Space and scale

Hi Craig,

How big is the actual space this has to go in, aisleways etc.?

If you are modeling diesel era, have you given consideration to N scale?

Chris

This layout will fit just

This layout will fit just nicely in my garage in front of the Garage Door.  But due to current storage issues, this is the biggest I am able to make it.

I have considered the N scale, but I am working jointly with my brother who is visually impared, which makes N scale a bit too small for him.

On30

Craig, if it's about your brother's eyesite, and you haven't bought materials yet, why not 0n30?  You can do something in the same space as HO, and the bigger scale may make it more rewarding for him as well.  

There are some great new items out, like the Bachmann railbus, and they even just released a new "long" caboose in On30. They may be another advantage, in that you should be able to find replacements easy enough if one takes a high dive from a mis-step. 

In that case..

In that case my recommendation would be an oval with a divider down the middle of the layout. The front would be a town, perhaps one that interchanges with another railroad. The back of the divider could be staging (thats why I asked about whether you could get all around it..).

Trains can be set up to run through the town on a schedule, picking and dropping off cars then dissapearing back into staging. You will create the illusion of this being one slice of a much larger railroad. It will open up all kinds of operating potential.

Here is a picture of the famouns "Carolina Central" N-scale project model railroad. It kind of illustrates what I am talking about. I do not have a version of the track plan itself, but the staging is hidden behind the ridge and is actually sceniced.

http://www.trains.com/mrr/objects/images/nscalemr_l02.jpg

I know many others will rightly try to stear you from the rectangle format. However, it sounds like your limitations may render this moot.

Another possibility to build a sectional or modular layout, perhaps using the FreeMo format, that could be set up when you want to run trains then stored in the garage the rest of the time. The advantage of that is you would not be limited in your track design and could build something more interesting. The disadvantage is that you would have a little more effor to put into building the benchwork, structure, and track to accomodate the sectional or modular format.

Chris

In same place

 Craig,

I am working on a layout with similar constraints, plus... it has to be moved occasionally to get at a window and to service the downstairs heatpump. The space my better half has agreed to let me use is 6x10 feet in a corner. I looked at 'n' but my hands are much too big and my manual dexterity just not fine enough.

So I am building an 'L' shaped layout with a bump at the top of the 'L' for a loop. It is somewhat similar to yours but the loop is a helix so I can add additional trackage along the wall as an upper layer. I was able to get the short wall for permanent use -- have installed a Ro-Ro train elevator as vertical fiddle yard to save space.

So while I envy those who can add a building to accomodate their layouts (or at least a floor of their house), trying to develop a workable layout in the space available with the additional constraints has been challenging. It will be months before there is a train running on it but so far the challenge has been satisfying.

Not sure that this is much help but as encouragement and to share the knowlege that you are not alone in trying to work with limited space and other constraints.

greg

Have You ever considered HOn3

Have You ever considered HOn3 which is Narrow Gauge HO scale instead of 4ft 7in between the rails you have only 3 foot between the rails. Look into Mining or a mountain logging set up and with narrow gauge engines you can work with 18 inch radus turns and even 16in if your only using 4 wheel engines or gear driven Shays and Hystlers Engines.

With Narrow Gauge HO you still use HO people, animals, buildings and structuers and everything else just the width of your track is Narrow and your rolling stock is a bit smaller and shorter and you can get alot more railroading with HO Narrow Gauge when your space is limited and you still want alot of railroading.

Just an Idea for you consider.

Dan

Finally Decided which Era

I have finally decided to build to the 1865-1900 Era.   I am looking at building around the Steam Engine A10 #6, I think it was commissioned around 1865.  I think I will go with a simple oval track with the bottom track coming up close to top track, run parallel then back down before looping back, almost like a telephone.

If anyone has links to other sets based around this era, I would love to see them to help give me ideas on scenery etc. I don't want to put items in that are not the same era... (FJ Holden instead of 1900 Oldsmobile).

I have just uploaded a few photos showing where I am working, plus the Train I am planning on focusing on.

http://s915.photobucket.com/albums/ac351/auz_taz/Model%20Trains/

Thanks in advance for the advice so far, and for hopefully many more to come.

Craig.

Try these

Try these as starting points:

http://www.housatonicrr.com/Index.htm

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EarlyRail/

Chris

When your asking for helpTry always to mention

What country your planing on modeling. Now that you have photos of the engine I see your wanting to build an early European RR. Also I think that engine ran on 5 foot wide track which means 36 in Min radius turns or in HO at least a 6 foot 4 inches wide table top just for a loop.

Dan

Connumdrums!!!!

I have been talking to my local hobby shop, and there is very limited stock for the early years of the steam engine as scenery and props go.  And I don't feel confident enough yet to strike out on my own and make them myself.

So, I guess I will be shifting my focus to the 1950's where there is more stock to choose from.  Maybe once I have finished this one, I will re-assess if I do another rail set in the 1900's.

Country of focus.

I am in Australia, so I was planning on doing a local district which used the A10 #6 Steam Engine from around 1866.

Puffin Billy May be your RR

I don't know if they are still in Business but in the late 1980s and early 1990's there was a company in Australia that built and sold the puffin Billy Train which included their engine and cars. I have sean them on E-bay but not often.

the Puffin Billy was only produced in HO so it does fit the size and gauge you are looking for. Now all you need is to find them.

Bachman makes engines in the 1930 - 1950 American steam era that I have seen people taken the basic wheel set and drive to then scratch build new cabs to look more like the Australian Engines you wish to model and if you get some of the European Trains it may be even easier.

You can only gain the skills to Kit Bash and make your own engines by trying it and starting with a Basic drive train your more than half way there all you need do is build the cab and add the small details to get the look you want. It's MUCH easier than you would think just take your time.

Dan