A selection of model railroad plans and designs that have been either designed exclusively for this site or have been reproduced by the kind permission of the designers. Click on any plan or photo for an enlargement.
Layouts featuring only standard gauge equipment - generally 4 feet 8½ inches, but in some countries the standard gauge is narrow or wider than this. Most newcomers to railway modelling start off in standard gauge because more equipment is available ‘ready-to-run’ than for narrow gauge prototypes.
Most countries have had narrow gauge railways at one time or another and these railways have their own charm and style. If you’re pressed for space, then a narrow gauge model may be of interest to you as the locos and rolling stock can usually handle much sharper curves and gradients than the standard gauge models in the same scale.
Usually showing a standard gauge and narrow gauge interchange of some sort, this category would also include two narrow gauge operations using different gauges.
This could be a switching layout featuring a number of separate businesses, a shortline with a variety of freight or a layout based around a small industry (e.g. a logging line).
If this icon’s next to a layout plan you can be sure that there’ll be some spectacular scenery - and a good chance that the trains will have to climb over it somehow!
Small Layout Design list Discussion of the design and construction of small model railroad layouts. This group is intended for the average model railroader who does not have an entire basement or even an entire room to devote to a layout.