Ah ... I see my mistake ... I shouldn't have tried to fill the entire 800 sq ft floor area as a first effort ... I could just about fit the entire Omaha hump yard in N-scale ... best I start with a simple loop on a sheet of plywood ...
BEGINNER OR OLD GUYS OVER MANY YEARS I STAY WITH THE OLD WAY NOW I AM LEARNING FROM YOU AND ENJOY MY HOBBY MORE OUT A LOT OLD IN WITH NEW THANK YOU SHOW ME THE NEW YOU ARE GREAT
I'm having a real tough time in life right now, my Grandma just passed away and the funeral is in a week. These kinds of videos help me bond with my model railroading Grandpa, and it helps us both get better. Thank you for helping us get through this together! I like British Trains (my freelance design is the East-Western Railway), and he likes Chesapeake and Ohio
I want to say thank you for sharing your video and talking about different types. I live in a 1 bedroom apartment, and I have a 6' folding table to set up my track.
So refreshing to have someone who speaks fluently and calmly with pleasant background music. So many uploaders sound like manic "but wait, there's more" infomercials, selling themselves and their personalities rather than their hobby. Love the non-pushy "what makes you happy is what's right for you", approach. Subscribed, and I'll be back. Cheers from the antipodes; New Zealand.
Unrelated, I loooove New Zealand! I lived in Christchurch for a few months in 2009 on Cashel St. I got the chance to go to Queenstown and Wellington too.
I want to say thank you for sharing your video and talking about different types. I live in a 1 bedroom apartment, and I have a 6' folding table to set up my track.
This is awesome and the advice you gave I should've remembered that when I was building my first O gauge layout in a trailer over a decade ago. Thank you!
Good overview, Jimmy. Those huge basement empires are rarely built by one person. They usually have a host of friends who help all along the way. If building alone, one has to be realistic about how much railroad one person can build and maintain.
I have to agree with Ron Marsh (@Ron's Trains N Things) He hit the key factor to get the job done without boredom or burn out. Work with buddys. For those modelers with talent have a building party. Get into a RxR Club. Those guys will check out your ability, not to embarass you but to seek out more Model Gandy Dancers for their layouts. And they for ours.
@Currently getting Entertained I don't know that there is a single answer for that. You could do anything from 4 feet each direction to two entire walls of the room.
Next month I'm starting my new LEGO city layout, and I just wanted to say that I've watched this video about 10 times in recent months for inspiration and as education. Thank you for it!
Love this look at layouts! It's amazing how, despite how simple they are, the layouts are simply not something that comes to mind until you've seen examples. Thank you for this :)
When My Layout was Built I didn’t use A Computer When My wife Started I was happy to Help her get Into Model Rail Roading And Not only that I am Proud to Take My Wife to as Many Train shows.we Will Never Stop Model Railroading.
The best layout that worked for me was a 8x4 N scale. Lots of grass , cows , a barn and a silo a small country house. Couple of pick up trucks , a small pond and a bunch of trees. Super simple oval loop and inexpensive. I love N scale.
The best layout that worked for me was a 8x4 N scale. Lots of grass , cows , a barn and a silo a small country house. Couple of pick up trucks , a small pond and a bunch of trees. Super simple oval loop and inexpensive. I love N scale.
I wanted to do a 4x8 HO scale layout but when I bought some used Bachman Ez-track on eBay, I thought it said 18" curved track for the curved pieces, but it was actually 18 degree curved track. That is 33 1/2". That puts me on at least a 6x10 layout. On a positive note, I have plenty of room for inside track not once but twice. 22" and 18" and still run most locos and cars. I live in SW Louisiana. I am wanted to set up a Union Pacific layout to remind of watching the trains move through here in the 80s. TONS of industry and chemical plants. I have a handful of rolling stock that needs new trucks and couplers, some track and an MTH GP38-2 Union Pacific. I have been stuck on how I want the layout to go, trackwise.
Thanks for the ideas. I built my O Scale to loop around my office but now I wanna build a HO scale on 8ft long by 6ft wide and really could think beyond a crossing loop!
For N scale, use a HO scale layout plan that way you limit the amount of track and have tons of space for buildings, bridges, water features and landscaping.
Great video! I love that you covered keeping things manageable. We all want that massive layout, but space, budget, and frankly, skill constraints mean most of us should start with something a bit smaller. Personally, I started with an industrial shelf layout to hone my skills a bit before incorporating it into something larger. The smaller layout also means more detail, if one is so inclined.
I have wondered about modifying the locomotives to "show" differently as they pass in one direction then another. That is, heavy weathering on the left side, then grimier, miscolored doors on the long hood and different loco numbers. If the track is at or near eye height, I think the illusion of multiple trains might be pulled off. All that would be seen is the nose/tail as it approaches and the side as it goes by.
Very good explanation, I’m doing a large expansion going from a 16 X 8 to 32 X 16, it includes 2 continuous passenger lines serving city and country, 1 continuous freight line and 5 point to point industrial lines! Also has 3 large staging yards. Your videos and info are very informative and help us “up our game” thanks for helping!
These large layouts usually have a club behind them as too expoensive for one person.....simple shunting scenes can be wonderful....like your simple explanation and sensible approach....
Great content. My space is limited to 2.5 ft x 12 ft. I'm going double main lines with 2-3 industries at each end and also a back and forth passenger track separate from the other lines using an auto reverse system.
