Finally! I've found a down to earth model railway channel that I can relate to. THANK YOU 👍🏻

Absolutely agree. The only plan you need is your imagination and a big picture image of what you want. There are a lot of ancient lores that exist in railway modelling that serve no purpose and seem to be built on extreme risk aversion. Well said!

What you say in the first 53 seconds is EPIC and should be Carved in Stone In my *opinion* the Biggest Threat to this Hobby is from Stodgy, Narrow-minded "Bolt counters" * Loaded with a book of Rules & Procedures 🛂📖

Hi Michael. My freelance rail bus on The Kato chassis goes up the hill ok, i checked this before I finalised the idea. Not sure about others or pulling wagons but it's only supposed to be a rail bus branch. Generally you can use steeper inclines than the text books say as long as you don't want to pull to many wagons/ coaches. Have a look at our OO layout video GreenHill Halt, even a Deltic will go up that incline and its first radius rising 8cm in one half radius! Thanks for the comment.

There was a series on TV in the 70’s about building a model railway, the presenter said the first thing to do was to decide which station to model then go there and start measuring everything, including the platform slabs. Never, ever done that, and my layouts are still accepted at exhibitions. Do want ever makes you happy, I say.

You sound a lot like me, never planned a layout in my life and in over 50 years have built a good many, even a LT tube layout I allowed to evolve by just looking at photos. All your tips are sound and practical. The only thing I would add is the one move every modeller needs to do to keep their interest alive is get a train running as soon as you can, even if it is just up and down a straight track, so that between mdelling scenery or buildings there is something else to do, not only that, but you can see at a glance if your trains fit well with the scenery before anything becomes fixed and unmoveable, keep up the good work.

0:49 I am in the same exact position as that lad, this is why I am watching so many of your videos right now, thank you so much for posting this! When you’ve just inherited a model railway, you’re processing a loss too, and clear explanations like this are exactly what you need (so that everything becomes a little less daunting)!

Looks like your layout is coming along beautifully! Thanks for the "permission" to get started without having a perfectly finished plan. It's exactly the advice I needed!

It is a great vid, just thinking about getting into this hobby myself. Something I have wanted since i was a kid. Thanks for the ideas and good luck finding those chance pieces! Looking great

I like your style, I've just been wrestling with different ideas on paper for the scenery on my n gauge layout, it's felt very stressful and at the end of the day nothing got built. I'm inspired by your video to just go for it and let it evolve.

I like your no nonsense approach ...you don't need a degree in rock formation as some would suggest! It's a hobby to be enjoyed. Thanks for posting.

There are some vids I come back to and this is one of them. Although I am a person who likes to plan ahead, this vid reminds me there are limits to that and encourages me to experiment and find a balance that is right for me. For example, I have recently bought 2 inch foam board on which I will put the track because they allow me to easily carve out spaces below track level, such as rivers and canals, but where those will go, I don't know. Similarly I also sometimes am prepared to pay a larger amount for a train pack or loco (still second hand), but this channel helps me be aware of where my priorities lie. So thanks once again for an insightful vid. Keep them coming, because your perspective is sorely needed in this hobby.

Best way never plan a layout do it as you go and take your time the only thing you must plan and this is important is were your cup of tea goes

Agree with the other comments. You have taken the mystique out of it all and inspired newbies just to get on with it and enjoy!

Good advice as most homes are already crowded and today's costs along with expensive companies ripping everyone off !

Love the fact that you make a layout because YOU want to use it and you look to include features you want to see. You are lucky that you can build multiple layouts and you will then sell them. I think a lot of us me included think I can only build one layout so it must be the ‘best it can be’ because you only get one chance. Your thinking is really helping. I’m never going to a professional modeller so why stress about it. Do what I can and enjoy it!!

