Theduke71000

Just curious if there's any definition as to what constitutes a 'large layout' and right to include in this section.

no contest

 

Hi all,

 

 

 

I am returning/new to this hobby after 45 years – and have NEVER engaged with BLOGS!

 

 

 

I have decided on size – a 9x7 garden shed, scale OO, era 3 (LMS) steam only,  goods only - lots of activity wanted love engines and private wagons.

 

 

 

I want to model in stages, preferably not going back over phased decisions so a modular/stage build is preferred starting with an industrial through station with good goods facilities and a separate marshalling/fiddle yard (the theme for which can be re-developed later) with 2 tracks around the room linking them up .

 

 

 

Baseboards exist ( I know not the right way to start but there were very good reasons) so I basically now have a 102”x80” fully insulated heated and lined internal area with an outwards opening door centrally located in the 80” end an “L” of 32” at the “opposite” end, a 16” shelf on the long return opposite the 32” longest length and an 8” bridge to close the shape across the door way – I do hope that all makes sense.

 

 

 

I would like to build on one level (boards are 40” high) and I think I want to have 2 tracks around the room feeding into stage one on the 102" x 32" section which would be as per (picture 2) a through station plus goods marshalling – treating the remaining tracks on the shorter 80"x32" section and the 80"x 8" (min) bridge section the as a feed into and out of a marshalling/fiddle yard (as per the appropriate (rh) bit of picture 1) which would be located on the opposite 16”x102"section for now which will one day be lifted and fully modelled.

 

 

 

I have been doing a lot of research which has produced the above scheme thoughts, I have about 20 “good idea” layout plans copied from various www contributions BUT I am now totally overwhelmed by the decisions needed to actually commit to something and get started and I have therefore stalled.

 

 

 

I am not a computer fan so don’t want to engage with CAD I don’t understand real life operating protocols so struggle with lots of blog terminology,  I repeat - I have NEVER blogged!

 

 

 

So I’m completely stuck and terrified of starting off spending too much and getting it wrong such that I lose heart.

 

 

 

Can you guys help!!

 

 

 

FYI all/most of this has come from this forum 

 

 

 

How am I doing??

 

 

 

PLEASE be kind with your comments especially if they relate to “I suggest you start again” but - short of spending £00’s on professional design services and waiting months for the outcome I need your help/advice and will very much appreciate it otherwise I fear I will never get started and eBay will get some more business!

 

If you have a 

"Grantham" appears to be coming along nicely.  

I must say, I backed out of installing LSWR semaphore gantries on my layout Basingstoke, as I had visions of my operators destroying them trying to clean the track or similar. I settled instead on the rather smaller colour light brackets installed in 1966. Mind you your GNR somersaults, do look nice. 

I wish you and the layout well for your coming shows. 

The Duke 71000.

Note: 

Well what a wonderful medium this is-I threw in a couple of off-hand notes about operating practices and within 48 hrs we have a comprehensive list of what,when & where-excellent !-plus enough local nostalgia to delight this Old Purleian,many years removed from his old stamping ground-thank you gents !!

Lifeboatman-some good clean solid looking benchwork there mate,your comment about the board looking too small is a reasonable one,although I suspect not unusual when we see our 2D ideas take 3D shape and as I recall,the station was pretty tightly hemmed in and always looked slightly out of place in its environment-given your preferred time frame might I suggest that the Purley Way bridge should have a solid block of traffic on the southbound side,backed up from the Beddington lane traffic lights-I seem to recall spending endless minutes inching along from the Lombard roundabout.

Another impertinent suggestion if I may-although crossing there was evidently a rarity I feel that could provide a valuable operating feature ( why have a crossing loop & not use it.....)

As this topic seems to take in the C&SMRC-at least peripherally,do any of you recall a Tony McDermitt (Spelling questionable) A fellow biker who I used to see in the Railway Hotel in Purley who was a big man for Japanese Railways & actually had an almost unheard of N gauge J.R.layout built back in the late 70`s-believe he used to hang out with that crew...regards to all.