Very educational video jimmy. I found that kato for n scale makes the building process much easier. I did something like a double L continous loop, with part of the loop hidden. To give that point to point feel, but still be able to just turn trains on and sit back. But I must say I wouldn't be as far as I am if I didnt use kato, just an excellent product!
one of my favorite layout designs is using a double track going through a mountain with 2 tunnels, but, the tunnels are covered with industries that use the same rail cars. For example you can have a coal mine on one side that allows empty coal hoppers on one track and loaded rail hoppers on the other track and on the other side of the mountain you have an industry that uses coal again with one track for empty hoppers and the other with loaded hoppers. it creates the illusion of a coal mine producing coal and an industry using coal. bring the loco motive to the coal mine to pick up the loaded hoppers and deliver them to the coal run industry. when the locomotive pushes the loaded hoppers into the industry it looks like coal is being produced at the coal mine on the other side. Then the locomotive switches tracks and grabs the empty hoppers and delivers them to the coal mine again creating the illusion of the industry using the coal as empty coal hoppers emerge from the industry side as the empty hoppers are pushed through the coal mine to get loaded. the only down side of this is that the numbers on the empty hoppers and the loaded hoppers will not match if you're into trying to create some realism to the layout.
one of my issues is how much money i want to spend and how much work im willing to do. my planning stage is taking a while. i have my plan drawn but am not sure how much track it will take. i do have measurements but only of the layout perimeter, not the actual track. also since im new to this hobby, the building will be a learning process and i want to make the fewest errors possible. one issue is scale and another is what type of train, be it freight or passenger, etc. also the building of the support table or shelf. ill have a 4 x 5 corner table (10" above the floor) connected to one narrower shelf (about a foot wide) leading down to the floor (about a 15-20 foot distance), underneath the bottom step of a staircase then up onto a low shelf underneath a tv (ill need to build, or buy, a tv stand). each end will have a loop for continuous running. no switches so ill need double track for about 20 feet. there is a curve in the middle of my 20 ft section so about 18 feet is straight track then my loops are all curved. my design is a bit complicated so im taking the planning slow. the part under the stairs and on the tv stand will be the hardest to figure out but i have a general idea. i just need track and a train to help figure it out.
Hi Jimmy, First I have to agree with Ron Marsh (@Ron's Trains N Things) He hit the key factor to get the job done without boredom or burn out. Work with buddys. For those modelers with talent have a building party. Get into a RxR Club. Those guys will check out your ability, not to embarass you but to seek out more Model Gandy Dancers for their layouts. And they for ours. HOWEVER, there is one important thing for beginners to remember. Before you buy ask yourself why. Setup a monthly budget. (One reason I love your dollar store episodes.) Habitually Newbies buy Rail Stuff just to buy something. A drug of choice compulsion. Not for something new and useable on your layout. But to get your hands on the Hobby Store register receipt or on the thin plastic logoed bag. Over the past 50+ years I have bought so much stuff, on the cheap, from former RxR Modelers that they bought for their now defunct line, that saved me hundreds of my pennies on their lost dollars. One good thing for me was when I started rebuilding and expanding my layout, in 1963, my Dad, Mom, and Girlfriend wouldn't let me spend more than my allowance (date night) cash monthly. That includes the cost of Prom before a new 4-8-4 StreamLined Hudson NYC Loco. She enjoyed Prom. I'm still wondering how much that 7th NYC Loco would have looked great on my line. Model RxR Stuff must be part of your Entertainment Budget not your first fruits spending. Start a realistic budget. ~Jim
I am a point to point modeler. My current layout is interurban switching layout. My next layout is going to be an underground subway system and again point to point.
I have a room dedicated to my trains but I can't seem to think of a plan I like to use on it, right now I just run my trains on a small loop until I can figure out something usable.
In regards to loop-to-point, I can think of one real railroad off the top of my head that uses this layout - the narrow gauge excursion line at Dollywood.
I think my biggest gripe with many model railroads is the abundance of track to the exclusion of almost everything else - it ends up looking unnatural. In the real world especially early years, turnouts would be limited distance from the control box because of the weight of the control rods, so most railroads would have miles of track with no turnouts at all - obviously this doesn't make for an interesting model to operate, but if you're only wanting to "watch the trains go by" then it's perfectly adequate and you can concentrate on what the railroad is travelling through. It also means that where the yards are, the turnouts will generally be concentrated into a tight area, with any distant turnouts needing to be controlled by an adjacent manual lever. Even in the modern era these considerations are in effect, the manual turnouts are gone along with the control rods, being replaced with electronics, so fewer control boxes for a larger area. I'm looking to start with an huge double loop (prototypical UK mainline), then take time to add stations, freight yards and service yards over time - it should mean that the turnouts are all in small clumps (easing on initial cost). So I should end up with areas of operational interest, but still be able to "watch the trains go by" through rolling countryside, and small parts of towns.