I totally agree with your philosophy. Over lock-down I've built a huge layout with lots of different themes . . . Chatted with the Grandkids, and of course, the wife. Ended up with half an idea and just loosely laid some pieces of track and saw what it looks like. Harry Potter, a Jurassic Mountain, Lord of the Rings Cave with Dragon and gold with Bilbo Baggins hiding, Pirates of the Caribbean, WW2 Airfield, a Town with stations. So many hidden things to look for. That would cause some bozo to have a fit because it's . . . 'not a certain era'. . . . Hell no, but it's got lots going on. But now, I'm building a shunting yard !!!! Totally inspired by your vids. . . . Think the Grandkids are going to love it. Thanks for keeping hands on railwaying real.

Wow this is so great and simple. One would get the idea from so many big time planners that you must have a Masters degree in architectural, electronics or electrical, or mechanical engineering. You've hit the nail on the head: keep it SIMPLE. This ultra complicated approach that is out there discourages people from entering the hobby. It's gotten too technical and expensive. This is supposed to be a FUN hobby. For the average adult or kid who doesn't have a big budget this is so good and welcome. MORE please. Thank you so much. I still have on old American Flyer s gauge set and my wife is hesitant to let me get any new equipment or try using n scale. I soon will be 72 and yearn to have something I can call a freelance railway, simple and not break my bankmaccount. You've encouraged a lot of us. Thanks again.

I'm a 73 year old newbie to model railway layout building and I've been humming and hawing and being held up by just the things you have talked about in this video. It makes total sense to me, especially the "just do it" idea. To be honest I have looked at a lot of brilliant layouts on line, but they have all "over faced " me with the quality, maturity and finished result of them. I know that I need to do as you advise and just get on with it! I have a 9' by 9' box room, I have trains so the first thing is the base board, incidentally I like the cardboard on your layout, sure keeps the weight down. Thanks again. Terry.

Wonderful Layout! Thank you for all the tips.

Thanks! I ended up just going for it like you suggested. I got stressed and discouraged with all the planning so I just went for it. I am a visual learner and i need to see it as I go. I've been having more fun just going for it.

I am so glad I found this. What your saying is just have fun. the must be this way people sucked all the fun out of the hobby. Thank you.

This is a great video, thanks for the advice. I bought a scond hand HST set and oval with points to have a play, then suddenly decided I wanted a proper model railway. Space is a huge issue for me, so it couldn't be very big. Trying to use the VERY small amounts of track that I had, I came up with a great shunting/depot layout idea. - it would require the purchase of more track, but the set I had with 6 straights was enough to start with ideas. I decided just to keep building this layout on my floor and tweaking it. Eventually I decided on the track I would have to buy. Once the track turned up the layout idea grew slightly, then I saw a piece of board in a DIY shop that was 2mx30cm and decided my layout would fit nicely on that. Now as I try things on the board, the layout is ever evolving within the space. I did all this before I saw your video and always questioned if it was the right way to go about things... Now, thanks to your advice I am happy with my decision. It also allows me to purchase the odd item every now and then as it grows, rather than having a big expensive list of things to get from a plan... This means that when I see something cheap, second hand, free or scrap, I can work out a way to use it as and when I have inspiration. By the 'end' of the build (which never has to come if it always evolves) it certainly won't have been budget, but it will have been great fun getting there, and a great lesson should I ever get space to build a second layout. Keep up the great videos!

I like your creativity in creating this layout, not just with the track design but with using items which are cheap or free in a way which works with your creation. That includes materials for terrain as well as buildings. It can be easy to get bogged down with tiny details when trying to plan the “perfect layout” and/or spend large amounts of money to buy specific items. A little imagination goes a long way and you my friend have a great visionary mind

love your videos and will hopefully use them to create my own layout soon. thanks

Yes! That's how to have fun! But still, for some of us who can't get around very well, and have not even that space, nothing wrong with a virtual RR planned on a computer. Enjoy. Tom

Great video. Your so right. I think I suffer from over thinking doing a layout. Lol You give great advice. Just start with what space you have.

What a breath of fresh air! Your ideas are creative , and I like the idea of the cardboard base. After looking at so many model railway websites, blog, vlog, forums and eBooks, this is "bestest" I have personally seen. My nature is to plan for ever, so your idea of start building, with what you have is great. I also have a couple of locos and couches from childhood, and would like to set it up more permanently. Greeting from the beautiful Cape Town, SA.

