The Layout

The design of the layout took about six months. That's not to say I was working hard on it all this time, more that it oscillated wildly between grandiose over-complexity and cautious simplicity with alarming rapidity.  On the one hand were sweeping curves of code 55 track, on the other hand simple designs from the Setrack Planbook.

I had a fairly simple set of features I wanted in the plan.  The size was constrained by that of my son's bed, under which the layout will live, and at its biggest it could be 6' by 2'8". Don't ask me why that's not in metric.  I think in metric for almost everything apart from long distances and model railway design.

It also had to be a roundy-roundy design.  I can't see my son getting much enjoyment from a shunting plank.  Until you hit 40, trains have to go past at speed.  For the same reason, it also needed to have a station.  I added a few private sidings behind the station to create operational interest.  These will serve a small factory.  All of this will be in N gauge, as it would be quite a squeeze to fit OO in the space available.

The layout will be set in the post-TOPS BR blue era, just at the start of the 1980s.  Like a lot of modellers, I'm modelling what I remember from my youth. Having said that, my son will probably choose a steam loco as his first engine...

As you can see, it mostly uses code 80 setrack.  This is the first modelling I've done for at least 25 years, so I'm conscious of the need not to get too adventurous.  The longer straight sections in the fiddle yard and on the main line will be flexitrack.  Surely that can't be too hard for me?