I'm looking into an HO Industrial layout. Here is just the length (16 x 8 x 8), width will come as move alon;g. I'm planning on having a three track Railcar rebuild center. One the outside track will serve a warehouse, on the other side of the repair facility is a long single track that will have a business at the end were the tracks terminate inside of the building. But just beyond the switch I'll spot cars for trans loading onto trucks. This would be on the.(8') section. Along the back will be a beverage building and near by a (chicken / livestock) feed CO-OP with silos. Along the 16' section will have the yard, interchange tracks, a small cement plant towards the front then along the backside maybe a switch back like the one that was at Maysville on the Rio Grande that goes to a quarry / load out. But I'll need to do more research. If I can get another industry or two like natural gas or a petroleum distributor this should keep me busy for awhile. I have the power already picked out, a U18B and a former Norfolk Southern B23-7u, then a leased GP38u formally Ohio Southern. I'm planning for it all to be DCC and a lot of LEDs for lighting up the interiors, the yard, rail crossings. No need for crossing gates and block signals.
I’m excited to start my first layout with my daughter (who absolutely loves trains luckily) in early 2022. I want to make my layout based off of the line that runs between my original hometown and the state capital. Abridged of course. I’ll also have to adapt it slightly to a U shape because of the room in our barn I’ll be using. I want to center the layout around the historic Route 66/Main Street train station in the town I live in, so I’m thinking I’ll start and end it at an industry building in the respective cities and then include a small loop beyond that at either end. Probably pretty ambitious for a first attempt, but I’ll try and worst case I’ll switch to something simpler.
Thanks for this really nice track planning video, Jimmy. You've offered some really great advice in it. As you've suggested, you don't really need to have a massive basement empire to have tons of fun with your layout. ...Roy
I have a track plan I like. The Whiskey Barrel and Grimy Gotham RR. Published in a Model Railroader some time ago. No where can I find a list of track pieces for this rr. Help! BTW, it's a 2 foot by 3 foot rr. Not big.
Thank you. I watch hundreds of RUclips clips and I think this might be my first subscription. I have two very young grandsons and two son in laws. In my home I have a bedroom for my grandsons which has stairs leading up to it rather than a door in one of the walls. I hope to have a track running around the whole room and space for stations and sidings. All way too advanced for me. For my track and rolling stock I am buying a huge amount of mostly unboxed items. It is all from one source. A friend of mine gathered it all together thirty years ago but sadly passed away. It is 0 gauge. Four hundred feet of straight track. So, going against your advice, I will plunge in! I’m seventy-four years old and hope that this long term project will be continued by by the two little boys whose several times great grand father was chairman of the Great Eastern Railway in the UK.
just re-watched this after watching the current video from yesterday. I just dismantled my layout benchwork because i realized that I had bitten off way more than I could chew. :0) I have an entire extra room to work with and tried to fill it with my dream layout.. Thanks for reminding its ok to start small.
I’m happy with my current track plan which includes a continuous loop, a passing siding so I can have 2 trains on my layout, a small yard, engine facility area with a shed and eventually a water tower/coal loader and an industrial center with separated by a #6 turnout. On the left theirs a coal depot and the right a warehouse which is meant for reefers or boxcars with a universal industry behind it to drop off cars with no industry. I’m thinking of adding a staging area just off the so I can add more trains.
I want to make a point-to-point layout just to go back and forth. Can I use power supplies and one Straight Terminal Track to power it IT will just be 8' It a diorama
This was really good. I’ve been a model railroader for a long time and this is good advice. One other thing about those large layouts is that they are usually built by a group of modelers helping out the individual owner of the layout. They are rarely a one-person endeavor. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the great video. Lots of fun concepts to build, improvise and expand upon. I’m currently building my first N scale layout. It’s currently DC but eventually, I’d like to end up with a wireless DCC layout that will be controlled via my iPad + app. It will include speed controlled signals and motion controlled crossing gates. Ambitious, I know. But due to our current situation, I suddenly have more free time than I had planned on.
Good advice! One little thing: I noticed that my name isn’t on the list of Patreon patrons in the videos. :) No big deal to me, since I’m getting that content, but I could see that bothering someone. Still, the error is good news, in that you’re getting more patrons than you can keep up with! 😁
Moving my living room around I had to take my 8.5 X 8.5 layout down right now the jigsaw puzzle gets worked on daily a little variation of the usual 8X8X8 many modelers have
This short I've been collect over 45 years now. Every layout varies in size and shape but simple single level basics my largest layout was an L shape 12l-8 W. If had the room now I could easily fill a 16-16 or 20-20 set up If anyone would like me to post the current setup let me know Single track oval about the perimeter. Six turnouts 3l 3r making 18-24 combo switching layout each side. The middle has the city industry outer city by tracks 14-16 double end ed yards 8 stub end tracks ... I have not wired any electrical through the plywood base as unfortunately I've had to move six times in ten yr span henceforth just manual switches and holds if filled both sides 60-80+ cars engine
I would like to get into HO trains on a 4 X 8 board. BUT, I am very short in space, and my wife will not allow a permanent layout in our finished basement. So I'd like to ask anybody if they think a fold able base might work. Anybody seen such a layout? My idea would be folding the 4 X 8 vertically (I have 9 foot ceilings) and have it on a rolling base. I understand that it would have to be light with minimum buildings etc. Is there a way to tack the tracks down so they would not move when in vertical storage? Thanks for your help!
Good suggestions. I will be building a shortline in 8-1/2' X 9". I want to be able to get it fairly well finished in a reasonable time and have designed it to survive a move coming up in a few years. Much consideration has gone into not overdoing. Trackplan is an old school, somewhat convoluted point to point, sacrificing a continuous run for scenery and switching that suit me.
