Windhawk

Hi @ISW, I'm using the free version of SCARM. It took a bit of getting used to the controls, but I do like being able to play with the gradients and mock up buildings to be able to see in 3D how it lays together. Zac

Inspired by the junction and branch idea from @stivesnick , a terminating junction where the ex-secondary mainline beyond has been truncated, and there is an old branch recently extended to a new station constructed at the airport- something square and concrete. There would also be parcels traffic at the airport, and fuel deliveries. Goods trains and local trains would continue past the junction (left on the plan) continuing the loop, and there are two sidings to hold goods trains on view at the front. The airport branch could be constructed later, with some filler scenery in the interim The baseboard depth into the room isn't fixed per se, and I think a little bit more width would be helpful to get another siding in the fiddle yard. The fiddleyard would be slightly raised so as to be accessible behind the backscene

Thanks everyone for the input, really appreciate the time and effort. Yes the living room will be used most days. I agree that along the long wall seems to have more opportunities. The layout is intended to be built as three boxes, with a fascia and removable roof on each to protect it- much as suggested by @The Johnster. One side will sit on top of a cupboard for toys tools, and shelves on top of where the railway would be- so that it looks ok when the layout isn't there. This means that I could also work on the parts of the layout elsewhere when doing the messy bits. The dumbell idea- would stacking it give much more run? The four tracks down the middle then look like seperate lines, with some height difference. Appreciate that part of the issue I had with my previous layout was that I tested the gradient for my stock but didn't account for the hog/sag in and out making the actual gradient steeper and impassable to my DMUs. The idea is something looking a bit like a flipped old York station, with the Scarborough platforms being terminating for some longer distance trains, but local DMUs and freight passes beyond. Local DMUs terminate in the top level mini FY and freight comes around to the front freight-only track to complete the loop. The station has two 750mm+ platforms to take the HST and two shorter platforms for local trains/parcels. The fiddle yard below is at the front for access- perhaps with a removable cover for when the layout is 'away', or perhaps fully modelled. Red parts are those which would need to have a DPDT switch for the trains to return on the return loops. Do automatic return loop switches work well with DC, for easy hands-off looping for visitors? @stivesnick The junction and freight branch idea has also sparked an idea which I'll play around with this afternoon. Thanks again for the contributions!

Hi all, Hoping that some of you creative people can help me out. I have buy-in to have an N gauge layout in the living room of the house that we're moving to soon. I'm however struggling to find a collection of ideas that satisfies me, that fits within the space. The layout could be either of two configurations: Two alcoves: one alcove (1.41m wide), across the chimney breast (1.52m wide and 0.48m deep), and into the second alcove (1.07m wide). Overall width is negotiable but 0.33m across the chimney and 0.8m into the alcoves so as to not dominate the room. Using the right hand alcove (1.07m wide) and extend along the wall next to the kitchen (2.87m). Baseboard joints can be wherever suitable. I model 70/80s blue diesel; and am taken with rugged scenery and stone mill towns such as the pennines and parts of derbyshire What I want to get out of the model: Be interesting to look at scenically, and fit in as well as possible with the living room; there will likely be storage above and below Have a loop so that visitors can easily run a train round if needed (previous layout was a terminus-fy with not much run which was a bit of a barrier to easy enjoyment for visitors) I like system layouts, or at least different types of trains going to different places I like trains to go 'somewhere' and return- so either some form of dumbell or terminus to fiddleyard I would like to be able to operate with someone else, and have the other person have interesting things to do I would like to be able to run a 5-car HST, but this does not need to run everywhere on the layout. Otherwise most of the formations I have are engine+3 coaches Each section to be able to be taken out and be a 'unit' with backscene and fascia, so that each part can be worked on elsewhere, and as a whole is portable I can show ideas I've tried unsuccessfully, if helpful. It may just be that I am being too ambitious with the space that I have available. Thanks for all the contributions here to read through Zac

Hi, Have you considered not having the layout on two levels, but having it all on the flat to have easier carpentry? On one side have a double track loop and on the other the return loop, leading a line off of the reverse loop to the through platforms of the station? Kind of folding the terminus to reversing loop on itself. I've drawn a sketch in SCARM that hopefully displays the image more clearly. The area over the reverse loop could be a good space for a town scene that could lift off for access to the loop. Zac

'Its grim up north' is lie to keep the southern jessies away There really is some truly stunning coastline up there, and the moors are just beautiful, but I still have a place in my heart for the white cliffs and rolling downs zac

Hi all, I'm Zac, currently living in Hove, but soon to move much more near the coast in Hove, 'a stone's throw' from the sea, into a bigger and better room. I was born in Manchester but am almost definitely a suvvana having grown up in London and Hove, but now study all the way up in Newcastle, and am assured by my family I'm talking 'rather odd'. I model mostly N, but I do have some OO kicking around somewhere, and my geographic tastes are mostly midland (although I do have a liking for the west country and small rural light railways) My ears certainly picked up at the mention of free food here regards, Zac ps. not entirely sure I count as really living in the south east, as I spend almost half the year up in geordieland

First of all, some nice little diorama sort of things- they could be really simple things, quickish to design Street scenes, such as bus stops old and new, post boxes, editable street names Market scene- market stalls mostly, but a fountain or cross would be nice too to put in the centre Oil depot- smaller horizontal tanks and a loading point Coal yard Detritus, such as pw huts, grounded vans, cable drums, crates It would also be nice to have some station TV screens and display boards with editable destinations to be added to the R001b station structures Some bigger things that it'd be nice to have Station hotel Quarry buildings Factory Complex Modern School Modern station, with modular sections so that it can be added to easily Coaling stage Coal drops Train wash Timber bridge I think that might be enough!