As a school first project, we're hoping to build a layout in 4mm scale (probably OO although I'm considering EM). The space we have available is about 1.8m x 0.6m approximately, since it'll be stored atop a shelf when not in use, and I already have an alternate history planned.
The idea is that a company based somewhere in a rural bit of Wales built an industrial railway linking their steelworks / mine / factory to a GWR branch terminus in the early 20th century. Open wagons and small 0-4-0STs and 0-6-0STs probably ran the fictitious line until it hit financial struggles. At this point, the GWR seized the opportunity and bought out the line and its rolling stock, taking over operations of the entire section, with the company in charge of manufacture/mining only. This arrangement supposedly continued well into Nationalisation, and the chosen period is the ubiquitous 1960s for obvious reasons. It should be quite interesting to see an industrial 0-4-0/0-6-0 in GWR green!
The plan itself isn't really concrete yet, so here's an early sketch:Please excuse my handwriting...
Anyway - in terms of practicality, what trackplan would we use? The shunting yard as well - I've seen some plans of exchange sidings - would the yard look similar? What in the way of rolling stock? Would the fiddle yard be formed of a cassette system?
Scenically, other than perhaps the odd hard standing or two, an engine shed and a small hut, what else would be present at such a location?
Also, in terms of control - DCC is what we're hoping to use. Since there would be two sections operating more or less independently, with trains shuttling in and out of the station and shuffling of wagons going on in the foreground, would we have to use 'master-slave' DCC units for control of the 'mainline' and yard separately?
Thanks a lot for any advice, and again, sorry about my messiness in the 'plan'.