I took a trip to etsy and visited your store nice n scale items. Just one request i need houses will your print them to sale in the future. I will be purchasing from you in the very near future
the bigger the layout? ... the more you have to CLEAN ! ... and lets not forget MONEY !! extra track - extra rolling stock - extra accessories can easily send your budget into the THOUSANDS !!
I’m just getting back into the hobby after 30 years. I’m working with limited space. My concerns include power supply and control, ease of layout and flexibility. I’m open to suggestions.
Hello Jimmy, I know this video is three years old but I am new to this so hear is my question. KATO N-Scale user here, the question I have is in regard to my main lines, I am using a V16 kit with a single KATO Unitrack line on the inside of the main layout, the problem I have come up against is coming off the inside double track with a #4 switch to begin the inner line but mid circumfrence have encountered a dead short, I have checked numberous things but can't figure this out...the engine stops even with the loop completed via antother switch at the end to allow it to re-enter the double outer track. What might you say as to correct this issue.? I am new to the hobby and my elrctrical skills have never been that savvy, I have tried numberous changes only to encounter the same problem. Thanks for your consideration!
Very helpful, thank you. I ve quite a big HO collection (20 + engines) but before starting i need to do research and see how much space do i really need. I don t expect i ll be using more than 2-3 trains, the others will be used as reserve.
Excellent video! Great layout! Question - how do the trains get from the lower level to the upper level?..sorry of the question if you’ve answered this question before. Thanks.
The best layout that worked for me was a 8x4 N scale. Lots of grass , cows , a barn and a silo a small country house. Couple of pick up trucks , a small pond and a bunch of trees. Super simple oval loop and inexpensive. I love N scale.
I want it all and i want it now. Now where do i start? This vodeo is helping me figure that out. Thanks. All we are doing right now is building other peoples track plans on a 4x8, Which has its benefits. Untill we get the basement done and have room to build something larger. Valuable practice time.
I may be wrong on this but shouldn't you read the page before modifying some CVs and then using the "write entire page" function. The yellow fields are not necessarily what is in the decoder. If you make a couple of changes without first reading, you may be changing a lot of CVs you did not intend to. Tony
yes however you need to think of the yard space you have. and plan thinking of landscape as the table and patio as the operating pit. adding for ways to work on landscape,
One thing that strikes me is that those who model European prototypes are much more focused on running passenger trains, and modeling a station, or stations, depending on layout size.
If they want to market it towards kids again, they could use it to encourage imagination rather than limiting their imagination by choosing a time and place allowing for no limitation to buildings, rolling stock, locomotives, or layout. By choosing a time and place, it makes more sense to market it towards collectors rather than kids although since they are after all toys, it would make more sense to encourage imagination than to focus on limiting imagination by choosing a time and place
I made a train layout plan with lot of notebook paper long time back and to as day I have it but there no help in make it and now I try to put it on my computer so I can test it to see if it work if you like to see my layout plan tell me. P.S. I made one change and that as I updating to DCC I have some part to update
Just discovered your channel. Really appreciate all the advice you're offering! I'll be getting back to model railroading for the first time since childhood, as part of a museum I'm building that will have a recreation of a NYC subway in one room. I'm thrilled to discover there are detailed subway trains available from MTH Railking. First step was just to purchase the two trains I want to be able to use. Next (probably in January) will be to think about layout design. I don't own the building yet where my museum will be. But I expect to buy it in January or February. Then the fun will begin! Merry Christmas!
Ah ... I see my mistake ... I shouldn't have tried to fill the entire 800 sq ft floor area as a first effort ... I could just about fit the entire Omaha hump yard in N-scale ... best I start with a simple loop on a sheet of plywood ...
Ikr 😂 i dove right in with a n scale 12ft by 3ft layout build, and well i think we know how that went 😂
BEGINNER OR OLD GUYS OVER MANY YEARS I STAY WITH THE OLD WAY NOW I AM LEARNING FROM YOU AND ENJOY MY HOBBY MORE OUT A LOT OLD IN WITH NEW THANK YOU SHOW ME THE NEW YOU ARE GREAT
I'm having a real tough time in life right now, my Grandma just passed away and the funeral is in a week. These kinds of videos help me bond with my model railroading Grandpa, and it helps us both get better. Thank you for helping us get through this together!
I like British Trains (my freelance design is the East-Western Railway), and he likes Chesapeake and Ohio
My condolences, know that myself the community is thinking of you in this time.
I hope you and your Grandpa are doing better.
Oo your Grandpa has good taste. An underrated railroad with a lot of cool locos and lines
You are the Bob Ross of model train TV. Thank you for doing this, all the best!
That may be the best compliment I have received! Thank you!
🙂🤣Happy Little Trains 🚂
Hahahah soooo true
Grow a fro
I want to say thank you for sharing your video and talking about different types. I live in a 1 bedroom apartment, and I have a 6' folding table to set up my track.
So refreshing to have someone who speaks fluently and calmly with pleasant background music. So many uploaders sound like manic "but wait, there's more" infomercials, selling themselves and their personalities rather than their hobby. Love the non-pushy "what makes you happy is what's right for you", approach. Subscribed, and I'll be back. Cheers from the antipodes; New Zealand.
Unrelated, I loooove New Zealand! I lived in Christchurch for a few months in 2009 on Cashel St. I got the chance to go to Queenstown and Wellington too.
I want to say thank you for sharing your video and talking about different types. I live in a 1 bedroom apartment, and I have a 6' folding table to set up my track.
