For the model train enthusiast, purchasing the rolling stock is only the start of what will become an extensive, and possibly life changing project – maybe very costly, certainly very time consuming, but thoroughly enjoyable.
The major part of establishing a model railroad project is the design and implementation of the layout – the diorama with scenery, structures and appropriate scale track for operating the trains.
The size of the layout you can design, build and operate depends on the amount of room in which you have to set it up. Some layouts can be quite small – shelf-top designs that can be accommodated in a very small space. Others can fill part of a room, or even a whole room or basement.
For a small, simple layout, a table will usually be adequate but most model railroaders aim to establish larger, permanent layouts. These will usually require construction of suitable benches, often fixed to the walls of the room to provide a high degree of stability.
An important aspect of any model train setup is the arrangement of the track itself. There are at least four basic layout patterns for setting out the track, and countless variations of both track configuration and subsequent station placement. Four of the more common basic patterns are: