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The Old Dog's manifesto on layout design


  1. First, and perhaps most important, model railroading is a hobby. Building and operating a layout should be an exercise in relaxation, not stress management. Trying to execute a complex schedule with a large number of trains on a limited amount of track maybe a little TOO realistic.
  2. In addition, the layout must be small enough for the owner to maintain and operate alone, but maybe provide "interesting" operation for any additional operators who happen to be available. Note that "too large" is as much a measure of complexity as brute size. A smaller layout with a good deal of complex track work can be worse then a larger layout. Also, try to avoid trying to do too much in a limited space.
  3. Even the best layout design will fail if it is built in an undesirable space. Also note that making any needed improvements will probably be a good deal easier if it is done before the bench work is started. A layout design is basically trying to fit a one dimension object into a two plus dimension space.
  4. A railroad is like the old debate joke, "Our opponents case is like a male bovine, a point here, a point there, and a good deal of b*ll in between." This factor helps mitigate the above factor. In other words, a railroad can be viewed as a dashed line; points of interest usually are separated by a good deal of boring track.
  5. A layout design should provide a series of "stages" (foot lockers) (fish bowls) separated by "green rooms", hidden sections, this will allow the views are framed to limit observation to the desired elements and prevent observation of the undesired elements. This will also make the back drop easier to paint since it will limit the angle it can be viewed from. This also will allow better control of the layout lighting which can allow numerous "interesting" effects like varying the time of day. The layout should appear as if one was in a building and viewing the layout (railroad) through a window.
  6. A layout should be built in sections or modules that are small enough to be easily removed from and/or inserted into the layout and taken to the work bench by one person. It is a good deal easier to work on the wiring for a module while it is sitting on its side on the bench. This can also keep messier operations like doing plaster scenery out of the layout room and in the shop.
  7. A layout design should hide the unrealistic aspects of a layout such as overly sharp curves and steep grades from view yet allow them to be accessed easily when required. Since almost all model railroad curves are "overly sharp", this means they will probably need to be hidden in most cases.
  8. A layout design should insure that any track that will see any use can be easily accessed. This probably means that the depth of any "stage" needs to limited to about two feet.
  9. A layout design should allow for adequate aisle space for the operators as well as the trains. Operators (engineers) will need space to follow their trains and space to stand while switching or waiting for meets. Operators occupying fixed positions such as tower operators, station agents, and yard master will also need space to work. A work area for the dispatcher out of sight of the layout may be desirable. Also, there may need to be areas for off duty operators and visitors to watch while remaining out of the way.
  10. Don't overlook the need to access items such as gas meters, electric meters, and fuse boxes. If the layout must share space with items such as a water heater and/or a furnace, consider the need to be able to service and maybe replace them. Also consider the need to be able to operate any windows in the room. Even if you don't plan to use them regularly, you may want to be able to open them while painting or doing plaster work.
  11. A layout design should allow each operator (engineer) to follow their train with the need to back track. For example, if the layout is "E" shaped, the route should go around the outside of the middle leg, not punch through it.
  12. A layout design should avoid "duckunders" if possible. If one is necessary, make it as high as possible to keep the bending to a minimum. Lift outs and swing gates tend to be maintenance "headaches".
  13. A layout design must allow adequate track length to connect the levels with reasonable grades, say not over four percent.
  14. A layout design should make the best use of the available space. This probably means a design with multiple levels.
  15. A layout design probably should be limited to three levels, one at eye level when seated on a low stool, one at eye level when seated on a high stool, and one at eye level when standing. The upper level needs to be low enough to allow the operator to view cars on the back track when cars are on the front track.
  16. A layout design should allow adequate spaces between levels for access, say sixteen inches.
  17. Background Item, this is a matter of opinion, but to the Old Dog, modeling a first class premier primary mainline passenger train would require about ten cars (Mail, Baggage, three Pullmans, Dinner, three more Pullmans, and Observation car). The assumption is that six Pullmans would be required to generate enough patronage for the Dinner and Observation car. In HO that is about ten feet plus say one and half feet for the locomotive. To look correct, a regular freight would need to be say one and half times or two times longer, say fifth teen or twenty feet, thirty to forty cars long. On the other hand, an accommodation passenger train on a branch line or secondary mainline might be as short as two cars (Combination Mail, Baggage, and Smoker plus a Coach. That would allow the corresponding freight to be six or eight cars long. Allowing for the locomotive and the caboose that would be about six feet long.