Thorough explanation, and I loved your message "Make it fun for you".
This is awesome and the advice you gave I should've remembered that when I was building my first O gauge layout in a trailer over a decade ago. Thank you!
Good overview, Jimmy. Those huge basement empires are rarely built by one person. They usually have a host of friends who help all along the way. If building alone, one has to be realistic about how much railroad one person can build and maintain.
I have to agree with Ron Marsh (@Ron's Trains N Things) He hit the key factor to get the job done without boredom or burn out. Work with buddys. For those modelers with talent have a building party. Get into a RxR Club. Those guys will check out your ability, not to embarass you but to seek out more Model Gandy Dancers for their layouts. And they for ours.
@Currently getting Entertained I don't understand the queation.
@Currently getting Entertained I don't know that there is a single answer for that. You could do anything from 4 feet each direction to two entire walls of the room.
@Thomas Yeats Yeah, that's what I figure. At any rate, I'm done here.
Next month I'm starting my new LEGO city layout, and I just wanted to say that I've watched this video about 10 times in recent months for inspiration and as education. Thank you for it!
Excellent info! I just started a 4x4 foot N gauge after taking down my big layout, concentrating on just 2 mainlines and doing much more scenery.
Love this look at layouts! It's amazing how, despite how simple they are, the layouts are simply not something that comes to mind until you've seen examples. Thank you for this :)
When My Layout was Built I didn’t use A Computer When My wife Started I was happy to Help her get Into Model Rail Roading And Not only that I am Proud to Take My Wife to as Many Train shows.we Will Never Stop Model Railroading.
Didn't even imagine some of these simple but awesome designs. You have made my day.
good idea Jimmy, I was thinking about building the prairie dog central I’m going to model it but it’s extended version of it
Very solid advice. There's always room to grow!
The best layout that worked for me was a 8x4 N scale. Lots of grass , cows , a barn and a silo a small country house. Couple of pick up trucks , a small pond and a bunch of trees. Super simple oval loop and inexpensive. I love N scale.
The best layout that worked for me was a 8x4 N scale. Lots of grass , cows , a barn and a silo a small country house. Couple of pick up trucks , a small pond and a bunch of trees. Super simple oval loop and inexpensive. I love N scale.
My layout is more about displaying my trains than running them. The fact that I can run them is just an added bonus.
I wanted to do a 4x8 HO scale layout but when I bought some used Bachman Ez-track on eBay, I thought it said 18" curved track for the curved pieces, but it was actually 18 degree curved track. That is 33 1/2". That puts me on at least a 6x10 layout. On a positive note, I have plenty of room for inside track not once but twice. 22" and 18" and still run most locos and cars. I live in SW Louisiana. I am wanted to set up a Union Pacific layout to remind of watching the trains move through here in the 80s. TONS of industry and chemical plants. I have a handful of rolling stock that needs new trucks and couplers, some track and an MTH GP38-2 Union Pacific. I have been stuck on how I want the layout to go, trackwise.
Thanks for the ideas. I built my O Scale to loop around my office but now I wanna build a HO scale on 8ft long by 6ft wide and really could think beyond a crossing loop!
For N scale, use a HO scale layout plan that way you limit the amount of track and have tons of space for buildings, bridges, water features and landscaping.
Great video! I love that you covered keeping things manageable. We all want that massive layout, but space, budget, and frankly, skill constraints mean most of us should start with something a bit smaller. Personally, I started with an industrial shelf layout to hone my skills a bit before incorporating it into something larger. The smaller layout also means more detail, if one is so inclined.
I have wondered about modifying the locomotives to "show" differently as they pass in one direction then another. That is, heavy weathering on the left side, then grimier, miscolored doors on the long hood and different loco numbers. If the track is at or near eye height, I think the illusion of multiple trains might be pulled off. All that would be seen is the nose/tail as it approaches and the side as it goes by.
Also remember this you can Work on it Anytime you want it Will always Be Fun.
Excellent insight
Very good explanation, I’m doing a large expansion going from a 16 X 8 to 32 X 16, it includes 2 continuous passenger lines serving city and country, 1 continuous freight line and 5 point to point industrial lines! Also has 3 large staging yards. Your videos and info are very informative and help us “up our game” thanks for helping!
These large layouts usually have a club behind them as too expoensive for one person.....simple shunting scenes can be wonderful....like your simple explanation and sensible approach....
Great content. My space is limited to 2.5 ft x 12 ft. I'm going double main lines with 2-3 industries at each end and also a back and forth passenger track separate from the other lines using an auto reverse system.
I always liked narrow dogbone layouts. They look nice.
Excellent.
Very educational video jimmy. I found that kato for n scale makes the building process much easier. I did something like a double L continous loop, with part of the loop hidden. To give that point to point feel, but still be able to just turn trains on and sit back. But I must say I wouldn't be as far as I am if I didnt use kato, just an excellent product!
