Layout design help

[brenn]

We have just received a base board 6x4  and would like those of you who like designing track plans to help us with ideas of what we can fit in to this space.

 

I have a tillig,peco, and set track points so would consider a return loop but would like to have as many running lines as possible.The layout will be DCC based on 70s 80s BR Blue era but with enough interest for my 9 year old son.

 

If you be interested in helping us please post your ideas.

 

thanks

 

Mike and Dara

[imt]

Is this 00 or N?  We need to know.

 

6' by 4' is not an easy size I am sad to have to tell you if this is 00.  Also how about access - is it all round or restricted on some sides?  You might like to look at some of the "Plans for Small Layouts" or perhaps stick with a classic like Bredon see https://www.newrailwaymodellers.co.uk/Forums/viewtopic.php?t=21948. This was one I cut my teeth on in Hornby Dublo days!  Some room for shunting and running trains at the same time.

 

You will have the usual "keep away from 1st radius points/track" since some locos won't go round it.

 

There is more stuff on a 6' by 4' Bredon here http://www.modelrailwayforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=11160&page=2.

 

By tyhe way - subscribe to some of these other forums - it costs nothing and you can then look at things there too.  Try using Google - these bredon things came from me searching "bredon model railway"

Edited May 18, 2018 by imt

[The Pilotman]

I seem to recall an article by Paul Lunn in Model Rail magazine some time ago (1-2 years, I think) with some creative ideas for 6x4 layouts. Maybe someone on here will have a copy.

[DCB]

As imt says 6X4 is an awkward size, you can't get to the back with the long side against a wall.  Its a bit small for 00, a monster for N, it was a great size in the 1950s with 13 and 15 inch radius curves and steep gradients but most RTR stock post 2000 just can't cope with these curves and gradients.

 

There are great 6 X 4 00 layouts in old books. I found a great one in the Hornby Dublo Rail Layouts book, I don't know how old it is but its three rail but apart from a Hornby "Percy" and a coupe of trucks I can't see much RTR stock getting round it.

 

Freezer's 60 plans for small layouts are for Streamline points and min 2nd radius mainly but need a bit of work with a hacksaw to make the track actually fit.

 

As an example I drew a 3 track layout with 2nd 3rd and 4th radius on AnyRail and its not very pretty!

[Peter Crawford]

Some info can be found here: http://www.freetrackplans.com

[Peter Crawford]

Scale is quite an important question and it would help if we knew.

[Peter Crawford]

Even O is possible, but do remember, the bigger the scale, the more the compromises. In 00, there was the Ffarquhar (or similar) Branch of Rev. Awdry fame and its 21st century, RM-Feaured replica, Handcross

[Peter Crawford]

Found here: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/130496-edwardian-splendour-handcross-february-2018/?hl=handcross

[brenn]

Scale is quite an important question and it would help if we knew.

 

Sorry...OO.......you quite right i would help if i'd given the scale

 

BW

 

Mike and Dara

[sb67]

There was a fantastic layout built by some guys on Rmweb, I think it is on the old forum and I remember it being a great looking layout and I'm sure that was 6x4 I found it again by putting "6 weeks layout rmweb" in google. I'll try and post a link over the weekend.

Steve.

[brenn]

As imt says 6X4 is an awkward size, you can't get to the back with the long side against a wall.  Its a bit small for 00, a monster for N, it was a great size in the 1950s with 13 and 15 inch radius curves and steep gradients but most RTR stock post 2000 just can't cope with these curves and gradients.

 

There are great 6 X 4 00 layouts in old books. I found a great one in the Hornby Dublo Rail Layouts book, I don't know how old it is but its three rail but apart from a Hornby "Percy" and a coupe of trucks I can't see much RTR stock getting round it.

 

Freezer's 60 plans for small layouts are for Streamline points and min 2nd radius mainly but need a bit of work with a hacksaw to make the track actually fit.

 

As an example I drew a 3 track layout with 2nd 3rd and 4th radius on AnyRail and its not very pretty!

Thanks for this......Have you just used Hornby set track.....I do have a lot of double slips 3 way point and Tillig slips also

 

BW

 

Mike and Dara

[Zomboid]

What space will it inhabit? Will you be able to get round it, does it need a hole in the middle? Can the board be cut up and reassembled to create a different/bigger shape?