  18. A layout design should provide "stages" that are long enough to view the entire train. If a train is to be six feet long, the sidings for meets and/or passes will probably require at least nine feet when the turnouts are added. That means that the "stages" will need to be ten or twelve feet long.
  19. A layout design should provide enough spacing between "stages" so that the end of a train leaves one "stage" before the engine reaches the next station. A circle of twenty-two inch radius is about eleven and a half feet. Three quarters of such a circle would be about eight and a half feet, adequate to store a six foot train. However, one quarter circle would be a little less then three feet, inadequate to hold a train unless some addition track is added. One half of a circle would be a little less then six feet, again, too short. In terms of space, the three quarters circle would require about two by two feet. The one quarter circle would require the addition of about four feet of track, and hence require either four by four feet or two by six feet. The half circle would need maybe two addition feet of track, and hence need maybe three by four feet of space. Placing an oval in the one quarter circle or one half circle would require five by five feet or five by four feet but allow say a ten foot train length.
  20. If the circles are replaced by helixes, the one quarter circle would require about four inches of elevation change to stay near three percent. The other two options would require eight inches. All three could be fitted into a four by four foot space.
  21. Hence, a layout design can consist of say ten foot stages connected by four by four foot columns (Green rooms) at the layout ends and corners. A "I" shaped layout would need a four by eighteen foot island which would require about a ten by twenty-two foot space and provide up to six "stage" areas. A "U" shaped layout would be say eighteen by eighteen and need say twenty-four by twenty-two feet and provide up to eighteen "stages". With addition space, an "S" shape could be used providing thirty "stages".
  22. A layout probably should be limited to a single track mainline to keep the dispatching as "interesting" as possible. But adequate sidings for passes and meets should be provided to keep things from getting too "interesting".
  23. A layout design should be flexible. A layout should be designed as a set of interchangeable modules that are small enough to be built in the shop and then set into place on the layout. In addition, the back ground scenes should be easily changed to allow for different seasons of the year or even different eras. The lighting of back ground scenes should be easily changed to allow for different times of day or different weather conditions. The buildings should be made to allow them to be changed out for different eras.
  24. A layout design must allow for the curves to be wide enough for the equipment the user intends to operate. One way to migrate this requirement is to move the earlier eras when the locomotives and rolling stock were shorter. A second method is to select smaller photo-types such as branch lines or secondary mainlines. In addition, the wooden truss bridges and trestles most people like are more at home on such roads. Furthermore, the slow speed limits on such roads will make the layout seem larger. It probably would be wise to avoid steam engines larger then 2-8-0's and 4-6-0's. For diesels, consider small engines such as EMD GP's, SW's, and NW's. On the other hand, small four and six wheeled engines often give problems with certain brands of track due to the limited number of wheels available for power pick-up. With steam engines, tenders can provide additional pick-ups, plus provide space for decoders and sound units, hence one might want to avoid tank engines. As to passenger cars, one would wise to avoid car
  25. s where the photo-type is 80 feet long, instead use 34, 50, or 60 foot cars, but avoid 60 foot models of 80 foot cars. Given the above, for an HO pike this is probably requires at least 22 inch radius curves and #6 turnouts.
  26. A layout needs to provide adequate storage for "staged" trains if the yards are not adequate to generate enough traffic to make operations "interesting". Since it almost always takes much longer to build trains then to run them the length of the mainline, staging will almost always be needed. The "staging" should be connected to the rest of the layout in a manner to allow the "staged" trains (actors) to enter from either direction probably using a wye. On the other hand, staging must also be provided for "one way" actors such as the "coal drag". Note that modeling a photo-type with lighter traffic can mitigate this problem, but maybe at the cost of less "interesting" operation.
  27. A layout should avoid built in switching problems. One can always increase the difficulty by parking motor vehicles in the wrong places or "blue flagging" some rolling cars so they may not be moved during the switching.
  28. At least two interchange tracks are desirable to allow "bridge" traffic
  29. A layout needs to be fun to operate as well as to build. The Old Dog must question if specialized roads such as logging lines can meet that goal. Hauling logs to the pool must get old. On the other hand, the equipment like geared engines certainly is "interesting"
  30. If possible, a layout design should allow for some continuous running. There is the need to break in equipment. Also, there are times when one may want to just watch the trains run.