My nephew just turned 10 years old and is getting interested in model railroading. His father (my brother) and I have been modeling for 25+ years on and off so we think this is a good thing to spend time with him on. Space is limited to a 4x6 area and it has to be portable since they are renting the house they are in and will be moving to a new home in the future. Below is what I came up with over the past two days. I tried to work in function along with the ability to try out modeling many different things and styles. It will be simple DC since we are trying to keep it on the cheap and we already have the transformer and a couple Bachman 2-8-0's to run. Please let me know what you think and I am open to any suggestions for improving on this design. Thanks, John
John, It is a nice layout for your nephew to start with. Will it sit in the middle of a room with access from all four sides (or at least access from both of the long sides)? For portable, you might consider making it in two 2x6 sections as 4x6 will be awkward to move and depending upon building material will be on the heavy side. Plus, you could set it up so that you could shift the lower half about 5 1/2 feet to the right and have a switching layout.
Looks dadburned good. Provision for continuous running, switching operation. No passing siding/ runaround track but runarounds can be made by running around the loop. When and if more than one loco kept on layout, one can be in enginehouse while other runs. (Would require some kind of power cutoff on enginehouse track AND one other track where first engine can be held while 2nd engine comes out and runs...)
Yes, it will be able to sit away from the wall so he can access all sides of it. I think we could handle one 4x6 frame but nothing larger. I was thinking of putting it on wheels and put handles on each end so he can roll it around to use it and then we can carry it when needed simply lifting off the top part.
I considered a passing siding and am still toying with the idea. There just isn't much space to work with on a 4x6 in HO. I showed my nephew some of my HO trains and some of my N-Scale trains and was hoping he would choose N-Scale due to the space available but he likes the bigger engines.
My first HO layout was 4 by 6. It had a passing track. If you can do such a siding, that will add a lot of interest. Not just for runaround, but one track can also serve as storage. Otherwise, looks all good to go from here.
I am not a fan of switchbacks, so I would get rid of the one that you show at the coal/lumber yard area. Maybe rotate the "switchback" turnout and place it immediately after the turnout off the main loop at top center. This would give each industry its own siding. That way you aren't blocking one to serve the other. It might also lengthen each siding. Otherwise it's a very nice plan with enough area to allow scenery and buildings, should your nephew get into that aspect of the hobby.
One of the things that kids love to do beside just run trains, is to have dad or uncle operate with them. They learn from that, and sometimes, it's just more fun to have someone there with you than doing it by yourself. Keeping that in mind, I'd run a passing siding from the first turnout right of the trestle bridge, all the way past the station just right of the tunnel portal. Run your turnouts to the engine house and interchange off the new passing siding...which would actually be your new mainline. With a little shifting of everything, or simply adding a couple or four inches to the length and width, you'll have sufficient space for the passing siding and scenery between track and layout edge. What this will allow, is the ability to have a second block so you can do switching duties at your industries in town while another train runs around the layout. It also gives you a place to park a second train, and for a single operator to trade off trains for variety's sake. The only additional cost other than track and another turnout, would be a second DC throttle. I also agree with other posters here that it would be a good idea to make the layout in two 2'X4' (maybe 2', 4" X 6', 4") sections. Hide the seam with buildings or edges of roads and go so far as to use Anderson Power Poles as connectors for your power bus underneath at the seam. Use big washers, bolts and T-nuts to clamp it together, then just forget about it until time to move, at which point, you'll be really glad for those little 2' X 4' sections you're carrying! My boys loved their 4'X6' layout...but it was N-scale. 20 years later, they're now my train buddies and we're building a large modular/sectional N-scale layout that is very portable and based on a specific road, era and location.
Thanks for all the feedback. I rearranged a few things and have a revised version of this layout. My nephew loves this version. John
Really like the overall look. I agree on the passing siding. I also like the mountain as a divide. Could it be brought down the middle of the layout to divide things further? I was thinking that could give it a real Appalachia feel where the mountain drops right to a river valley a' la Thurmond, WV. Who chose the era? Is your nephew interested in steam or is that more for you and his father? Would a more contemporary era better maintain his interest?
I like the improved version, with siding. This is a very good alteration. Also, agree with the scenic divider suggestion. That will make the layout seem larger.
I had several suggestions regarding the switchback and the use of a scenic divider so I now have a 3rd version to consider. I think it is the best yet. Since this is mostly centered around one town instead of two or more, I thought bringing some elevated terrain into the middle of town would be a nice touch while eliminating the switchback. Here is the latest version:
It just dawned on me that this design would make for a dandy little N-Scale project for myself once I am done with my nephew's HO layout. Adapted to say 30"x 60", it would be a nice portable layout with plenty of action and allow me to break out my N-Scale GP9's for some fun.
Nice plan. The town area in the center will provide interest. Also has potential for staging, future expansion, or a removable wharf or car float in the lower right corner off the yard. Two thumbs up.
Ok, I had some time today to fiddle with the design a bit more and came up with version #4 and #5. Let me know what you think. #4 #5 I rather like #5 myself and am tinkering around with adapting it to a 4x8 if we can squeeze my brother for a couple more feet.
I agree with you. #5, with the longer passing siding allows more separation to simultaneously run a roundy-round train and local train switching the industries so two people could have fun at the same time, or, allowing another train to be parked and easily ran for variety's sake. Cheerio! Bob Gilmore
I kept looking at version 3 and it just didn't seem right. The curved #6.5 turnout looked out of place when all other switches are #4's and the passing siding seemed to short. The siding wasn't long enough to park a train on and still be able to operate the yard area at the same time. The longer siding allowed for this but removed the ability to use the crossing instead of the switchback. My main goal with this layout is to provide something interesting for my nephew to run trains, do some switching and get a taste of modeling many different aspects such as modeling water, trees, ballast, mountains and painting locomotives. I do appreciate the feedback. John
