......

....

Other peoples' ideas

Try the Trackplan Database at http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/track-plan-database

If the layouts are not 2x8 feet, look for 2x8ish areas you might be able to adapt.

Also:

https://www.google.com/search?q=small+layout+track+plans&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

https://www.google.com/search?q=lance+mindheim&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

http://www.carendt.com/category/small-layout-scrapbook/

Some more other peoples' ideas

Hi Mejo 2 

Have a look at  http://www.cke1st.com/m_train2.htm the second plan in th HO section in the lower part of the page - If you straighten out the U you have the ability to swap about a lot of cars. This plan is drawn to use Atlas track - Choose your own industries and scenery.

One of the other good on-line references for smaller layouts is Andrew Martin's Hunter Valley Lines site at  https://huntervalleylines.wordpress.com/layout-designs/small-layouts/ Click on the plans for a larger view. There are plenty of 8' x 2' options suitable for US operations and some other designs that could fit 8' by 2' with an additional bit of "squeeze factor",

Also have a look at the current thread on shelf layouts at  https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/modern-era-shelf-layout-mine-and-yours-12204187

That should hopefully give you some inspiration of what might be able to be done on your shelf, 

"Does any one have plans for

   what kind of switching layout do you want to build? Scale, era, location,type of industries,etc.? Might as well fine tune the layout to your needs instead of retread someone else's plan.....DaveB 

timesaver layout

Consider building a time saver layout.  Build industry around the time saver and be able to shuffle cars from one industry to another.

--Bill B. 

...or not...

Dear ??? (Mejo2)

...or not...

http://www.layoutvision.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/bh_small_layouts_2015_slides_download.pdf

http://www.layoutvision.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/bh_small_layout_hndt.pdf

http://www.layoutvision.com/id16.html

It's also worth noting that if we assume HO 40' cars and a SW1200 switcher as "standard units",
the nominated 8' linear length gives 16x "units" of linear length to play with,
That's handy to know because railroads are typically long-skinny things,
and linear length is more useful than depth.

It's also worth noting as a rule-of-thumb than a typical HO #5 turnout eats 2x "Units" from switchrail tip to clearance point...

Mejo2(?), can you please confirm the following?
- nominated area available for layout : 8' x 2'
- Preferred Scale : ???
- Preferred Gauge : ???
- Preferred Theme : ???
- Preferred Era : ???
- Preferred Geographic location/scenic elements : ???

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

switch to N...

Switch to N Scale, make it a 1x8 and enjoy it more.

Get a Micro Trains SW1500 starter kit and fun

I am sure that many of you

I am sure that many of you get tired of hearing this but please don't build time saver layouts. They are not realistic and though they rarely are found on the prototype this type of layout was originally designed to be a time puzzle and not an interesting layout. BTW, we prototype railroaders seriously, hate these type of track arrangements since they are a pain and not fun.

There is more than enough interesting, small  layouts which can be constructed using a runaround track and a few spurs with a staging track or two off to the side which will provide a fun project to build and an interesting one to operate.

The best source for this type of layout information are Lance Mindheim's books on building small switching layouts.

Barry, climbing into his "flameproof " overalls.  

I have seen variations on the

I have seen variations on the time saver that actually made nice track set ups. They were not the switching puzzle that the time saver is but in one instance had two industry tracks with a main down the middle that went to two tracks. It looked nice and was suitable for a nice small layout or a part of a bigger one.

No flame proof coveralls needed.

Timesaver layout - please don't

No Timesaver

I totally agree, the "timesaver" is actually just a waste of time, one of our club members built a temporary one out of EZ-track and had us run it at the club meeting, I could not stand it since I work for Union Pacific as an engineer, the timesaver was completely unrealistic and a pain in the butt to switch. I explained to the club members that no prototype railroad would ever have a track arrangement like that, and even something close on the prototype would still have the main line track so the limitations of track length would not exist. Jim

 " the timesaver was

The timesaver was never intended to be prototypical, it is a game designed for fun. The object is to see who can complete the task in the least time. Adding scenery would kinda mess up the ergonomics but I guess a timesaver could do stand-in duty as a switching module or mini layout. I'd enjoy a timesaver at a brewery or other place where happy people would be interested in playing with it.....DaveB

you can always

You can always stretch and modify the timesaver. I did, I relocated a switch and lengthened all of the spurs to be one section of flex track. (30" of N Scale track)

Dump the Timesaver; go for the Inglenook

Switching layout plan

A few years ago I built my own HO version of Lance Mindheim's 'Palmetto Spur' which is , essentially, an Inglenook design but can be operated in a prototypical manner.  The layout measured 9ft x 15ins. 

Hot topic!

alcan man can you share some more of your layout?  I'm working towards a similar setup and curious on your lessons learned  

also that's some very nice modeling

there are at least 3 active threads on timesaver vs inglenook going on simultaneously, with varying levels of passion on the topic...

Thx

jeff

Palmetto Spur

Hi Jeff. You can see switching action on the Palmetto Spur layout on my YouTube channel - 'Alcanman1'

Mal

ps I'm new to this forum and having difficulty posting images and links.

Here is mine.

The point of this layout was to get cars out of boxes and off of my shelves. That is why I included the yard. I wanted as much track as possible without getting that spaghetti bowl effect. And I like switching.  The overall length is about 11 feet with the extension by the window... The scenicked area in the pic is about 8 feet. And the width is 2 feet. So basically, it is a 2x8 layout if you do not include the "L" shape wing to the lower left. My intention here is to not showcase my layout but to testify that it has been fun to operate and I have been happy with it. You can perhaps evolve on this plan to fit what you want/need.