I've returned to modelling after 20 years (kids are grown up) and am amazed at the impovements in N gauge RTR stock, and the scope of DCC. So I'm designing a new layout based in the Midlands around the late 1950s.

I'm building in the garage but don't want to totally preclude the chance to put the car in there so a portable layout is called for. I have about 16ft by 4ft to play with, so a sizeable layout in N gauge. I love long sweeping four track mainline so I can watch prototypical length trains and also want the challenge of shunting a station, so the layout will contain a branch terminus and a lower level mainline sweep.

I'm planning to build the layout in stages, so that I can get something running sooner rather than later, so the first stage calls for a branch terminus with the provisional name of 'Belsey'.

First drawing is of the terminus requiring 2 4ft by 1ft baseboards which I think is pretty optimal from a track design point of view. The second shows the grand plan, although that's still up in the air.

Any thoughts on the design?

Thanks Chris, that's encouraging, although I'm getting a little old for the exhibition circuit!

I mentioned I'll be using DCC on this layout, so I've deceided to tackle the branch station first, so I can check out digital controlled shunting. I've bought a couple of the Dapol Ivatt 2-6-2T tanks which run really smoothly and slowly on DC, so hopefully they will with DCC. I'll need a Jinty as a pilot but as far as I can see no manufacturer offers a DCC ready model. Perhaps my first conversion!

I've included a photo of the Anyrail plan for the station throat offered up to the first baseboard. This baseboard is 1220mm x 303mm (4' by 1' as near as damnit) so by printing the plan 1:1 scale onto A4 paper in portrait I can tape 11 pages together to give me an accurate plan to work from.

This has proved really useful, I've been able to check clearances and have even pushed trains around to confirm the loop and siding capacities. 4 caoch suburban trains fit nicely into the platforms, and the loops, headshunt and sidings will take 8 wagon trains (and a Jinty) with room to spare. Using the plan this way has allowed me to optimise some curves and point positions before I bought the (possibly wrong) track.

I've included the latest version of my Anyrail file where I've marked out DCC feed and point motor positions.