00 gauge 1950's era.

Hi, I'm looking at starting an end to end layout of approx 63" x 12" 00 gauge. Any ideas I would be grateful.


Thanks


Ron

Come on Ron, give us a clue, or at least something to go on, eg goods, passenger, industrial, steam, modern and are those 63 precious inches with or without the fiddle yard(s)?

Bill

You might have alreday seen this, but could give some ideas.

Ed

Sorry Bill I should have said I have a strong leaning towards the small country station (before Beecham wielded his axe) with a goods siding and cattle loading bay. Hope this helps?

Thanks Ed, certainly gives me some good ideas specially as I'm working on a restricted area for the layout.


Regards


Ron

  Hi Ron,
  

No problem and that suggests late steam era with a small tank loco working a single coach or auto trailer. You’ll have room for three tracks on your 12’’ width and a run round loop to enable shunting and with small radius points can maximise the goods traffic for a mix of cattle, general goods, milk and even possibly coal, the mainstay of many a branch!
  

As an example, taking a look at the first plan in Ed’s great pdf, Ashleigh is 11’’ shorter than your board, but has no fiddle yard. You wont need much more than 18’’ of fiddle, but if everything needs to fit the 63’’, we need to think some more. Have you room for a detachable fiddle yard or traverser? Perhaps even one at a right angle to the main board, forming an ‘L’ shape?
  

You could put a small goods shed in place of the ‘’industries’’ and even have a coal yard via an extra point off the industry siding, although that may be cramming on too much track, but it also gives another head shunt.
  

You’ll also get plenty more ideas if you google ‘’small oo gauge shelf layouts’’.
  

Have fun,
  

Bill

Hi Ron,

Unless you use compression you might consider a longer layout. One foot depth is also limiting if you have significant buildings or sidings behind the station.

Many country stations were on main or secondary lines, and were double tracked. Fair number of busy branchlines of any length were also double tracked through the station, and had an up and down platform.

I use the following: A coach in OO takes a foot. For an engine plus 2 coaches allow 3 feet. If you are planning a runaround add another 18-24 inches. For a double track station allow another 2 feet for the points. Soon adds up.

I would recommend making a list of what you want and have a look at some prototype station plans and timetables.Terminus or through line? Prototype, cameo or freelance layout? (Prototypes  have the advantage that they worked in real life). Passenger traffic? Goods traffic? (Most siding would hold 10-15 wagons). Fiddle yard(s)? (Terminus needs 1, through needs 2).

From the area I hail from: Kingham on the Cathedrals line is a country station. Pre-Beeching it had 4 long platforms, goods yard, engine shed, and was a terminus for 2 branchlines. Sarsden less than 5 miles away had one track, one short timber platform, a signal box, a passenger pagoda shed, and one siding. 

There are some interesting locations around Gosport. Couple of books on the lines as well.
 
Like you I am building a narrow country layout. I went for a cameo design using elements from various stations around Oxfordshire. 10 feet long, 1 foot deep. 2 modules 5 feet long plus 2 fiddle yards. Double track station, single track branchline.

Nigel

Thanks for your ideas Nigel and Bill, certainly some suggestions to give me ideas for the sort of layout I'm planning to build. Like the thought of the cattle pen and small goods yard for the local farmers produce to be sent off to market.

 Thanks again.

Ron

Good luck on the layout, what ever you choose. Looking forwards to seeing photos. 

Hello Ron,

I have sent you a PM re this thread.

Regards,

Terry

Barneybuffer said:
Hi Ron,

Great news, as a little extra makes a huge difference when a branch terminus is being modelled and 9 feet will give you much greater scope with less compromises.

We look forward to seeing what you're up to in due course.

Best,

Bill

Thanks Bill, 9' is the most I can get in the area available, I'm now looking to see if I can widen to it by 6" at the most to give 18" width.

I've just come across this thread and wish I'd spotted that site that Ed put up before I started my layout. I could have made Woodstowe a through station and had plenty of operational fun.

Ed, if haven't already mention so thanks for posting this link, to be honest I refer to it often when I run short of ideas myself. After all there are quite a few to look at for ideas. Much obliged.  

No worries guys, I'm sure the link has been posted before.

 I've downloaded the file and often have a quick look through, just for inspiration for any future projects.

 

Ed

I'm considering what rolling stock (freight and passenger) would be used on a small country line. The sort of line I'm looking at is from Cholsey across country to Princes Risborough. This is a fictional line by the way! Any advice/ideas from the experts will be gratefully received. Thanks in anticipation. :hmm

I'm not sure that you've gotten an answer, or a solution for your needs yet, but being the new boy on the block I thought I'd offer a range of smaller layouts for you get some ideas from:Andrew's Trains - Small Layout Design (Less than or equal to 8' x 2') - and while designed for US outline, you can shrink them considerably for UK outline by at least half (I usually design for a standard 50' boxcar in US designs)
Andrew's Trains - Ideas and Scribbles - mainly drawings of layout ideas, parts and so on.



Hope these are of some help in your search. Ask any questions you might need to.


Regards