Hi I am going to build my new shed in the spring and looking forward to planning the layout. Having looked at quite a few layouts on here and on you tube not just how they are built but how they work . Trains come and go we know where in the real world but on the model. But first I should say what it is I want from the layout , firstly a double track with a four platform station, a town and rural scene . The station will have a small goods yard , the layout will be more about trains passing through with stopping trains . The goods yard used as occasional divergence . So this will require a storage area for trains in fixed rakes as opposed to a fiddle yard. The trains will vary from a single auto train to an eight coach express and a small local goods to large coal and freight trains. How the layout works is what I am looking at the moment I am in two minds as to have two levels. Having viewed other layouts some problems arise firstly the inclines secondly access to the lower level . Access , the bigger distance between the levels the better the access but that leads to the steeper or longer inclines . Even though the trains are to be in fixed rakes and not messed with there will always be a need to attend to a train occasionally so being able to see them and know where they are is important . The upper level being scenic, one side the station and town scene the other the rural scene where the inclines will be hidden under a hill/s . Being steam I am thinking a two percent rise which will need to go around the shed twice before arriving at the lower level . Until I can test my trains against the inclines this is all a bit of a guessing game really . I will be using oo gauge code 75 Peco and the area will hopefully be 7metres by 2.4 aprox with the track running around the outer walls of the shed. Any comments suggestions welcome . Jim
Thanks Norm I have tried but for some reason the pictures were in a file that is not visible when I try to upload I have tried to move it without success I have just got back in now so I will try again tomorrow . It may be that I will have to take some more pictures and upload them into a different file. I was looking through the past post and I came across one in 2013 which be the last time that I posted any pictures . Since then I have had a new computer and now looks like we might need a new one. Thanks again .Jim
Hi again Jim,
Have just had a quick look in the gallery and ran a filter for your pics, can see 10No of your Garage layout pics from 2012 - but no new ones.
Sometimes they don’t always appear straight away for some reason - maybe see if they do at some point.
Cheers for now, Norm
That's probably because I have not uploaded any yet We have have been to the Hospital today my wife's mother is quite ill and we were at her home last evening when she was taken in. Back home now for a while at least it's a bit of a waiting time now. Jim
Hi Jim,
Firstly very sorry to hear the news on MiL front, stressful time no doubt, hope she / you all are ok ASAP.
Well what can be said - You have the Technology - Well Done That Man 🤣.
That room / set up looks fantastic, what an excellent space. Also the building / structure itself looks great, and a credit for all that hard work.
You certainly also have loads of flat earth area to work with too. Should be great fun and looking forward to seeing it develop.
If you are going to set the layout in a snow setting / scene, you could claim to have made a head start on that front too 😂😂😂 or its just emphasising the “blank canvass”.
Seriously though, really great set up.
Thanks for posting the photos and Cheers for now Norm
Ps. On the photo sizes that’s how I’ve been doing mine too - they do tend to be a bit large; not sure what the Forum limit is ? To reduce them you would need to send from phone to computer, then adjust size on there. Or alternatively you can probably adjust the phone setting - but don’t ask me how !
Thank you Norm for your help and comments yes it is a bit bright I painted the room to reflect light I think I pretty much achieved that. I've painted the boards with acrylic primer/under coat to seal them the bases will be covered with track and scenery eventually the fronts will have a facia so it will only be the legs that will be left white. I'm glad I am able to share some pics and progress at last. Jim
Hi A small update . Although I had all the baseboards put together I had some adjustments and painting to do . So a little disassembly to sort these and some more pictures
these show the storage boards and the scenic boards that sit in front of them
also the frame that carries the swing gate
and the L girders that support the boards at the walls
Hi Jim,
Good to see you have now got the photo side of things cracked - always great when included in the update posts, as adds so much more.
Glad to see Progress is continuing; have seen your other threads and responses / input on Bus Wiring / Etc. Lots to think about for sure. And as you seem to have done to date, don’t “rush” do the homework / research upfront - will hopefully then avoid / reduce future headaches eh !
Have you now got / settled on an overall or draft track plan now ?
Like the look of the baseboards overall very neat and tidy.
Would ask one question looking at the laid out 10No storage tracks, which will have the curved scenic board fitted back in front of it ultimately - how do / can you access the rear storage tracks in particular should / when any derailments or other issues occur - looks to be a “long” reach - as assume you don’t want to keep taking the curved front scenic board off every time ? Maybe it’s an optical illusion 🧐.
