Hello All.

So i have lately been using Anyrail5 to design my 00 gauge layout called Victor lane. I came up with the name for my layout after my grandad (who sadly passed away) left me with the nameplate off a steam locomotive called Victor. Since then i have always wanted to design and build my own 00 gauge layout and it was my Grandma and Grandad who got me into the railway and 00 gauge.

My layout is 8ft by 2ft and isn't based on a depot, railway line or any era. It is just a layout that i designed off the top of my head. I am going to run my track in DC and then nail the track in place and just run the track on the wood on its own for a month or 2 to check out my layout and see if i can improve my layout any where. Once i am ready i am going to convert it to DCC and once all the wiring is done, i will start with the ballast and the scenery for my layout.

I have brought 2 4ft by 2ft mdf 18mm. I have also brought a pack of gate hook and eye (contains 2 in 1 bag) to secure my 2 4ft by 2ft mdf wood pieces together. It allows a little bit of movement between the 2 pieces of wood and so i can seperate them easier and put them away easy enough until the future when i am happy with my layout and will be able to secure them together permanently together.

My layout will include Colas Rail, Direct Rail Services, DB Schenker, Freightliner, GB Railfreight, EWS and Stobart Rail diesel locomotives. I might even buy steam locomotives so i can change it from diesels to steam engines.My layout will mainly involve freight containers as the clear white section to the left will be a container area where they are loaded on and loaded off the diesel locomotives as they bring in freight containers. They will include petrol tankers and maybe some work vehicles like a tamper and track cleaner. The clear bit at the top will include buildings but those 2 lines will mainly hold track machines. I am going to be using the medium track in the very top right hand corner as a fuel depot.

The building which will be placed in the bottom right hand of the layout is going to be a 4 lane (either engine shed or maintenance depot) which is 30 inches long, 10 1/4 inches wide with 4 openings. It is going to be grey and it is going to be called Victor Lane Depot which is being built by a friend and should be done in 2/3 weeks.

At the moment i have only just attached the hooks and gates to the sides (one either side) so it can clip in and hold it together (doesn't hold it tight but allows a little bit of movement) but this will be so i can take it apart for easy storage.

I have decided that i will ballast most of it but some of it i would like to make it look like concrete, especially the engine shed/maintenance depot as well as well as where the containers are going to go on the ground. I am trying to find a crane for containers but at the moment i am going to using forklifts for the containers.

Can i please have your opinions and views on it please.

Thanks