Shelf

In a space that small, a shelf design is the only practical option. If you subtract necessary aisle/access space the maximum size for a table would only be 4'x4' or 16 sq ft. If you can fit a U shaped shelf in there, with 18" depth (plenty) you can have 31.5 sq ft of layout.

One excellent source for design ideas is Lance Mindheim's blog and books.

pqe

thanks for the info. I'll

thanks for the info. I'll consider these as well.

Shelf

I second me the shelf idea. Reaching in a tabletop is just too difficult to build, scenic, and maintain. God help you if there is a cat. 

Shelf layouts can be built in sections and wired upside down on a table (or fixture) and even taken outside for messy work or photography. Don't like a section? Remove it and start over or scrub it down to the bare bones. 

Cat, I have 3 of them living

Cat, I have 3 of them living with me. No, they won't be allowed into the room. Looking at reverse loops at either end and I'll likely go with the module layout.

No to reverse loops

I might have missed mention of scale, but in HO reverse loops would be a tight fit.  I'd rather see a shelf switching layout in that space with a lift out track across the open end to allow for some occasional continuous running.

The Heart of Georgia

There is a modular around the room layout called the Heart of Georgia, aka HOG. It would fit nicely in a 8' by 8' foot room.

http://hogrr.blogspot.com/

--Bill B.

I'm using a modified H.O.G. layout.

It fits very nicely in my 10ft x 12ft room around the walls and allows for a nice 6ft x 8ft open area in the middle.  I have plenty of room for scenery and enough room for industries for operation.

Shelf Layout

I would build a shelf layout around the walls but at 48" up to 54" high and 18" wide. You can have a duck under or lift out bridge at your entrance. This would allow for continuous running. I agree with an earlier post. Check out lancemindheim,com and view his how to section and his blog. You can find his books at Amazon. 

Tim

I don't plan to do a complete

I don't plan to do a complete connected layout. I am limited to the "L" shaped layout so I"ll be using the shelf layout. So I can't allocate the entire area and will be limited to shelf area. 48" - 54" high sounds good. I can work easily with that height. I may enlarge the ends to accommodate a reverse loop if I can. Probably try and work it out  and see what works.

you're describing an N Scale space....

Below is the track plan from the David Barrow Cat Mountain South Plains District from the 1996 MR series. This layout, minus the staging, was 11x11, and used #6 switches. It would work out better as a 8x8 N Scale layout since you would have more room to store cars....if I were to start a new switching layout, I would seriously consider this plan.

Before and after you start...

Hi Cat,

Before you get started, finish that space. You have the golden opportunity to fur a wall out "adding blocking for wall-mounted bench work", drywall, add outlets, and add lighting to the space that will be customized to your layout design! Develop a plan and then finish your space to hide electrical outlets, direct quality lighting onto your layout, and build a wall to provide a solid foundation for a backdrop and bench work.

Moving on to the type of layout, build a shelf layout. I am building in 24" to 26" for Free-Mo but also because shelf brackets get much more expensive after 20," mine are modules on a bracket-supported shelf." Elbow height is good, I have my top at 50" which is comfortable for me at 6'-4." 57" is the standard height that photos should be hung on the wall on center and I consider the layout to be an oversized, 3D, framed picture of sorts. 

I am modeling 1950's era switching in rural Minnesota in 2'x10' with future staging. If I had any recommendations or if I could go back, I would model Colorado narrow gauge or a 1920's / 1930's standard gauge branch for shorter trains, locomotives, and rolling stock. Modern mainline equipment just doesn't look great in 8x8 or realistic unless its industrial switching. 36' and 40' boxcars allow for a lot more train per linear foot.

As for a plan, I would look at Lance Mindheim's excellent layouts. http://lancemindheim.com/

A large industry such as a grain elevator would work well as a great switching layout centerpiece. An L would lend itself to a railroad junction/interchange. Google Earth is your best friend in creating realistic operations and track plans. What are you looking at doing? 

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