round/timesaver combination idea is a product of the railroading I saw in a small town along C&O's ex PM Port Huron sub. From the age of 11, I spent many hours sitting on my bicycle watching the local crew do their work. There were two sidings and two spurs in town, one of which was the team track, used primarily by a farm implement dealer and the local lumber yard. The elevator (which also sold coal) was on one of the sidings. Eastbound locals would work these customers and then disappear over the hill toward Port Huron. Westbounds would make any setouts or pickups and then often would spend a length of time blocking their train for work at towns further west (there were five of them) before putting their train together and heading off in the direction of Saginaw. In earlier years, there was much more- two oil dealers, a Stokely Van Camp cannery and a second lumber yard. This along with a love of steam locomotives that goes back as long as I can remember makes an earlier era attractive.
    Anyway, this type of layout would be excellent for that type of operation for anyone who cared to develop it, but would also be an inexpensive way to try it out. Additionally, it would be fairly easy to ad the timesaver at some later point if the roundy-round didn't present enough challenge.

    Just my two cents worth in a $4 envelope.
     
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