Layout Planning

 

When starting a layout, the big question is where is my track going?  Even with 25 years of track building, every layout is different.  You can buy the track planner software and design the perfect layout or you can get out the paper and pencil and just start drawing your vision track plan.  I have a 25 feet by 25 feet area to work with and a water feature as the focal point.  I wanted a layout that was both a ambiance feature with endless running and sidings of industries where I can perform switching operations.  I like switches, bridges and tunnels, so how do I get all these features in place and look nice.  I also had a vision of what the layout was to look like.  I wanted a park like environment where visitors can sit and watch the trains travel past and also be able to walk in and around the layout. CAD drawing software and other 3D home design software is fine, but I found it faster with the good old pencil and paper.

Another thing to think about is what kind of layout do you want? Going for prototypical, or for certain era, or a mishmash of both.  Remember it’s your railroad, your vision, you make it the way you want it to be. There is no wrong way to build an outdoor model railroad.