My life was moving along as usual when I suddenly felt the urge to build a model railroad layout again. It started after I stumbled upon a few beautiful layouts on YouTube, and it got me thinking—maybe I could start back up, right? After all, it wouldn’t be the first time I dipped into the hobby.
When I was a kid, my dad and I had a TT layout in progress. It began with some old rails and BTTB models he still had. Soon after, we bought newer rails, turnouts, and later a few new locos—plus some older BTTB ones for parts and repairs. It was a ton of fun, even though I was too young to really contribute much. Still, I did some ballasting, which wasn’t half bad for an eight-year-old. After a few years, though, the whole thing just sat there collecting dust. No progress, no trains running. As life went on, I forgot about railroading entirely and lost interest.
Yet, somehow, model trains weren’t quite done with me.
It took me a few months to fully commit, mostly because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to build. The only thing I had decided was that it would be in H0 scale—I’ve always loved the big locomotives. I knew I wanted an operations-oriented layout, with plenty of detail to play with. But honestly, that was just an excuse to go with H0. The detail on those engines is more fun to admire, and as a kid, I always looked up to the bigger ones.
Do I regret that choice? In some ways, yes. Bigger isn’t always better. N scale would have worked fine for operations, but it wouldn’t give me the atmosphere I wanted as the operator. TT scale isn’t very common in Western Europe either, so H0 just made more sense. I haven’t even decided on the exact location I’ll be modelling yet, but the chance to focus on detail and weathering sealed the deal.
Choosing H0 over TT for availability would be rather ironical if I end up modelling central European railroads and have to source locos from there anyway — foreshadowing
In the end, I stuck with H0 and bought a Roco starter set with a BR 132. For some time I took it out and ran in circles — no extra rails and turnouts yet — and having as much fun as one with such limited layout can have. In the video you can see the BR 132 and tank cars from the starter set and some extra Uacs cars I bought on my trip to Prague and a peek of a V100 gifted to me.
Planning my new model railroad layout
Before I decided to stick with an operations-oriented layout, I actually had a pretty neat N scale track plan with a single loop and a hidden staging yard. There was plenty of space for operations and even a small station, and it was based on a similar layout from England—though for the life of me, I can’t remember its name. Unfortunately, I lost the plans, but that layout was what I used to dimension the table for my current design.
The table measures 230×50 cm, and it’s turned out to be both a curse and a blessing. In H0, it keeps me from planning anything too ambitious—something I couldn’t move if I ever had to relocate. But its dimensions are awkward; a table 250 or 300 cm long and about 80 cm deep would’ve been much better. Then again, finding space for that would’ve been tough. Even now, this one barely fits in my current layout room.
I originally planned this to be my magnum opus. That idea didn’t last long—I got a quick reality check when I realised there are simply too many things I’d love to build, and you can’t ever make a “perfect model railroad layout.” Lately, I’ve been watching videos by a lovely gentleman from the YouTube channel @boomerdiorama, and his philosophy really shifted my view on the temporary nature of things. Sure, there are magnificent layouts that people spend decades perfecting, but do I really want that?
There are many flavours of model railroading, and staying focused, in my opinion, is one of the most important things—if not the most important.
And if you’re unfocused it might end up just like this
This is what happens when you’re like me. Ignoring advice by kind internet strangers posting their own mistakes, thinking you got it.
The idea began somewhat simple. I based it around few track plans I have found online and they seemed pretty neat. Crowded, but right on operation possibilities. However due to my space constraints I had to add a headshunt here and there. And basically created a shunting “ladder” leading from my yard up to the industries. I desperately wanted a inglenook as well just for some puzzle time. The fact that I desperately wanted that inglenook, industries together with limited with and a rule that my layout should be able to hold locomotive of 25cm + 5 40ft cars turned out to be a very poisonous combination.
There were few other variations. With inglenook being a part of the main line, industries being differently so the ladder would be eliminated. But in the end, it was always ended up looking too cluttered.
And somehow this monstrosity began to take shape (it’s a variation of what was on the table before together with a table extension up to 300cm)
This was year and a half after I bought my starter set already since I’ve been busy with life. And honestly a little distraction – games, programming, work, etc… So I decided to leave it and take a little space.
After a little break to clear my head
After few weeks of searching for inspiration in model layouts of others, obviously more experienced players. I’ve began to like the idea of simple layout with as much functional design that replicates real railways as possible. I decided that this would be around IV-V epoch in rural Slovakia. I went through few iterations again and the layout looked something like this
And later
And couple iterations here and there I don’t have screenshots for. I believe that with few changes this layout would be really nice. A lot of space for scenery and detail without clutter. I even envisioned a big portion of the right upper corner be dedicated to a farm field with wheat and make it look all cozy. The rail here looks all weird, but I had few ideas (mostly by removing one of the industries) to make it better.
However in the end I choose to search for a real life industry spur.
From imaginary, to real life
My latest attempt at designing a layout, that I will like both operationally and visually was a small industrial spur I actually lived near by.
The area is occupied by couple of companies and mostly produces spirits and bioethanol. It came to me by a total coincidence. I was looking around for spurs both on maps, official registrations and some railway forums that aggregate interesting spur lines. And, by a pure chance, the spur here is even pretty interesting to run. I chose to model a slightly different version from current date, as they pulled out 2 turnouts. The older version of this spur had a run around which will become very handy on my limited layout size.
With a good amount of compression and after some fiddling around I got this
It is a very rough sketch. I like to use software only for quick design prototyping and ensuring angles are okay.
So, this is it. I have decided on the layout plan and locked in the theme. Now, I only have to stay focused…
I still want to make some cozy rural area layout, but I feel like this time it’s not meant to be. Maybe another time. Or some window/shelf layout perhaps. Only time will tell.
Addendum
A little irony of life…
A few weeks after I solidified my track plan, gathered enough reference materials to start modelling and even did some initial work with laying the track. I had to move the whole layout to a new space. I could’ve had kept the plan, of course, but my current space gives a much more freedom and possibilities. And so….planning from scratch began again, but more on that at another time.
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