Layout Design Criteria for My Model Railroad

The joy of running a layout is directly related to it starting from a well-thought-out design from the beginning. The design should maximize linear distance and enhance the sense of journey and space. It should also be fun to operate and switch. How do you make sure your plan delivers on these important goals?

In this blog post, I share the criteria I used to design my layout which was inspired by the BNSF Stockton Sub in northern California.  I previously published a version of the post a while back, but I thought I would reshare this real-world example since it might help others just starting their design journey as the design principals still apply.

At the time I had been working through the details of the plan for my N scale layout.  Before investing time and money building the layout, I thought it prudent to test my plan against all the key attributes and operational aspects I wanted the finished layout to have. 

I wrote down all the important physical and operational criteria for the layout I could think of. The criteria are outlined below. It was a very valuable exercise, and it clarified what I care about (and what I don't) for this layout. Here's the list...

Design Criteria

• Linear, walk around design
• 4-6 layout operators
• Crew space for relaxing between assignments
• Long mainline run, maximize
• Track plan supports multi-train mainline operation and shortline operation (Richmond Pacific)
• Two decks
• No long reaches
• No hard to access track, minimize
• Emphasis on broad curves, long turnouts and long spurs
• Mainline and switching emphasized over expansive scenery and buildings
• Staging for 12 - 24 trains
• Typical train 3 units, 30 cars preferred, 20+ acceptable
• Continuous running option
• Phased construction
• Lightweight, modular construction
• Free-standing construction, minimal wall fixtures

Reviewing My Criteria

Each item on the list should be an aspect of your layout that brings you joy, or urges you to eliminate unwanted aspects, such as long reaches, or hard to access trackage, from your plan.

It's worth adding measurable numbers to each item, wherever you can. In some cases, such as mainline run, there's no specific number, but the goal is to maximize length in the plan. 

With the criteria written down, it is easy to order items from most to least important. That helps with breaking ties when there are two things you want but only one will fit. The prioritized list provides an emotion-free way to select the design that gives you more of what you care about.

Benefits of Design Criteria

The more you are able to list in your criteria, the more likely your plan is to include those things. The criteria are like a shorthand description of your future layout. And they provide the best way to tell if your layout plan renderings have what you want, or what is missing from a given plan.

I'd go so far to say a plan without a list of your key layout criteria is a plan that will bite you during construction and/or operations. I may be wrong, but it takes so little time to write down the list and put it in order, why not take those extra planning steps?

Considering the key criteria and how I intended to operate the layout was a huge benefit to establishing dimensions, operating schemes and in eliminating things I didn’t want in the design. 

Firming up my criteria in advance of the actual benchwork build protects from rework after the layout is started. The design can be tested on paper against my criteria and reworked before any part of it is assembled. Firm criteria and consideration of operations made it much easier for me to build in the end.

Go ahead make your list! It's a great step toward a better layout!

In 2024, with Precision Model Railroad now providing solutions for helixes and soon custom layout benchwork, the time to realize your model layout is even shorter and more straightforward.  The design considerations illustrated in this example, should be an integral part of any build process to ensure success.