Hello! Long time reader and first time poster here! I'm a lifelong model railway fan, getting multiple Hornby trainsets when I was younger but never actually taking the step of creating a proper layout.
After a lot of thinking, I've decided to start creating one, and for reasons of space it's going to be N Gauge - my other big hobby is Lego and I need space for that too! I have had some N Gauge track and stock before so I know what I'm getting in to, I just want to pin down the track plan before I get started.
I'm going to be basing my layout on the well-known Bredon layout which has been around for a few decades now. The track plan comes from the modified version appearing in the OO Gauge setrack plans book from Peco - I've taken it and swapped it to N Gauge, deleting a few things. The first design fits perfectly on a 2'x4' board (ideal as I can get plywood in this size and avoid cutting) and avoids first radius curves (apart from the setrack points). The only problem with it is the short loops in the fiddleyard, only long enough for a two coach train + loco. This isn't a problem as such, but if I want to run anything longer in future I'll be in trouble. For this reason, I've come up with a few different fiddleyard designs that I'd value some feedback on.
The one below is the same as the first plan, just minus the yard in the centre (as the free AnyRail only allows 50 elements!)
The second design uses first radius curves on the right hand side - this makes the loops much much longer and allows longer trains. The single siding in the fiddleyard would hold a railcar or autotrain that could shuttle through to the bay platform (see first design).
This final one is similar, but uses 2nd and 3rd radius curves in the top right. Because of that the board increases to 1'3" - I could have gone with only an extra inch, but the space would allow a second (technically third) platform in the station which may be more prototypical.
I'd love any advice people may have! Thank you for reading and I'll try and update here when(/if) this comes to anything.
Thanks,
Will