Anyway keep up the good work and enjoy, Cheers Norm
Hi Norm It will take me a while before I can get to load pics faster. The storage boards are 600mm wide the scenic boards are 250mm at the narrow end and the wider end they are 400mm. I can just about reach a bit of a stretch at the 400mm ends. I have left the fronts of the scenic boards off so it will be easier to lay the track. At the moment no more thoughts on the other side. The two storage baseboards were made in 2009 with 45mm x 19mm batten and 9mm ply tops. The other three boards used previously and built some years later had 70mm x 19mm and 9mm ply. So to level them up I added 25mm glued and nailed all the other boards are new. I have ordered the bus wire and dropper wire and some new wire strippers some of which is out of stock. Thanks for interest. Jim
It's been a little while but I have not been idle I have now laid the track to the storage yard . The last two days I have been installing the bus wire got a little quandary which I have posted on the DCC section. I have not tested the track properly yet only run a rake of coaches back and forth by hand. On the Westend entrance and pointwork for the yard there are a couple of curves that are a little sharper than I would prefer . So I need to get some power to test it with my loco's they are probably third radius so hopefully they will be ok I have a Heljan 47xx which I'm sure will pick up any dodgy laid track with i'ts very fine wheels.
It's going to take a while to complete the wiring on these boards ,that coupled with the diy jobs that will have to be done before I put any more track down. With the next trackwork to be done I will be using Bullhead track and will soon have to make a decision on the points as they will have to match. It's a bit boring with just plain track but I'm getting idea's about the scenery and what I'd like to include. Jim
Hi Jim,
Certainly not been “Eric” for sure from those pics - great progress it seems, you must be chuffed !
It’s such a time consuming but critical stage overall for sure.
In the short term and to assist with “testing” and get something running, why don’t you put some “temporary” power supplies at the Eastern end entrance to the Fiddleyard, and assuming it’s all electrofog / live points, you should be able to test run a Loco or two perhaps ? Will only rely on the track fishplates but may assist in progressing / checking things until droppers and final wiring is completed - just a thought.
Keep up the good work, Cheers Norm
Your room was so clean and tidy, it seemed a shame to paint the track,but will look forward to new developments, you obviously have thought about what you wanted and are highly organised, this should mean short work, as cash allows.
Glad you managed to get the photos sorted :0
Norm .
Yes it's a shame I don't have a battery operated wi-fi controlled loco to test the track but then again if we had those we could do away with a lot of wiring. And yes they are all electrofrog points and they have been converted for frog control there are 72 pieces of rail all with droppers to attach to the bus wire. I am using these HSEAMALL terminal blocks with jumper strips to try and minimise the amount of soldering especially in the storage area.
They are not cheap but they do seem to be well made we shall see. I have fitted four so far and still have to connect them to the bus but I'm finding this quite uncomfortable can't imagine soldering. Originally I was going to part the boards and lift them onto their sides but getting them back in place without damaging the trackwork put me off. So it is what it is.
Linka Yes it is clean but not tidy the other side is a bit cluttered at least it's all my railway stuff and when I have had enough I turn off the lights and shut the door with no one but myself to complain which my aim when planning the shed. Jim
Hi Jim,
One for the wish / pressie list perhaps for us all 🤣 !
Probably was thinking DC rather than DCC, also had taken from first room pics, that it was “dead end” fiddleyard / sidings; rather than through arrangement. That power feeds to the toe of the entry points, would have powered it all, even prior to the 72+ final droppers being connected. (* Note to self - look more carefully at the post 🧐).
Anyway, good luck with the next stages.
Cheers for now, Norm
Thanks Norm. I have the point motors for one end and the means to control them but yet to get the ones for the other end . I decided a while back to use surface mounted solenoid motors for the storage area silly me thinking these would be more convenient However as I go along I'm finding nothing is that simple. Where the points are fitted I have drilled a 10mm hole for the tie bar though of course these motors do not require them. So if these turn out to be unsatisfactory at least the hole will be there should I decide to change them. Before I buy anymore I will install and test some of them to see if I am happy with way they work. Of course I will have to connect all the droppers and sort the bus wire before that. Jim
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. And yes they are all electrofrog points and they have been converted for frog control there are 72 pieces of rail all with droppers to attach to the bus wire. I am using these HSEAMALL terminal blocks with jumper strips to try and minimise the amount of soldering especially in the storage area.
