Peter,
The following relates to a standard printer:
If you go to File, Print and choose a scale of 1 you'll notice a rectangular grid appears on the plan. Each rectangle represents a sheet of paper based on the size of paper selected for your printer (usually A4 here in Aus). Click to highlight the sheets that you want to print (you don't have to do the whole layout, just the track)
I usually tick "ignore page margins", so that you don't have to overlap the edges of the sheets when you lay them on the baseboard, and "print roadbed outline" because I use roadbed (underlay).
If you're in a hurry or just testing, go into setup and choose draft quality in printer properties, it's quicker and uses less ink.
I don't know how this relates to a plotter... do you really have an 8' sheet of paper??
When in the Print dialog, click Help to get help.
(sorry if I stole your thunder MMD)