6ft by 4ft

I always consider 6ft by 4ft to be the standard size for a typical train set. But back in 2012 I devised a series of concepts that would break with that convention. Rather than an oval of track with a few scenic goods sidings or a station in the centre, I tried to include some different and prototypical track formations but within the same space.

These four layouts are near the top of my all-time favourites, not only for their use of space but also for artistic interpretation, showing that it’s relatively easy to make a train set look like a railway. Most satisfyingly, judging by demand for further information, it’s been a popular series over the years and one I’ve always wanted to revisit, so here’s how I’ve developed it.

We had a triangular junction, an end-to-end design, a ‘U’-shaped layout and the one at the foot of the page, based on the flat crossing at Newark.