[Flying Pig]

There was a fantastic layout built by some guys on Rmweb, I think it is on the old forum and I remember it being a great looking layout and I'm sure that was 6x4 I found it again by putting "6 weeks layout rmweb" in google. I'll try and post a link over the weekend.

Steve.

There was a whole subforum on it: How to build a train set in 6 weeks, with threads about various aspects of layout building..

[sb67]

There was a whole subforum on it: How to build a train set in 6 weeks, with threads about various aspects of layout building..

Thanks Simon, that was a great series of "how to's" very inspirational, think they done a wagon weathering series as well, very talented group.

I'd also recommend looking at plans by Paul Lunn, sure he's done a few on a 6x4 board or less.

Steve.

Edited May 19, 2018 by sb67

[Peter Crawford]

Most plans you find will be in 00 gauge, but for 'N' gauge plans, double each dimension (e.g. a 10' x 5' layout will need approx. 20' x 10' in 00). Although not accurate, half the size of 'O' plans (this will make it slightly smaller than 00- HO, in fact). For example, 20' x 10' in O requires JUST OVER 10' x 5' in 00. It is probably around 12' by 6.5'

[Joseph_Pestell]

Given the trackwork that you have got, 6'x4' is not really going to work.

 

Design the layout that fits your needs and then buy/build the baseboard that it needs.

 

Having the baseboard first, is cart before horse.

[imt]

It might be useful to think that you don't necessarily need more than 6*4 layout space, just do it a different way - split it up.  Have 2 * 6'by 1'6" say with 2 * 3' by 1' bits to end up with a 6' by 6' with a hole in the middle!  This allows for larger curves and for bits to be spread out.  You need trestles to erect in on (4 off under the 6' by 1'6" bits and hang the 3' by 1' bits between them).

 

It all really depends on the space you have available to erect a layout, and what the access problems might be.  I have seen clever designs that have a shunting area on one  6' by 1'6" for use most of the time in son's bedroom plus the ability to go into the garage and erect the full doughnut.  The important point is to realise that a 6'by 4' "lump" ain't going to be manageable by a 10 year old on his own.  Think out of the box so there is something to do all the time, and something special bigger when dad joins in and can erect the whole thing in a suitable space - like the garage or (when mum takes a deep breath) the dining room.

 

I was lucky 65 years ago to have Hornby O and the corridors of a bungalow to lay it in - sending tea from the kitchen to the living room!  00 ain't like that but you can have a modular system that gives the impression.

 

IMPROVISE!

[DCB]

Thanks for this......Have you just used Hornby set track.....I do have a lot of double slips 3 way point and Tillig slips also

 

BW

 

Mike and Dara

That was all Hornby set track.  I am not familiar with Tillig.   I was just trying to show how tight 4th radius is to the sides of a 6X4.   Modern image and more than 2 running lines doesn't really work on 6X4.  A branch line is do able, 1950s or modern image 

[Zomboid]

Here's the kind of thing I'd do with a 6x4. (you'll have to use your imagination to fill in the gaps, I hit the 50 section limit on the free Anyrail.

You won't be running long trains (2 mk1 length coaches on the inner track, 3 might be possible on the outer), but that's just life on a 6x4.

The outer track can support 2 different trains, and the loop at the front allows for locos to be changed. The centre road at the station means you can run 3 trains on the inner loop, or you could run 2 longer trains by sacrificing it and only having the sidings marked as wanting extending. The plastic Hornby platforms fit nicely in the gap if you take the centre road out, and I can't be certain that there would be no overhang issues in the area, so personally I'd be inclined to do away with it.

It's mostly setrack, but you'd need a couple of lengths of flexible, as that top left corner isn't a proper use of the geometry.

 

Really though, I wouldn't want to be stuck with a 6x4 in the first place.

[brenn]

Given the trackwork that you have got, 6'x4' is not really going to work.

 

Design the layout that fits your needs and then buy/build the baseboard that it needs.

 

Having the baseboard first, is cart before horse.