If it isn't fun I can't think of why you'd do it! So yes, make it fun for you.
one of my favorite layout designs is using a double track going through a mountain with 2 tunnels, but, the tunnels are covered with industries that use the same rail cars. For example you can have a coal mine on one side that allows empty coal hoppers on one track and loaded rail hoppers on the other track and on the other side of the mountain you have an industry that uses coal again with one track for empty hoppers and the other with loaded hoppers. it creates the illusion of a coal mine producing coal and an industry using coal. bring the loco motive to the coal mine to pick up the loaded hoppers and deliver them to the coal run industry. when the locomotive pushes the loaded hoppers into the industry it looks like coal is being produced at the coal mine on the other side. Then the locomotive switches tracks and grabs the empty hoppers and delivers them to the coal mine again creating the illusion of the industry using the coal as empty coal hoppers emerge from the industry side as the empty hoppers are pushed through the coal mine to get loaded. the only down side of this is that the numbers on the empty hoppers and the loaded hoppers will not match if you're into trying to create some realism to the layout.
This is such a neat idea! I like it a lot. I may have to try it someday
one of my issues is how much money i want to spend and how much work im willing to do. my planning stage is taking a while. i have my plan drawn but am not sure how much track it will take. i do have measurements but only of the layout perimeter, not the actual track. also since im new to this hobby, the building will be a learning process and i want to make the fewest errors possible. one issue is scale and another is what type of train, be it freight or passenger, etc. also the building of the support table or shelf. ill have a 4 x 5 corner table (10" above the floor) connected to one narrower shelf (about a foot wide) leading down to the floor (about a 15-20 foot distance), underneath the bottom step of a staircase then up onto a low shelf underneath a tv (ill need to build, or buy, a tv stand). each end will have a loop for continuous running. no switches so ill need double track for about 20 feet. there is a curve in the middle of my 20 ft section so about 18 feet is straight track then my loops are all curved. my design is a bit complicated so im taking the planning slow. the part under the stairs and on the tv stand will be the hardest to figure out but i have a general idea. i just need track and a train to help figure it out.
This was very informative, an excellent video!
Youre videos are a life saver as I dive DEEP into this hyperfixation
Well done, fantastic video!
Hi Jimmy,
First I have to agree with Ron Marsh (@Ron's Trains N Things) He hit the key factor to get the job done without boredom or burn out. Work with buddys. For those modelers with talent have a building party. Get into a RxR Club. Those guys will check out your ability, not to embarass you but to seek out more Model Gandy Dancers for their layouts. And they for ours.
HOWEVER, there is one important thing for beginners to remember. Before you buy ask yourself why.
Setup a monthly budget. (One reason I love your dollar store episodes.) Habitually Newbies buy Rail Stuff just to buy something. A drug of choice compulsion. Not for something new and useable on your layout. But to get your hands on the Hobby Store register receipt or on the thin plastic logoed bag.
Over the past 50+ years I have bought so much stuff, on the cheap, from former RxR Modelers that they bought for their now defunct line, that saved me hundreds of my pennies on their lost dollars.
One good thing for me was when I started rebuilding and expanding my layout, in 1963, my Dad, Mom, and Girlfriend wouldn't let me spend more than my allowance (date night) cash monthly. That includes the cost of Prom before a new 4-8-4 StreamLined Hudson NYC Loco. She enjoyed Prom. I'm still wondering how much that 7th NYC Loco would have looked great on my line.
Model RxR Stuff must be part of your Entertainment Budget not your first fruits spending. Start a realistic budget.
~Jim
Many thanks. Greetings from Ireland. Is there a way of determining a selection of track & Gauge layout for a fixed area of board,
I am a point to point modeler. My current layout is interurban switching layout. My next layout is going to be an underground subway system and again point to point.
Excellent.
Muchas gracias , muy bueno
I have a room dedicated to my trains but I can't seem to think of a plan I like to use on it, right now I just run my trains on a small loop until I can figure out something usable.
While designing i consider minimum space, maximum utilisation, ease of operations.
Operations, maintenance, reservers if possible.
In regards to loop-to-point, I can think of one real railroad off the top of my head that uses this layout - the narrow gauge excursion line at Dollywood.
I think my biggest gripe with many model railroads is the abundance of track to the exclusion of almost everything else - it ends up looking unnatural. In the real world especially early years, turnouts would be limited distance from the control box because of the weight of the control rods, so most railroads would have miles of track with no turnouts at all - obviously this doesn't make for an interesting model to operate, but if you're only wanting to "watch the trains go by" then it's perfectly adequate and you can concentrate on what the railroad is travelling through. It also means that where the yards are, the turnouts will generally be concentrated into a tight area, with any distant turnouts needing to be controlled by an adjacent manual lever. Even in the modern era these considerations are in effect, the manual turnouts are gone along with the control rods, being replaced with electronics, so fewer control boxes for a larger area.
I'm looking to start with an huge double loop (prototypical UK mainline), then take time to add stations, freight yards and service yards over time - it should mean that the turnouts are all in small clumps (easing on initial cost). So I should end up with areas of operational interest, but still be able to "watch the trains go by" through rolling countryside, and small parts of towns.
great stuff jimmy
Why the background music? It's annoying, distracting and totally unnecessary.
Wow I love those track diagrams.
I have built a 4'X8', 8 turn outs
Why didn't you mention track planning software like AnyRail?
I think the dog bone in maybe a L shape will work for me best. 👍
Excellent info! I just started a 4x4 foot N gauge after taking down my big layout, concentrating on just 2 mainlines and doing much more scenery.
I am just starting out I built my own 4x8 table any suggestions on track
Don't forget access. Have all track within reach where you don't have to crawl around the layout to get to it.
