This is a forum post showing how I went about reducing the size of my HO scale model railroad layout. The process took a little over a year, required a lot of thought and planning, and now I feel that I am at the right size that matches my lifestyle. At the same time, I decided to adjust my model railroad prototype while keeping the central theme. I’ll explain everything that went into this and show what the layout looks now. I hope this post shows that you don’t need a large layout for your dream layout and that small layouts can be fun to build and operate as well.

Here is a layout plan I hope to start building soon, but I have some questions I'd like to ask as to the construction, as well as suggestions on the plan itself. I'll ask these in a separate post.

Hello. I don't have the space or resources right now to build my own layout the way I want it, with lots and lots of operating realism. I'm more of an armchair modeler at this point, but I really enjoy planning layouts and reading + making timetables. So if anybody wants, just respond and I'll draft you a track plan based on what you say (A diagram of your space would be helpful) and I'll get something back to you.

I'm building a double deck layout in its own handi-house shed  It has a large wide door at the entrance that needs a couple of 'entrance bridges' that can be moved aside relatively quickly. Because of the large width of the opening I am thinking it should be a 'split bridge' type like the bascule type where both of the two sides would swing up.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bascule_bridge