The Old Fashioned Way

I have never gotten around to buying layout design software.

The basic technique we used in designing our layout was to take out an old fashioned track template and a handful of sharp pencils. By drawing the layout at 1” = 1’ on large sheets of computer paper, a good idea of what will be fun — and what will fit in the space available — can be drawn up pretty quickly.

Once a decent layout design was finalized on paper, assembling a prototype on the table top was a snap.

Our layout is designed to have two distinct play areas. The left table has an “industrial” feel.
Accessories such the 456 Coal Ramp, 282 Gantry Crane, 342 Culvert Loader, etc.
will all be positioned on this table on several sidings.

As mentioned earlier, the two tables will be connected by two multi-track bridges. Two high-speed loops with O72 curves surround the layouts. With a relay-driven block control system, four trains should be able to operate comfortably on these two outer loops.

Each table also features a single-train loop with O31 curves nestled inside the two outer loops. The left table features a work train that will service the various operating accessories. The right table, which has a more urban/residential focus, will feature smaller passenger trains such as the Budd set. When we’re done, the right table will also have a small trolley line winding through the center of Plasticville.

The right table will be more residential in nature. Plasticville structures will be placed
on this table in the open areas on either side of the 90° crossing.

One thing you might notice in the photos above is the absence of mountains, tunnels, and elevated sections of track. Given how much work there was ahead of us to construct this layout, I didn’t want us to get bogged down (literally) in side projects involving big bowls of papier maché. This layout’s goal is to be a training layout. Once everyone has experienced the fun of racing toy trains around sweeping curves, rebuilding pieces of the layout with inclines, mountains, etc. will be all the more fun.

Setting up the track in this manner allowed us to get a good feel for the potential play-value of the layout, as well as a highly accurate sense of what would fit in the space available.

Once everything was in place, it was time to start building the two bridges needed to span the tables.