westport

Cheers Folks, An updated plan to be posted soon, in the meantime here is a rough sketch to indicate why I have positioned the halt in the bottom left hand corner, it is to make use of the available space, there is a small triangular spot I thought would make a good area for a halt. Regarding the connection from the branchline to the mainline, good idea, any suggestions as to the best place\way to do this?? Cheers Westport layout sketch.pdf

Thats great Noel, I really appreciate that. Am planning to use Code 75 flextrack throughout. And you are right about loosely laying down track before permanent fixing, this makes perfect sense. However I was hoping to have a reasonably accurate plan in place before constructing the baseboard, so as to avoid having a support in the way of where a point needs to go. But maybe this is the wrong way of going about it? Maybe the baseboard needs to be assembled with the minium of cross beams, until plan is finalised?? Your thoughts on this are welcome. Cheers Westport

Hi All New version of proposed layout plans. No inclines, viaduct and girder bridges will cross gap and sit on drop down section, disguised with scenery etc. Various tunnels and cuttings on left and right hand sides. Branch line leads to halt on RHS just out of view, using a small section of 45 degree angled wall in the room. Enough room for a small platform and halt here. Any comments etc welcome. Steam era preferred but as said before, not looking for 100% prototypical accuracy, just an interesting model railway with some interesting running\modelling opportunities. Regards Westport

Hi Folks, Certainly lots to think about there, any chance of a couple of sketches to help visualise what you have in mind?

Cheers Dave

Thanks lads, small bit of confusion here, I was aware that a reverse loop module is required, that's what I meant when I said there would be no problem when going DCC...keep your suggestions coming

Hi Dave, Planning to go DCC so this shouldn't be a problem. Glad to be able to fit a reverse loop in the absence of a turntable.

Hi All, Please see attached proposed layout for OO scale. Available space is approx 11 x 5, plus a couple of inches. Any thoughts\comments\suggestions welcome. I am new to the railway modelling scene, and I am not striving to be 100% prototypically accurate, or aiming to model any one particular era, but would still like to build a layout that makes reasonable sense and provide various running opportunities. Looking forward to any comments. Cheers from Westport

I suppose to put it another way, if I have to have an access well, what size should it be?

Cheers Dave, I know what you mean when you say less is more, but at the same time if I go to the trouble and expense of building the layout, I want plenty of trains running around.....

Its a bedroom, lot bigger than that, thats the space I have to work with. I can do space on the long sides but not on the short, unless I shorten the length i.e. its 11' wall to wall

http://www.freetrackplans.com/808-Par.php Its a bedroom\office\workshop.....plenty of other uses

A mixture of both...I quite like the idea of the "PAR" layout in the Anyrail layout plans. This would give some mainline running on the outside, with smaller goods on the inside. Eliminating an access well would make more space available. I have a list of a couple of "must haves" though, and maybe this is where the problem is....I want a level crossing for an access road, this would have to be a double one I guess, a tunnel, a viaduct(metcalfe kit, 725mm in length), a deep rock cutting, an embankment, and maybe some forestry works. All these elements are local to where I live. Maybe this is asking too much?

Hi All, Am currently trying to design a layout for OO scale. The space I have to work with is 11' x mostly 5', (the last 2 or 3' drops down to 4' width). I would like to avoid having an access well if possible. If I can work it so i have access from both of the long sides, do I still need a well? Or is this plan simply too wide not to have one? The proposed height would be about 40". Any advice welcome Cheers Westport

Hi all, new to modelling and doing plenty of research on the net before starting. One subject I cannot seem to get a simple explanation for is the differences between small/medium/large turnouts. Are they just different lengths? ( the straight sections). Will 2 points in s/m/l set end to end still automatically give double track spacing? What about curved points, going from one curve to its parallel track? Any advice appreciated. Many thanks

Hi All, Thanks for the feedback. Have been doing some research on the internet, and as always, there is probably too much info out there.....some basic observations/questions that you might be able to help with: 1) My chosen layout size is and 8 x 4 2)Flexitrack Peco code 75 is the best? 3)Does an 8 x 4 allow enough room for a double track i.e. the curves wouldnt be too tight 4)Would the flexitrack be too difficult for a beginner to fit 5)Using DCC, you need either (a) a decoder for each point to enable digital control from the main controller, or (b) a switch from each point motor, fitted on your control panel. Am I right in this? 6)Using the likes of a Seep PM1, is it possible to wire up led's on your control panel to indicate point status? 7)A CDU is recommended/essential? 8)Electrofrog points are the way to go with DCC. Again, using a PM1 motor, can this be wired up to power the frog and look after polarity? Any thoughts or comments on any of the above would be welcome. Cheers

Hi All, I am new to the model railway scene, and I would be starting literally from scratch, i.e. I do not have a layout or even anything to run on it, but this is what I would like to end up with. I am handy with DIY, electrics etc. I have always had an interest in railways, but probably more on the "social history" aspect of them, the people, the routes, permanent way, old closed railways etc, as opposed to different makes of loco, rolling stock etc. With this in mind, where would be a good starting point to get building? Regards