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Hi Kris - really like this, packs in plenty of stuff, and the coal mine is really compelling, no problem building the gradient. One thing I did wonder would whether it would be better to have the blue main line sit under the mine (I appreciate that sounds geologically unsound!), but with most of it hidden i.e. you leave to the right side of the main station, and disappear into a tunnel - the right hand board could have a front section of scenic treatment, but storage behind it. And then it might make more sense to have a small second station platform near the coal mine. I've attached my final baseboard dimensions, I tweaked a bit in a couple of places to squeeze in a few extra centimetres.

Hello all I have FINALLY completed my baseboards (short video here). I'm no carpenter, but I'm happy enough. This is in a relatively-well insulated shed at the bottom of my garden, the side room to my home office. My plan is to have sections of the top of the baseboards removable, so that I can work on them elsewhere (or at least access the underside without cricking my neck). The real problem I have is around track planning. Some people, I am sure, find this planning element fun. I'm finding it frustrating, confusing and - given my general levels of immature impatience - boring. I want to get stuff running. So wondering if someone here can help (possibly even on a commercial basis, is that a service that exists?). My aspirations are for a continuous steam-era run, with plenty of scenic treatment (I'll put a drop down double-track bridge across the outward-opening door). I'm a member of MERG, so electronics are important to me - I'll be operating via DCC, and MERG CBUS (so 3 bus wires: DCC, CBUS and 12v for accessories). I've previously had some interesting ideas on this thread, and I loved some of the ideas here. But I'm still really struggling to come up with something that is both enjoyable and technically feasible, and with sufficient detail to let me actually get on. So here's what I'd love: 1. A fun, workable, buildable plan combining a continuous run with some limited shunting facilities. Key asks: steam era (although total realism not too big a deal), a main station, possibly a smaller station, a turntable, some kind of industrial branch (I was thinking a coal mine). Code 55, electrofrog points. No fiddle yard necessary (I don't own much stock, and it's not a priority for me to buy more). 2. A full technical breakdown of the components necessary. I need to know what sets of points to buy, what lengths of flexitrack to cut, etc. What I really want is someone to translate a few plans that I like the look of into an actual CAD spec which I can print out, stick down, and lay track on top of it. Is there someone out there who would be prepared to take on this task? I can share all my dimensions and crude outlines etc via email, if there's someone prepared to get stuck in. Thanks in advance!

V2 - a variation on a Freezer "small locations" plan which builds on the Hornby version above. CJF includes this as a terminus, but I'd like to have continual running, so have extended the line to the left - not sure where that will lead. From left to right, the buildings are a cattle dock, station, signal cabin and coal depot, water tank, loco shed and milk depot. The two sidings at the bottom (which I like as they don't need to be entirely parallel to the baseboard edge) are for a coal yard - so perhaps the continuous run could be to a mine.

Thanks again for most helpful feedback (the finger tracing tip is v valuable). I see the point - my guide here was this. To be honest, I think it's problematic, stuffing too much track into the limited space I have. Will go back to the drawing board somewhat!

Thanks! Here's my second stab. How does it look?

Finally some movement on this grand plan. here's where I've got to - all criticism welcolmed! it's all Peco code 55, will be DCC operated. This plan is based on an old Hornby module - the top part is as far as I've got, need to think of something clever to fit into the bottom half (although I'm going for a scenic section with just a couple of tracks running through it).

Hello all Having a struggle figuring out how to chip my new (second-hand) eBay purchase. Started with some disassembly (and removing years of overzealous oiling). Here's where I got to - but I can't seem to find an idiot's guide to DCC-ing this model. Anyone got any ideas?

UPDATE - screwed back in with the tip of a pencil! Hello all Took my new (via eBay) Fowler apart today to chip for DCC. Had been running v nicely under DC (it has upgraded coreless motor), so the moment was right. All fitted, programmed etc, then sudden sticking. See picture attached - one of the crankpins (or whatever they’re called) on the wheel couplings seems to be sticking out too far - I’m assuming I somehow dislodged it when taking off the body of the loco. The one on the bottom left is sticking on the cab steps. Feels like it should be a simple repair, but do these just push back in, or screw maybe?

Hello all I have the Farish 1104 Pannier Tank. The motor runs when everything is disassembled, but only occasionally can I get the wheels to turn - it looks like the cog isn't always meshing properly with the axle (sorry, I have no idea what the technical terms are!). I can get it to work with the chassis out of the shell, but as soon as it goes back in, no joy. Who is the recommended person for a repair (possibly including a DCC conversion)?

The halfway right bit isn’t too much of a concern. But I take the point! I do want to create that sense of scenery with some trains running in it, rather than trains with some bits of scenery (if that makes sense). More research last night. I’m thinking of a model very loosely based on NER branch lines, between Bishop Auckland and Durham. As well as small branch line traffic, and a colliery service (which were numerous), that would allow me to include some of the east coast main line, with the occasional glimpse of the Mallard!

I've been reading David Wright's "Modelling Branch Lines", which is where I've taken a few of the names of places from. Pics attached.