I'm looking into an HO Industrial layout. Here is just the length (16 x 8 x 8), width will come as move alon;g. I'm planning on having a three track Railcar rebuild center. One the outside track will serve a warehouse, on the other side of the repair facility is a long single track that will have a business at the end were the tracks terminate inside of the building. But just beyond the switch I'll spot cars for trans loading onto trucks. This would be on the.(8') section.
Along the back will be a beverage building and near by a (chicken / livestock) feed CO-OP with silos.
Along the 16' section will have the yard, interchange tracks, a small cement plant towards the front then along the backside maybe a switch back like the one that was at Maysville on the Rio Grande that goes to a quarry / load out. But I'll need to do more research.
If I can get another industry or two like natural gas or a petroleum distributor this should keep me busy for awhile. I have the power already picked out, a U18B and a former Norfolk Southern B23-7u, then a leased GP38u formally Ohio Southern.
I'm planning for it all to be DCC and a lot of LEDs for lighting up the interiors, the yard, rail crossings. No need for crossing gates and block signals.
Honestly you should’ve mentioned a loop within a loop as an upgrade, you can switch tracks for going to different industries.
I’m excited to start my first layout with my daughter (who absolutely loves trains luckily) in early 2022. I want to make my layout based off of the line that runs between my original hometown and the state capital. Abridged of course. I’ll also have to adapt it slightly to a U shape because of the room in our barn I’ll be using. I want to center the layout around the historic Route 66/Main Street train station in the town I live in, so I’m thinking I’ll start and end it at an industry building in the respective cities and then include a small loop beyond that at either end. Probably pretty ambitious for a first attempt, but I’ll try and worst case I’ll switch to something simpler.
Thanks for this really nice track planning video, Jimmy. You've offered some really great advice in it. As you've suggested, you don't really need to have a massive basement empire to have tons of fun with your layout. ...Roy
Hi there! Would you recommend any software to plan rail road and simulate the passing of trains?
I have a track plan I like. The Whiskey Barrel and Grimy Gotham RR. Published in a Model Railroader some time ago. No where can I find a list of track pieces for this rr. Help! BTW, it's a 2 foot by 3 foot rr. Not big.
Thank you. I watch hundreds of RUclips clips and I think this might be my first subscription. I have two very young grandsons and two son in laws. In my home I have a bedroom for my grandsons which has stairs leading up to it rather than a door in one of the walls. I hope to have a track running around the whole room and space for stations and sidings. All way too advanced for me. For my track and rolling stock I am buying a huge amount of mostly unboxed items. It is all from one source. A friend of mine gathered it all together thirty years ago but sadly passed away. It is 0 gauge. Four hundred feet of straight track. So, going against your advice, I will plunge in! I’m seventy-four years old and hope that this long term project will be continued by by the two little boys whose several times great grand father was chairman of the Great Eastern Railway in the UK.
I would like to make one that plays music like the miniature Wunderland in Germany.
just re-watched this after watching the current video from yesterday. I just dismantled my layout benchwork because i realized that I had bitten off way more than I could chew. :0) I have an entire extra room to work with and tried to fill it with my dream layout.. Thanks for reminding its ok to start small.
3:34 My previous layout was a folded dogbone - in a 25.5" x 49.5" space. Needless to say it involved some steep grades. :)
Did the trains get up it okay?
@@vodka2432 They did, but I really had to back out of the throttle on the down grade!
I’m happy with my current track plan which includes a continuous loop, a passing siding so I can have 2 trains on my layout, a small yard, engine facility area with a shed and eventually a water tower/coal loader and an industrial center with separated by a #6 turnout. On the left theirs a coal depot and the right a warehouse which is meant for reefers or boxcars with a universal industry behind it to drop off cars with no industry. I’m thinking of adding a staging area just off the so I can add more trains.
great video Jimmy, have you thought about talking about modular systems? such as the T-Trak
Happy New Year!!!
I have always wanted to try T-Trak and it is on my list of projects for the future!
I want to make a point-to-point layout just to go back and forth. Can I use power supplies and one Straight Terminal Track to power it IT will just be 8' It a diorama
This was really good. I’ve been a model railroader for a long time and this is good advice. One other thing about those large layouts is that they are usually built by a group of modelers helping out the individual owner of the layout. They are rarely a one-person endeavor. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the great video. Lots of fun concepts to build, improvise and expand upon. I’m currently building my first N scale layout. It’s currently DC but eventually, I’d like to end up with a wireless DCC layout that will be controlled via my iPad + app. It will include speed controlled signals and motion controlled crossing gates. Ambitious, I know. But due to our current situation, I suddenly have more free time than I had planned on.
Good advice! One little thing: I noticed that my name isn’t on the list of Patreon patrons in the videos. :) No big deal to me, since I’m getting that content, but I could see that bothering someone. Still, the error is good news, in that you’re getting more patrons than you can keep up with! 😁
Well I'm going to have to fix that!
Moving my living room around I had to take my 8.5 X 8.5 layout down right now the jigsaw puzzle gets worked on daily a little variation of the usual 8X8X8 many modelers have
Part1 I used to use the standard atlass track for about 20 years I've switched over and use bachmann ez-track now
This short I've been collect over 45 years now. Every layout varies in size and shape but simple single level basics my largest layout was an L shape 12l-8 W. If had the room now I could easily fill a 16-16 or 20-20 set up
If anyone would like me to post the current setup let me know
Single track oval about the perimeter. Six turnouts 3l 3r making 18-24 combo switching layout each side. The middle has the city industry outer city by tracks 14-16 double end ed yards 8 stub end tracks ...
