[ChrisE]

OK now lets take this in stages.

Firstly you would like a double main line. Well the minimum radius I would work with is 18" ( and many would make it larger) which for the outer track gives a minimum radius of 21" and a width of 3'6" which is 4' by the time you have a bit of board on the outside of the track. Not really a starter I guess.

Secondly you would consider a shunting type layout with a yard at each end. Even if the yards actually meet in the middle this gives a maximum yard of 4'.

This is a micro layout. Might I recommend that you spend a couple of hours looking at:

http://carendt.com/

This web site specialised in the very small & tested. You mgiht find some ideas that appeal & will work - I am sure you will also find a lot of ideas that do not appeal at all but there is a vast amount on this site - keep looking.

Chris

 

[isopyl]

QUOTE Might I recommend that you spend a couple of hours looking at: http://carendt.com/
Hey for once I was ahead of the game. That is the site I used as inspiration for my end to end layout.

Right, I have had another think and this time I have tried to figure in as many different practical considerations as possible.

I can get 3 915x610mm boards from homebase to create a 1830x915mm layout. That makes the cutting easy and will fit nicely into the space and allow me access. It also has the plus point of fitting on my dining room table (just about) which I could use for some of the track laying and some of the scenery.

I then took some of the ideas from http://carendt.com and put them inside a loop that uses 2nd radius curves for the outside curves and 1st radius curves for the inside. This acts as an easement which may help me run more stock. I still can only use short trains but it seems like a nice compromise.

I have run through the layout using some sample trains and as far as I can tell, this will work as long as I keep the rolling stock on the short side.

 

[ChrisE]

I assume that you are going to permanently join the three boards as otherwise you will be cutting your points in half I think. If you are you could buy one 8x4 (2400x1200) sheet which they will cut to 1830x915 for no charge. You will then have spare for your bracing & it will be stronger.

This is your railway & you must do what you like but I guess many here would say you are trying to cram a quart into a pint pot & would go for something simpler with either cassettes or a fiddle yard. It is however entirely your own choice & I think that this is your best yet. There is an argument for saying the Westerly station is in the wrong place. When a train arrives it must reverse in the headshunt as it must do when it leaves. Passengers would love that. Why not put the platform on the headshunt in place of what I assume is a goods shed? I know that would put the two stations next to each other but that is a scenic challenge. The obvious answer is a scenic break diagonally across the layout NW to SE. Moving the station will also force you to change engines or reverse the stock into the loop to change the loco end & then reverse back into the station to pick up departing passengers. A nice activity.

Be careful as there are many locos that don't really like radius one curves.

Chris

 

[spongebob]

This might sound a bit obvious but have you read the track plans books available from both hornby and peco. both offer different layouts for different areas and choices of tail chasers or end to end type running. The hornby one shows ways to add onto the basic trackmat with a branchline at one end or a turntable. Worth looking at as it tells you what track you need for each one as well.

Just as a thought for your platforms you could have the platform in between the tracks and run around form one side to the other, space permitting of course.

As far as loco's and rolling stock go there are a lot of small tank engines available from various makers such as great western panniers or the LNER j class 0-6-0's jinty's and terriers, some of which can be picked up second hand for a good price, not that i'm knocking the Bachmann junior stuff as its sold in the US as their Thomas range.