The heart of my layout is storytelling through scenery and movement. I love creating believable scenes with just enough operational logic to make things feel real—but not so complex that I need a dispatcher’s license to run a train!
📏 Top priority?
Flow. I want the trains to move in a way that tells a story—whether it’s a freight pulling into a sleepy town or a passenger train crossing a scenic bridge at dusk.
🛠 Design tools?
I’m a big fan of SCARM for visualizing track plans, but I still sketch ideas on graph paper when inspiration strikes. Sometimes the low-tech way reveals better flow.
🔄 Tips?
Use view blocks (buildings, hills) to break up sightlines and make small layouts feel larger.
Plan for future expansion even if it’s just a siding or stub track.
Keep reach distance in mind—operating across a 36” board is no fun.
How about you? What drives your planning process?
When you sit down to plan a layout, what’s your top priority? Are you the type who dreams of realistic switching operations and timetable accuracy—or do you lean more toward building a beautiful scene for trains to glide through?
Some folks plan around a specific industry, while others focus on maximizing visual storytelling. Maybe you’re tight on space and have mastered the art of the compact design.
Let’s hear it:
What’s the heart of your layout plan?
Any favorite design tricks or tools?