I have not wired any electrical through the plywood base as unfortunately I've had to move six times in ten yr span henceforth just manual switches and holds if filled both sides 60-80+ cars engine
Thanks for the great ideas. I'm getting back into the hobby after many years out of it. These ideas sound great for any scale. Happy Railroading 😊
I would like to get into HO trains on a 4 X 8 board. BUT, I am very short in space, and my wife will not allow a permanent layout in our finished basement. So I'd like to ask anybody if they think a fold able base might work. Anybody seen such a layout? My idea would be folding the 4 X 8 vertically (I have 9 foot ceilings) and have it on a rolling base. I understand that it would have to be light with minimum buildings etc. Is there a way to tack the tracks down so they would not move when in vertical storage? Thanks for your help!
Good suggestions. I will be building a shortline in 8-1/2' X 9". I want to be able to get it fairly well finished in a reasonable time and have designed it to survive a move coming up in a few years. Much consideration has gone into not overdoing. Trackplan is an old school, somewhat convoluted point to point, sacrificing a continuous run for scenery and switching that suit me.
I took a trip to etsy and visited your store nice n scale items. Just one request i need houses will your print them to sale in the future. I will be purchasing from you in the very near future
Nice little film
Thanks for posting
A newbie
the bigger the layout? ... the more you have to CLEAN ! ... and lets not forget MONEY !! extra track - extra rolling stock - extra accessories can easily send your budget into the THOUSANDS !!
I’m just getting back into the hobby after 30 years. I’m working with limited space. My concerns include power supply and control, ease of layout and flexibility. I’m open to suggestions.
Hello Jimmy, I know this video is three years old but I am new to this so hear is my question. KATO N-Scale user here, the question I have is in regard to my main lines, I am using a V16 kit with a single KATO Unitrack line on the inside of the main layout, the problem I have come up against is coming off the inside double track with a #4 switch to begin the inner line but mid circumfrence have encountered a dead short, I have checked numberous things but can't figure this out...the engine stops even with the loop completed via antother switch at the end to allow it to re-enter the double outer track. What might you say as to correct this issue.? I am new to the hobby and my elrctrical skills have never been that savvy, I have tried numberous changes only to encounter the same problem. Thanks for your consideration!
Very helpful, thank you.
I ve quite a big HO collection (20 + engines) but before starting i need to do research and see how much space do i really need. I don t expect i ll be using more than 2-3 trains, the others will be used as reserve.
Excellent video! Great layout! Question - how do the trains get from the lower level to the upper level?..sorry of the question if you’ve answered this question before. Thanks.
The best layout that worked for me was a 8x4 N scale. Lots of grass , cows , a barn and a silo a small country house. Couple of pick up trucks , a small pond and a bunch of trees. Super simple oval loop and inexpensive. I love N scale.
I want it all and i want it now. Now where do i start? This vodeo is helping me figure that out. Thanks. All we are doing right now is building other peoples track plans on a 4x8, Which has its benefits. Untill we get the basement done and have room to build something larger. Valuable practice time.
I may be wrong on this but shouldn't you read the page before modifying some CVs and then using the "write entire page" function. The yellow fields are not necessarily what is in the decoder. If you make a couple of changes without first reading, you may be changing a lot of CVs you did not intend to.
Tony
This was a really great explanation.
Does that work the same for garden railroads?
yes however you need to think of the yard space you have. and plan thinking of landscape as the table and patio as the operating pit. adding for ways to work on landscape,
What is the Most popular Trackplan is Used?
I wanted an "L" I struggled with my basic layout design for a long time. The I turn the track plan upside down and it all fell into place
One thing that strikes me is that those who model European prototypes are much more focused on running passenger trains, and modeling a station, or stations, depending on layout size.
If they want to market it towards kids again, they could use it to encourage imagination rather than limiting their imagination by choosing a time and place allowing for no limitation to buildings, rolling stock, locomotives, or layout. By choosing a time and place, it makes more sense to market it towards collectors rather than kids although since they are after all toys, it would make more sense to encourage imagination than to focus on limiting imagination by choosing a time and place
I’m making my own tunnel from cardboard and styrofoam from a microwave anyway to get a picture to you???
Check out this advanced layout.ruclips.net/video/SAiVy-vu6Do/видео.html
I made a train layout plan with lot of notebook paper long time back and to as day I have it but there no help in make it and now I try to put it on my computer so I can test it to see if it work if you like to see my layout plan tell me. P.S. I made one change and that as I updating to DCC I have some part to update
Just discovered your channel. Really appreciate all the advice you're offering! I'll be getting back to model railroading for the first time since childhood, as part of a museum I'm building that will have a recreation of a NYC subway in one room. I'm thrilled to discover there are detailed subway trains available from MTH Railking. First step was just to purchase the two trains I want to be able to use. Next (probably in January) will be to think about layout design. I don't own the building yet where my museum will be. But I expect to buy it in January or February. Then the fun will begin! Merry Christmas!
Thank you so much you are sooooo helpful
I need continues running I like the idea of turning the train on and letting it run through the scenery and towns whatever you come up with.
Can you advise me on what I can and can’t do with this as I’m new to model railroading thanks in advance did any help you can offer
i got my first table built and the track will be loop to loop track and to elevate each other by three levels looks great im on landscaping