Layout Designs

This layout offers out-and-back operation and is intended to be put into practice in 009/H0n3 or a similar gauge. If offers a small terminus at the top level (top right on the plan) from which trains depart, dropping out of sight before emerging a seaside through station (bottom left). Trains that continue into the tunnel either come out at a dockside goods yard (bottom right) or go around the hidden loop and come back out of the tunnel ready to stop again at the beachside station before heading on up to the terminus.

Sunny Bay © Emrys Hopkins

The layout is designed to fit on two 4′ x 2′ boards for portability. Dotted lines indicate hidden tracks. The minimum radius on the plan is 7″ (the curve to the very left of the plan). The reversing loop has a 9″ radius.

Possible improvements: Where should I start?! A sector plate underneath the terminus to replace the reversing loop would allow a greater variety of rolling stock (as well as making the wiring easier!). I would suggest that a purely scenic board be added to the front of the layout showing the headland (with a lighthouse?) between the beach station and the dock scene.

Knotter Yard © Emrys Hopkins

This was designed for the Small Layout Design mailing list’s Christmas 2001 competition. The challenge was to build an HO scale layout less than 30 inches long and up to 16 inches deep.

You’re limited to short wheelbase locomotives and rolling stock, but you can’t claim you’ve not got space for a layout any longer!

The layout is based around a double slip and a three-way point, both from Peco. Add a few inches of track off each end and a few low relief buildings and you have a switching puzzle which can keep you occupied for a quick half hour’s shunting.

Carl Arendt put together a version of this plan as a narrow gauge Gn15 layout and published details of how he got on on his website - (now moved here) - take a look around his site anyway as it’s full of inspirational ideas.

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Norfolk & Adair © Emrys Hopkins

Two layouts in one here - on one side of the central viewblock is the town of Norfolk with a few small industries, minimal engine servicing area and a passenger depot. On the other side is Adair Junction, where a logging line joins the branch line. Adair Junction is heavily influenced by the famous Gumstump and Snowshoe layout, but I’m not aware of any particular influence over Norfolk.

Norfolk station

The unusual aspect of this plan is that it’s designed to stick out from the corner of a room. The two staging areas go against the walls and - thanks to the double slip - trains can be brought out of one “yard”, run around the layout as many times as you like and then sent away to the other staging area.

Adair Junction

Industrial Switching © Emrys Hopkins

Using a threeway switch and a double slip helps squeeze as much as possible into this rather small space. There are spotting locations for 3 or 4 industries (depending on how you develop the buildings) and the track to the left of the plan can lead to a hidden staging area if space allows.

The opportunity is also there for the inside of the nearest building to be modelled, should you so desire.

Apologies for the poor quality of the plan - I’ll re-post it when I get around to drawing up a better version.

Caledonia Junction © Emrys Hopkins

This plan was been inspired by the gift of a ‘00′ gauge train set to go with my 009 rolling stock. I felt that I would be struggling to build a station at which the Caledonian would have stopped, but I could put together a fictitious station through which the train may have been diverted due to engineering works …. I know it’s a bit thin - can you think of a better justification?

Anyway, the layout is simple an oval with hidden storage tracks, a looped though station with a couple of goods sidings and headshunts and a narrow gauge feeder line bringing down passengers and goods to the standard gauge. Minimum radii are 18″ on the standard gauge and 11″ for the narrow gauge line (surprisingly generous for me!).

Possible improvements: The next version of the plan will have a straighter standard gauge station. I’ll probably drop the narrow gauge line nearest the standard gauge station so that the NG station faces “north” rather than facing the standard gauge station building. Overall, though, I’m fairly happy with the plan.