| For the model train enthusiast, purchasing | | | | two opposite sides of the circle or oval |
| the rolling stock is only the start of what | | | | together, giving a double track appearance in |
| will become an extensive, and possibly life | | | | the middle with a smaller circular shape at |
| changing project - maybe very costly, | | | | either end; |
| certainly very time consuming, but thoroughly | | | | |
| enjoyable. | | | | * out and back - where the train leaves the |
| | | | single station, travels around a pear-shaped |
| The major part establishing a model railroad | | | | layout and returns to the original station; |
| project is the design and implementation of | | | | |
| the layout - the diorama with scenery, | | | | * station yard only - where a single station |
| structures and appropriate scale track for | | | | is surrounded by a number of short, |
| operating the trains. | | | | interconnected tracks, providing great |
| | | | opportunities for shunting. |
| The size of the layout you can design, build | | | | |
| and operate depends on the amount of room in | | | | From these four basic patterns, there are |
| which you have to set it up. Some layouts can | | | | countless variations. Some possibilities are: |
| be quite small - shelf-top designs that can | | | | |
| be accommodated in a very small space. Others | | | | * combining two or more of the four basic |
| can fill part of a room, or even a whole room | | | | patterns, for example adding an 'out and |
| or basement. | | | | back' at one or both ends of a 'point to |
| | | | point' layout; |
| For a small, simple layout, a table will | | | | |
| usually be adequate but most model | | | | * adding double track to any of the first |
| railroaders aim to establish larger, | | | | three basic layouts to allow two or more |
| permanent layouts. These will usually require | | | | trains to operate at the same time; |
| construction of suitable benches, often fixed | | | | |
| to the walls of the room to provide a high | | | | * adding branch lines, allowing an increase |
| degree of stability. | | | | in the number of stations; |
| | | | |
| An important aspect of any model train setup | | | | * arranging a continuous loop as a |
| is the arrangement of the track itself. There | | | | figure-of-eight, even elevating one track |
| are at least four basic layout patterns for | | | | over the other rather than having the |
| setting out the track, and countless | | | | crossing at the same level; |
| variations of both track configuration and | | | | |
| subsequent station placement. | | | | * using multiple levels, allowing the use of |
| | | | more track, and thus more activity, in small |
| Four of the more common basic patterns are: | | | | areas; |
| | | | |
| * point to point - this is merely a straight | | | | * adding station yards, with adequate |
| line of track with a station at each end, | | | | standing tracks, to any of the |
| with trains going from the station at one end | | | | configurations. |
| to the other station; | | | | |
| | | | The number of possible variations you |
| * continuous loop - in its simplest form this | | | | incorporate into your track layout will only |
| is either a circle or an oval and the trains | | | | be limited by the space you have available, |
| move around it continuously, but it could be | | | | your time [and your patience] and, of course, |
| modified into a 'dogbone' shape by pulling | | | | the size of your wallet. |