PioneerX

That looks like a great prospect, thanks

Technically a desk could go either side. The drawings are accurate and the wall gap on one side is more than on the other. The 'storage' as it is labelled now is actually 4 identical workbenches (https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/bekvaem-kitchen-trolley-birch-30240348/) beside each other and comprises my existing place for the 3D printer as well as where I do electronic work, all I have done is reduce it to 2 by putting two under the layout. I think for practical reasons this might be better than trying to use the entire circumference for layout work.

Agreed, it;s a trade-off between dedicating space in the room for it and therefore reducing layout space vs something that can be pushed under the layout when not in use. It is one of the big reasons I put forward..... ....as an option. Given @Harlequin feedback about the operating well I did update this one to...

@Aire Head, wow that's a lot to think about....thanks. Maybe to add a bit more information.....much of what inspired me (while I was still considering N gauge) was found @ http://www.scarm.info/layouts/track_plans.php?ltp=162 with this layout.... ....in fact I redrew this one several times trying to make it work but never achieved it. Essentially it's mostly industrial with lots of shipping possibilities...so I guess thats what I'm into really, although I swapped out the port for a canal transfer dock. This was not going to fit in N so certainly cannot be done in OO, however does have a lot of what I like. Hopefully some elements of this can be done in my available space. In summary I guess I'm after industrial goods shipping rather than a passenger line. Although a passenger line passing through the scene on a loop adds nice diversity. To answer the train length question....lets say GWR local freight of say 4-10 cars ala...

Quiet frankly.......no, I have not given this any thought. I guessed it would be limited by siding/platform lengths (which might be why your asking) and given the fact I had no idea how to best use the space I also dont know what can actually fit

@Harlequin, that's a great solution.....showed it to the wife and it gained tentative approval with a caveat that all the existing storage goes under the boards. Your suggested height of 1300mm is a little too high for me (I'm short) but 1100-1200mm should be fine. At this height all my existing shelving does fit under the layout with enough room to do wiring and point motor work. My modelling station and 3Dprinter would need to be put on wheels and moved into the operating well when in use, but that's not big sacrifice to get the extra benchwork in. @Zomboid, your right there is no station as such in the desired feature list, this was kinda implied in 'More than one destination to allow for taking passengers/freight from point to point', essentially providing operating variety. I guess now I have to put that board design into AnyRail/SCARM and work out how I get my desired feature set onto those boards

Thanks @Harlequin..... and thanks everyone. I have achieved more 'talking' things through here in 3 hours than I did in 2 months on my own. It is very much appreciated.

Agreed.....on all counts

I think I need to consider the door as a no go area since my wife will not be happy if I change the doors (spent a long time choosing them). It's looking more likely that because of the door placement an end-to-end layout is the most practical since I dont think I can loopback due to the minimum radius.

I love this as an idea, unfortunately the door cant be hung the other way since it would open into the kitchen and hit the island (I have asked, and wifey wont let me put the railway on the island ). I also take you point about 1m baseboards (especially consider I have an 'overhang' of my own). Something more like this seems appropriate...... ....if I put my reservations to one side then a lift out section by the door means I could have a loop and consider the full 4m of the room but then it would have to be at height to fit working space underneath. Guess I need to do some measuring to see if 1.3m high base board would give me enough space below, if so then...... ...without a loop.... ....with removable section for door. I think in this case it would have a scenic break across the entire back section to make the rear wall and the removable section non-scenic and therefore easier to handle

This is why I had not really considered it. I have a smashed right knee thanks to two car accidents that affected the same knee so getting down it not such a easy thing for me. Anywhere between 3 and 4 ft is a nice working height for me.

Hi Chris, alignment was my problem.....most electric/electronic problems I can solve.....derailment of N gauge trains was frustrating though.

I'm happy at standing height for the layout (4ft ish) but anything more than that is not practical for me. The reason I set the max size as the area in front of the door as there is actually enough space beside for a reasonable modelling table with the seat behind the door when in use. Alternatively I also played with an L shape since it can be end-to-end in design due to the computer control element. I also remembered my 3D printer had to live somewhere (although in hindsight it could go under the layout as it;s not used excessively.

@mdvle, I'm comfortable doing benchwork but a little concerned about the track jointing as reliability of removable baseboard joints was one of my big issues the first time around. I do also have to consider that I need some space to actually do the modelling itself (small table) although a lot of stuff will be stored under layout or on shelves. Regarding the end to end, this is absolutely possible since everything will be under JMRI control and the continuous nature can be scripted/scheduled rather than a continuous loop of track. Ultimately I like the trains to be running in the background while I'm making/painting the latest addition etc. @Harlequin, A fiddle yard would be ideal and certainly could be a destination just throught I had a lot inthe layout already and fitting a fiddle yard seemed even more of a step beyond

Good morning all. It's been about 10 years since I did anything in the model railway space and finally due to moving house (again) I now have a space I can work with. My previous attempt was abandoned just after track laying when my wife asked me to give up both the indoor and garage space so we could move house to a new area (happy wife, happy life). This time around I got my space back . So why do I need help....well it turns out I'm a guy that can follow a plan/guide/photos but really struggles with original ideas. I even went as far as to purchase and try both SCARM and AnyRail in the hopes that my computing skills might yield something more than an basic oval, no such luck. I have various Peco plan books but nothing sets my world alight in those. I also know, that like a lot of people, I want too much given for my space. Lets kick-off with a bit of a Q&A..... Dimensions The space I have to work with is basically a converted garage and is 10ft by 8ft but obviously practicalities around access need to be considered Peco OO gauge. I had originally planned for N (which is what I did last time) but this is now a little too small for me to work with so OO is prefered Theme / desired features I have no specific theme in mind but do have some elements of other layouts I enjoy and would like to consider for inclusion Train(s) that can run unattended while I do something else (loops) Inglenook shunting puzzle siding/yard (allowing to set people the shunting challenge), I enjoy shunting More than one destination to allow for taking passengers/freight from point to point Canal, as a former boat owner I would like to get a model of my old boat in there somewhere Full DCC control. I’ve already designed custom DCC de/encoders (base, lighting, servo, point motors, signals, block detection etc) to run the layout with DCC++ and interfaced into JMRI Era / Location Steam, I'm thinking 30-40s I have no specific desire to replicate a prototype location, a fictional place that is for my enjoyment is what I want to do Any and all help you can provide is welcome. Although I refuse to commit myself to film (youtube it out of the question), as a technical guy, I do plan to photograph and blog the build and experience to help others in mine and similar situations. I very much look forward to any advice you kind people have to offer. Thanks Simon (aka PioneerX)