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:



You will also note that the uphill track is also a reversing loop.  A second balancing loop is hidden under the mountain along with the back of the dual main oval.
     I also like to duplicate plans in multiple scales on the same size layout space for comparison.  Here is a wild plan I call "freeway" in N and Z.  Notice how much more spacious the layout looks in Z just from the plans even though the table is slightly smaller.
   

     The difference between N and HO is far more obvious as these "Monster" around-the-wall layouts show.  In this case I've shown each as a full layout and with the mountains removed.
   
   

     Feel free to contact me about larger copies of the plans, others I have or requests for help.

MY Z LAYOUT     TECHNIQUES     STRUCTURES Copyright © 2009, 2020 by John E. Suchy.  All legal rights reserved.