Dara seen the board made at Alley Pally and wanted some where we could use our train, but it needed to be able to be taken down and stored ( orders of the management) so 6x4 and able to be dissembled it had to be.

 

We want a many running track as possible,so not sure if using a mixture of 3 way points, double slips would be to best option or just stick with a 3-4 track roundy from set track. Some questions spring to mind.

 

1. Would it be advisable to try a reverse loop in the middle of the board? 

 

2. If we use curved points how best to connect them and which radius to use?

 

3. Would a Heljan turntable fit if R605s used?

 

 

BW

 

M&D

[brenn]

Here's the kind of thing I'd do with a 6x4. (you'll have to use your imagination to fill in the gaps, I hit the 50 section limit on the free Anyrail.

6x4 train set.jpg

You won't be running long trains (2 mk1 length coaches on the inner track, 3 might be possible on the outer), but that's just life on a 6x4.

The outer track can support 2 different trains, and the loop at the front allows for locos to be changed. The centre road at the station means you can run 3 trains on the inner loop, or you could run 2 longer trains by sacrificing it and only having the sidings marked as wanting extending. The plastic Hornby platforms fit nicely in the gap if you take the centre road out, and I can't be certain that there would be no overhang issues in the area, so personally I'd be inclined to do away with it.

It's mostly setrack, but you'd need a couple of lengths of flexible, as that top left corner isn't a proper use of the geometry.

 

Really though, I wouldn't want to be stuck with a 6x4 in the first place.

Thanks for this....you're right 6x4 is not ideal but it a good start for Dara and his mates..........and for me to hone some modelling skills

 

BW

 

M

[brenn]

Yes it'll be set up and taken down and stored, so will be able to access all sides

 

BW

 

M&D

What space will it inhabit? Will you be able to get round it, does it need a hole in the middle? Can the board be cut up and reassembled to create a different/bigger shape?

[DCB]

Dara seen the board made at Alley Pally and wanted some where we could use our train, but it needed to be able to be taken down and stored ( orders of the management) so 6x4 and able to be dissembled it had to be.

 

We want a many running track as possible,so not sure if using a mixture of 3 way points, double slips would be to best option or just stick with a 3-4 track roundy from set track. Some questions spring to mind.

 

1. Would it be advisable to try a reverse loop in the middle of the board? 

 

2. If we use curved points how best to connect them and which radius to use?

 

3. Would a Heljan turntable fit if R605s used?

 

 

BW

 

M&D

 

I don't think 2nd radius, for modern RTR, two or more running tracks and a return loop is do able in 00.   1st radius and an extra 4" length and 6" width may work, mine is 3 level 6'4 X 4'6" fits a double bed but has steep grades and 1st radius and uses 1970s stock. It still isn't finished after 10 years.

 

My best suggestion is a terminus to return loop with continuous run. Should allow 4/5 coach trains, goods sidings ( or MPD) in middle Loco spurs top left.

If built pull the lines between platforms down to allow the absolute minimum between tracks not 60mm set track.

Edited May 19, 2018 by DavidCBroad

[Peter Crawford]

I personally would steer well clear of 1st radius if I wanted to run any proper trains. 2nd is tight, but most R-T-R is ok with it. Just remember that kit/scratch built locos probably won't run. Also, setrack points/crossings don't go well with streamline. The curves and straights don't line up with streamline points etc., but are possible. I would avoid using setrack for anything other than certain straights and curves. You could build a 2/3 platform terminus that spirals down to a fiddle yard, spiralling further down, but that is VERY complicated and adds up to 2ft 6" to the height of the layout. I echo some of the other suggestions, in that cutting the board up could give up to 24' x 1' in space. If you're happy with a linear layout, even 36' by 8" could work.

[kevinlms]

Most plans you find will be in 00 gauge, but for 'N' gauge plans, double each dimension (e.g. a 10' x 5' layout will need approx. 20' x 10' in 00). Although not accurate, half the size of 'O' plans (this will make it slightly smaller than 00- HO, in fact). For example, 20' x 10' in O requires JUST OVER 10' x 5' in 00. It is probably around 12' by 6.5'

Depends on what vintage for the plans. In Railway Modeller for the 1950s - 1960s, many were shown as two scales, OO & TT or TT3 as it was commonly called then.