Actually, this month’s “Model Railroader” magazine has an article on just that subject. Their publishing company, Kalmbach Publishing, also has a number of books out for various track plans. Hit your local hobby-shop, or their website: http://www.trains.com/mrr/
ALWAYS do HUNDREDS of sketches on graph-paper, or on one of the wonderful software programs before you start building… it’s AMAZING how many errors in operation and placement you can correct. It’s always simpler to fix those errors with an eraser than moving the track or buildings ON the layout.
A 4′ x 8′ sheet of plywood is always a good START, but for HO scale you can do little more than a basic oval with a siding or two (STILL FUN).
Todays standard gondola car is 40 feet long, the box car is 50 feet long, and most passenger / container / auto carrier cars are roughly 80 feet long. So in HO scale (1:87), those would equal:
So 10 coal-cars (gondolas) will be over 4 1/2 feet !! N-scale is 1:160 (or roughly half the size of HO scale… so you get almost TWICE as much railroad for the space !!
Now what to PICK (scale) depends partly on what you wish to model !! You COULD do HO scale on a 4′x8′ sheet of plywood if you are ONLY doing a small yard with no run-trough trains (20 gondola cars would go from end to end of your “layout”.
I spent the last decade working on an N-scale “Shelf” layout (runs around the walls of a room) modelling the Union Pacific Stockton Yard. I went with N-scale after doing some sketching and realizing HOW little room a 10 x 12 foot room would allow.
Just think that a STANDARD coal unit train today is 50-60 cars long… that’s 23 FEET in HO or 12.5 feet in N scale.
GOOD LUCK and feel free to ask anything else that strikes your mind Eugene.
Tight space means getting creative… but first explore your options, any space in the loft, round the garage, could you make a fold away or hoist a layout up to the ceiling. If you really are stuck with basically the size of a door… why not go for an alpine scene so you get at least two levels, some tunnels and bridges and a small shunting yard and maybe include a turntable.
N scale model train track plans?
Does anyone have any 4×8 track plans for N scale model trains? I would like it to have a tunnel, turntable, and a bridge. ANY help is appreciated!!
how many model train locomotives i could fit on a 50×100 inch board? i am an h.o. scale modeler.?
i am planning to model after the burlington northern santa fe railroad and i am asking this question for some help. i am also planning to have around 24 to 26 freight cars on the layout or should i go for n scale model trains instead. please tell me and my name is eugene.
Can you use a DCC fitted model train with a standard analogue controller?
I am planning on using a dcc fitted train on a standard ‘oo’ guage layout with an Analogue controller…
What is the average cost for garden, junction, and quarry model train railways?
I have been thinking about getting three different types of model train railways: garden, junction, and quarry railways. I plan to make each one of them at least 25 X 15 feet each. I will have 5-10 trains running on each one, and they are all about $45-$120 each (the trains.) I will be buying about $650 dollars worth of scenery, buildings, tracks, and accessories for each railway. So how much would be my average for each one?
Stuck for space for model train layout.?
Got a model train 00 scale for Christmas but i have only got about 2 meters by a meter to work with anyone got some photos of other small layouts or plans? It would be cool to get scenery and detail in the layout as well.
February 10th, 2011 
dwalton 
Posted in 
Tags: 
Actually, this month’s “Model Railroader” magazine has an article on just that subject. Their publishing company, Kalmbach Publishing, also has a number of books out for various track plans. Hit your local hobby-shop, or their website: http://www.trains.com/mrr/
You could also check the website Atlas, a track manufacturer: http://www.atlasrr.com/
ALWAYS do HUNDREDS of sketches on graph-paper, or on one of the wonderful software programs before you start building… it’s AMAZING how many errors in operation and placement you can correct. It’s always simpler to fix those errors with an eraser than moving the track or buildings ON the layout.
GOOD LUCK and ENJOY
Unless you have an inside line on all the stuff you’re asking about, $650 might cover one layout.
Here’s some links to back up my statement:
http://www.towerhobbies.com/trains/train_listings/train_set_g_scale.html
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/category_s/332.htm
http://www.trainsetsonly.com/page/TSO/CTGY/SETSGBACH
I believe you have to change the address to “00″ or “0000″
But, check the maual for your chip.
A 4′ x 8′ sheet of plywood is always a good START, but for HO scale you can do little more than a basic oval with a siding or two (STILL FUN).
Todays standard gondola car is 40 feet long, the box car is 50 feet long, and most passenger / container / auto carrier cars are roughly 80 feet long. So in HO scale (1:87), those would equal:
40 feet = 5.52 inches
50 feet = 6.89 inches
80 feet = 11.03 inches
So 10 coal-cars (gondolas) will be over 4 1/2 feet !! N-scale is 1:160 (or roughly half the size of HO scale… so you get almost TWICE as much railroad for the space !!
Now what to PICK (scale) depends partly on what you wish to model !! You COULD do HO scale on a 4′x8′ sheet of plywood if you are ONLY doing a small yard with no run-trough trains (20 gondola cars would go from end to end of your “layout”.
I spent the last decade working on an N-scale “Shelf” layout (runs around the walls of a room) modelling the Union Pacific Stockton Yard. I went with N-scale after doing some sketching and realizing HOW little room a 10 x 12 foot room would allow.
Just think that a STANDARD coal unit train today is 50-60 cars long… that’s 23 FEET in HO or 12.5 feet in N scale.
GOOD LUCK and feel free to ask anything else that strikes your mind Eugene.
Tight space means getting creative… but first explore your options, any space in the loft, round the garage, could you make a fold away or hoist a layout up to the ceiling. If you really are stuck with basically the size of a door… why not go for an alpine scene so you get at least two levels, some tunnels and bridges and a small shunting yard and maybe include a turntable.
N scale model train track plans?
Does anyone have any 4×8 track plans for N scale model trains? I would like it to have a tunnel, turntable, and a bridge. ANY help is appreciated!!
how many model train locomotives i could fit on a 50×100 inch board? i am an h.o. scale modeler.?
i am planning to model after the burlington northern santa fe railroad and i am asking this question for some help. i am also planning to have around 24 to 26 freight cars on the layout or should i go for n scale model trains instead. please tell me and my name is eugene.
Can you use a DCC fitted model train with a standard analogue controller?
I am planning on using a dcc fitted train on a standard ‘oo’ guage layout with an Analogue controller…
Is this a bad idea? Will it work?
Thank you!
What is the average cost for garden, junction, and quarry model train railways?
I have been thinking about getting three different types of model train railways: garden, junction, and quarry railways. I plan to make each one of them at least 25 X 15 feet each. I will have 5-10 trains running on each one, and they are all about $45-$120 each (the trains.) I will be buying about $650 dollars worth of scenery, buildings, tracks, and accessories for each railway. So how much would be my average for each one?
Stuck for space for model train layout.?
Got a model train 00 scale for Christmas but i have only got about 2 meters by a meter to work with anyone got some photos of other small layouts or plans? It would be cool to get scenery and detail in the layout as well.