Long time lurker/member.
I've long been a fan of small layouts and Carl Arendt's site. I've also loved the layouts posted here and elsewhere. Recently, the Budget Model Railways channel on youtube showed a small 00 gauge layout with 7.5in Radius curves. I had amongst my collection a loop of old Eldon 7.5"Radius brass track so I thought I'd see what I can do. I've modeled North American prototypes most of my life, but I also have an interest in the North Western Railway as a prototype (yes... Thomas) as well as British railways in general.
Track is a mix of Atlas and Tyco/Roco turnouts and straights. The curves are Eldon. Track is also a mixture of steel and brass. I have a few small North American prototype 0-4-0's, along with a Playart 0-4-0T and a couple other small locos that can run on it.
The name is still up in the air, but "SLTM" is for "Slightly larger than Micro", being designed to fit on a 20"X30" piece of 5mm foamcore. I only have North American stock at the moment, but due to the size, I'm definitely thinking UK prototype. The layout is a small roundy-round, but can be operated as a point-to-point. The map shows how I envision the line to actually look. The junction area may become another micro, but for now it's a 12in fiddle stick (yet to be built). I plan a scene divider down the middle as well. The side with the switchback being more built up with the side with the single siding more rural. I've operated it with my short NA stock as well as virtually on Trainplayer, and it's a good 45 minutes work running a mixed train from "one end to the other". I'm planning on doing this on a budget, so second hand stock and paper and card buildings will be the norm.
It may also be "interchangable" with NA and UK buildings swapping, not sure at this point.
More to come soon.
Dan M