After much consulting of every track layout book I can lay my hands on, I am still struggling to put pen to paper. I've spent hours and hours pouring over the inspiring layouts here. On the basis that the first step is the hardest, and I'm struggling to take it, so hoping someone can give me the push/kick up the backside I need. Baseboard plan attached, with a few ideas sketched out. You can see it hugs all 4 walls of my garden studio (it's a log cabin, albeit fully insulated/electrified/fibre broadband and all). It's ~2.7mx1.4m, and has to double as a bit of a more general workshop - so the layout will be on 300mm deep shelves above cupboards/workbench. It's the actual details of the trackplan I'm struggling with, but here's what I do know: 1. I'm now sold on N gauge. DCC, but not bothered with sound. 2. This is fun. I love a Gresley A4. I like a shunter. I grew up on Oxford, and have family in Sussex, and in the North East. All 3 are interesting in their own ways, but I'm not obsessive about the mise en scene. But definitely steam - although unsure whether Big 4 or early BR is better (or even whether I mind that much!) 3. I want to be able to switch it on, and let it run. Track on all 4 sides, with a hinged/lifting section for the (outward-opening) door. 4. I want plenty of scenery, at the expense of any kind of fiddle yard. I've drafted a couple of hidden sidings in the scenic section, and think that will be sufficient. Running a timetable isn't that interesting to me. 5. Things I'm most looking forward to: (a) building all my MERG kits, and learning how to wire electrofrog points and all that jazz; (b) building the scenery (I have plans to use XPS foam to create land contours). 6. I don't have a huge amount of time on my hands, but have no plans to move house. If it takes me a decade to build this, not a problem (and I've split the benchwork into relatively manageable chunks anyway). 7. I'm a 100% Mac user, and it appears that there is no software that I can use to plan this in any kind of systematic way (Wine doesn't work on MacOS Catalina, so I can't use Scarm or similar). All and indeed any suggestions gratefully received!

I think I’ve been rumbled! It’s really for me, maybe I can just slap down some 00 track on a 6x4 for the kids and leave the N gauge to me!

Very fair point. Fortunately, my shed is actually my log cabin - the space I have available is the second room (the main room is my home office, so it’s insulated and heated, fibre broadband etc!)

Just to throw in a curve ball, let’s say I traded in what little 00 track I currently have, and went with N gauge. How much more train do I get for my space?

I love both these plans - thank you all for taking time to pull these together!

Thanks David. Reality is that I want it to be fun! I want to run my Hornby Mallard with a couple of coaches, and I want to do some shunting. It's a train set with pretensions of being a model railway. I also love modelling scenery, so a nice scenic run/break/tunnels etc are all in grand plan. The section by the door will be hinged/liftout, carpentry not too much of a problem. Shelves can be an absolute maximum of 40cms (on all 4 sides of the shed).

I have limited space, limited budget, and limited time on my hands. All together, that means 00, in my shed - something the kids can get interested in over time (currently 5 and 1). It's an ~9x5 (274x149cms) shed, but also has to contain all my tools. So realistically I have a roundy-roundy shelf layout. Where to begin?

Interesting - what more could I achieve in 12” (certainly not adverse to the engineering challenge)

Thanks Paul - that looks great, some really lovely scenic effects. Any chance of some more pics? one thing that is comforting is that 12” works pretty well!

Here's what I mean (appreciate the curves make no sense, but this is conceptual!) I've also added the width of the doors for reference.

This is brilliant Bryant, thank you so much! It's not a problem to fill out those corners a bit to contain the overlapping curves. A new element has come to mind, which may (or may not) be feasible. On the other side of the 1' board (to the top as I look at your schematic), there's a wall - on the other side of this wall is a second room in the cabin (it's the workshop element of this). if feasible, I could cut a couple of tunnel portals into the wall, and have an extra run of track on the other side - might be a good way to extend a run, with a hidden element. I'm also keen to reduce the platform lengths on both sides to the absolute bare minimum, just to get in as much non-station running as possible. What would be the smallest that wouldn't look silly (I won't be running long trains, imagine Thomas with his two small coaches).

Thanks David - this is exactly the sort of thing I hoped might be achievable. Although given this is a toy, rather than a model, I won’t have long trains (perhaps I can reduce the length of the platforms accordingly?), and a FY is unnecessary. Love the idea of a viaduct across the doors though, will definitely go with that. Settrack, however, is going to be absolutely essential! And I do think a double track will help keep engagement up - watching trains speeding round is more fun! @mdvle - I really appreciate the concept. Not bothered about a shunting board, but I could probably have some kind of split level on the 12” limb (there’s a window on the 18” side, so it won’t work there).

Hello all I have a log cabin in my garden (fully heated, electrical, broadband, etc) in which I now want to build a 00 layout around the walls. I've not got a huge amount of space to play with, but it's essentially an 8'x8' square, and I'm able to give 12" on one side, and 18" facing it, with a 6 inch run on the other sides (one will be a lifting section for the outward opening doors, the others will be a hidden track behind a sofa. Basically two shelf layouts, but with the potential for continuous running. I was originally planning to do this in N gauge, but with 2 small boys, it's all a bit too fiddly (fitting DCC decoders to my Farish tank loco was no fun, whereas modifying Hornby 'Edward' was great!). I appreciate this means I get a lot less railway for my space, but it's a better (and much more economical) approach. As this is really just fun for me and 2 small boys, era etc do not matter - although steam trains are just way more attractive. I was thinking a couple of small stations, one on each side, with double runs of track between them. Some sidings etc to play around with, and some room for scenery. Anyone got any thoughts?