The first thing you have to do with any but the most basic model train setups is design it.  You lay out where you want everything to go – hence the term "layout" came to be used for the resulting model as well.  These days there are a number of programs available to use on computers.  I've been using and been very happy with it.  But that wasn't true when I built my last layout.  And even the best plan usually has to be changed when things don't fit.  See the expanded My Layout page for an example.

MY PLANS



     I like my models to look good – like they could be a slice of the real world – but I have a puckish streak that tells me to use loops and tricky strategies that would never be considered for real world transportation.  Take my snake plan above.  It's just a super elongated dog bone that loops all over the place to climb a hill then loop right back down again.  I also like to squeeze large yards into relatively small layouts:



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