iamwill

With some further considerations (and a switch to anyrail) I've decided the original island platform design meant the platform was too narrow for much of its length and to correct this means moving the points before the bridge to something like the below: This means a wider than conventional double track spacing for the road bridge and I'm wondering if any places in the Greater London area have a bridge structure like this that I can be inspired by. I am familiar with Camden Road (albeit two double track bridges, one disused - soon to be a footpath I believe) and I have found this bridge over Old Street which I quite like: Are there any others I can draw inspiration from, perhaps from a station like my design?

Thank you all for the comments today, a lot of interesting points and suggestions and I'll take a look at all of the stations recommended. I agree with @The Stationmaster and @MyRule1 that there shouldn't be too much track to allow sufficient scenery and create the diorama. I think to allow the layout to have the most basic level of running variation I do want to keep the bay platform with the backstory that it was once double track and the second platform remains but whether this use is for passenger trains on a different route or freight trains passing through whilst one platform is terminating only I will have to think about more. I prefer the idea of freight but given the space constraints I'm not sure I could have any more than 5 modern length wagons per train though. I'm not sure I want too much of a rundown scene and the idea is to be set in the 2010s rather than earlier.

Initially I planned for the layout to be viewable from all sides as it is small and portable enough but this doesn't allow for a backdrop so I may end up flipping it.

It's something that will be a slight drawback to size constraints but I think I'll use cassettes.

Assuming the model is perfectly to scale it will be 15.8 inches + space for couplings. The platforms are 17.5 inches long so should just be long enough. Chessington South is a station I had looked at and didn't realise the aggregates terminal was there - google maps need to update the satellite view! Whilst I agree double track is more realistic I couldn't find space for the point work needed whilst keeping the track running corner to corner diagonally and the platforms long enough for the 313. I do like the idea of a freight terminal beyond the station and it would mix up runnings but I'm not too sure how to make it work with the single track - I would need a runaround loop I assume - and how a freight terminal fits into a town centre scene but it's definitely something I'll consider. I appreciate the benefits of a cutting but I prefer how high-level lines look and become more of the centrepiece of the layout.

I like this, can definitely implement bridge supports for a bridge that no longer exists or even a double track bridge.

I plan on building this small layout set in modern era suburban London. It's current plan is 4ft x 0.75ft (1.2m x 0.225m) and will be N gauge so should fit easily in a rented apartment. I have acquired some modern era London scenic items over the past couple of months incidentally so set on that for the setting and have now ordered a Class 313 from Revolution for the project. The station is set on a fictitious town high street (zone 3/4 North London perhaps) next to shops and has a high level terminating and through platform (both terminating in the first section). The idea is to be small and relatively inexpensive for a first layout before eventually moving onto bigger things. I have allowed scope of an extension to double the length as below but this would be years away and I may decide to go for a bigger second layout rather than extend this one. This extension is very much a rough plan and absolutely not set on this. I would like to hear some thoughts on this, I am aware it doesn't make for the most enjoyable running sessions for most but I am easily entertained by trains going back and forth.

I haven't bought any code 80 track yet so I'm ok with using code 55

I'll have a play around and see what works in the given space. One idea I had is to keep the single branch line and then have double track mainline go off into the bottom right beyond a goods yard, more similar to Green Park but I don't think they'll then be space for hidden sidings for that line without using cassettes or an extension to the baseboard.

It's code 80

Thanks both for your replies In terms of access I haven't yet finalised a place for the layout but it would either be in the corner of a room, such that the back and left hand side would be on the wall, and in which case I would have an access hole roughly centre left of the layout. Or it will be accessible from all sides. With regards to operations I had planned for it to be a busy terminus as it is in a city, so after a train arrives and uncouples another loco will depart with the carriages leaving behind the original loco but if this is unrealistic for a single track line then I could make it double track and more closely recreate Minories. Alternatively, I could add a middle track between the two platforms to create run around for both but there isn't that much space for additional tracks in the station, but the draw of Minories to me was the lack of this. I haven't entirely planned the good yards and sidings which will exist in the bottom right yet but I don't want too much track so that there's no scenery, I'm open to ideas here but ideally 1/2 loco sidings and 1-3 goods sidings. I like the idea of curved platforms and I'll be sure to rework the points in that fashion. I do plan for as many sidings as possible and will add a crossover between the two main loops and kickback sidings where space but as above I may have to forego some area for an access hole.

Combining elements of Stoney Lane Depot and the raised Great Western mainline between Bath Spa and Keynsham with a separate railway company line to terminus within the same city - S&D to Bath Green Park (going under instead of over), the city terminus Minories-esque, I've come up with the following track plan. I'd like the city to be inspired by Bath but not a true recreation and there doesn't need to be a station on the raised mainline. Era would probably be 1920s/30s. Currently brainstorming ideas for different types of layouts before getting started on my first proper one, so feedback for this would be greatly appreciated. Initial track plan 2mx1m: Real world inspiration

Hi, I am considering a layout of my local Meldreth (and Melbourn) station in N and would either set the layout in LNER 1920s/1930s or BR 1950s such that the goods yard is still in use. I am wondering what locomotives would have passed through Meldreth, stopped at Meldreth, and operated in the goods yard in both of these periods, and whether these sets of locomotives have been produced in N? If I were to build this I would choose the era with best rolling stock available and I wouldn't necessarily feel prepared to build or modify locos so preferably RTR. Thanks, Will

Thank you both. I’ll be sure to stick to streamline and with regards to hidden loops and sidings, I don’t plan to have more than 4/5 locos (a couple of 4-6-0s, a Prairie tank and 1/2 Pannier tanks) on the layout as I anticipate I’ll move onto another layout in the longer term. As this won’t be a long term project I plan for this to be DC to save funds. I know it’s inferior but it was always the intention with this layout. My final question to the forum for the time being is if there are any particular issues that may arise from this layout configuration when wiring? And should I have 2 or 3 controllers for this layout? I am aware that only 2/3 trains can feasibly run at once and it’s a lot more manual operation but I’ve used DC before and for the sake of being able to afford this layout it’s a compromise I’ll have to make, with hopefully future layouts years down the line I’ll be able to make the switch to DCC. A big thank you to everyone that’s given advice in this thread, the shared wisdom of you all is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for both of your insights. It's greatly appreciated as a novice to the hobby. I've taken onboard what you've both suggested and I've now got the following plan. My only concern now is that to fit the trailing crossover, the distance between the two mainlines is no longer constant. I will be using Peco code 80 track so a single slip is not a possibility here. Having used Bath Spa station many times I'm guessing this is not the biggest problem in terms of historical accuracy but wondering in terms of a model railway enthusiast if there is a better way of designing the station to keep the core layout the same but improve the track spacing, given the space constraints?