Introduction
All layouts begin with a plan. This might be a carefully draughted scale drawing prepared by hand a pencil sketch scribbled on the back of an envelope, a print-out from one of the numerous track planning software packages available on computer, or even just an idea locked within the mind's eye of the builder. It may even be a layout derived from a plan published in a book or magazine, or down loaded from the internet.
Some railway modellers can plan layouts almost intuitively, using their knowledge and experience of track configurations and train movements, but for most of us we need a starting point. That starting point will almost always be published plans, for it's only by studying published plans that we can begin to learn of all the intricacies and nuances of railway trackwork, model or otherwise.
For decades modellers found inspiration in the numerous little softback booklets prepared by the erstwhile editor of Railway Modeller from 1951 to 1978 -Cyril Freezer. His imagination, knowledge of railway operating practice, and his draughtsman skills enabled him to draw up hundreds of layout plans suitable for all sorts of locations around the home he even suggested layout designs that could be built in the lounge, hall or landing nowhere, it seems, is unsuitable for housing a model railway.
Cyril Freezer's plans and booklets are still very popular today, and although model railway and rolling stock dimensional specifications have changed markedly since his time, the plans are as relevant today as they ever were, if for no other reason than
sources of layout ideas and inspiration from which modern-sized layout schemes can be adapted.
With this new book A Compendium of Track Plans for layouts to suit all locations, vie have built on Freezer's legacy and also taken modern ideas front within the hobby as a whole, and now present this brand new collection of plans, which you can either copy in their entirety, or otherwise use them as a basis for your own track plan.
With that in mind, we also include a section at the back of the book devoted to practical planning advice, hints and tips. This explains the fundamentals of layout planning and also describes some techniques you can use to check the viability of your plan before you spend money on baseboards and track.
And as you embark on your exciting new layout building project, remember that railway modelling is a very creative and tactile hobby which is well over 100 years old: that's about as old as public broadcast radio, older than television, and much older than computers and all their derivations
Railway Modelling has been enjoyed by countless thousands of enthusiasts for a very long time: long may the pleasures and fascination continue
Steve Flint
Editor and Photographer
RALWAY MODELER
May 2016
Contents
5 Model railway layout formats and design basics
7 Minimum space plans
12 Classic oval plans
20 End-to-end plans
34 Larger continuous run plans
38 Multi-level plans
48 Fold-away plans
52 Off-stage layout sections
58 Creating your own plans
62 Glossary of model railway terms
Scaling the plans for different scales and gauges
All 50 plans in this book are presented with layout sizes shown for 00 gauge; e.g. Overall layout size for OO gauge: 10' x 8'.
The grid squares equate to 1' x 1' squares for OO gauge; 6" x 6" for N gauge, and 21" x 21" in O gauge.