Excellent advice. I think model railroading is a hobby where you learn by doing, by getting your hands dirty and building something. When you do that, often you get inspired to build the next thing, and your railroad grows from there - just like yours has.

Thank god! When I asked for advice on Facebook I got bombarded with so much information I didn't need so I just gave up but you have inspired me to take my little "train saving tin" and go get some track and board and just go for it.

Nice basic layout without all the bells & whistles. Not to fancy but a lot of fun to run. I like the idea of not planning out a layout . Have tried to figure out everything on paper, spending hours on different layouts designs, wasting time & getting frustrated. Came to the conclusion just do it. It works for me. I like to use recycled items ,supplies & save hundreds of dollars. I did a 20'x32' room high shelf H.O. two track in my home on a budget build. Now I'm building a h.o. layout in a spare bedroom. Also on a budget with no definite plans. It is enjoyable creating you own hand crafted layout. I have collected a bunch of N scale track, locomotives & rolling stock for my next project. Not sure on type or size of layout , should be fun to do. Thanks for the video & sharing it. 🚂🚃🚃🚃

Just build it totally dig it... Started n scale coffee table 2' by 4' and z scale on top of that coffee table 17" by 4' just building it and Love my creation of train skill from nothing to something

I've been investigating modeling a railway for a few weeks now. This video was like a breath of fresh air in a stodgy environment.

I agree fully with your DON'T PLAN it philosophy, but I'd add DON'T PLAN IT, DO IT. For decades now I have been using a concept we in the U.S. call TOMA (The One Module Approach) which is consistent with your idea. Great video. Crack on. I'll SEE YA' DOWN THE LINE, Jim

I always use Bachmann's Nickel Silver EZ-Track, just so I can change the layout whenever I want if stuff gets boring

Your attitude toward the whole model railway idea is fantastic. This makes me think it should be illegal to have as much fun as you are having! Thank you for posting, and greetings from New Mexico, USA. New subscriber.

Thanks for all those great and good tips. I also work that way, without a plan and just build what I feel like. You have a Belgian fan.

Hi ..great tips ...I know I've spent ages faffing around ... and haven't got round to running Trains ....thanks again

This is the way I'm going to do it I'd read all the stuff in forums about planning layouts and it seemed very confusing plus I don't have time or money for that, I'd rather just experiment with the actual track iv got and see what I can do with it. Although I started this idea of building a railway last week trying to keep the cost down is doable, for a set some extra track,a left point, a right point a roll of cork and some extra fishplates iv spent about £90 it's a starting point .Keep up the videos because like you I'm on a budget and find your videos so useful.

Love the concept of the plan as you go approach. As our skill level and imagination increases, or we so something we like, I love the flexibility to modify my layout. Thanks for sharing

I like your set up and your explanations. Looks great!

I have to agree with you 100%. Just do it. Planning never seems to work once you lay the track out anyway. Laying track first lets you know where most of the other things go. Then buildings and landscape items go in after that. As you say it evolves, and you may change track design. Run your trains on it and make sure they can navigate any obstacles due to overhanging, and points/curves not to close to platforms. If you need to change scenery, just do it. Not hard is it, and most layout evolve even when built? Plenty of good tips here. Laurie.

See at present I know that Money and space keep me from having a layout so I live vicariously through youtubers like you and I build up a file on my computer with ideas I have as time passes so that in future once a space in my home clears out and extra money is had If I want to make a layout I know what I want in it and I can go from there as far as planning is concerned. Plus as a Miniature Wargamer the terrain ideas from Layouts are helpful for that.

Thanks very much! Great way of thinking, much appreciated.

I do enjoy your channel. Not my scale but I always learn things and gain insghts into new approaches :-)

Good to see you again....great advice...I wonder how many start off with big ideas only to regret later..

Im from America and you just put my mind at ease. Thank you sir

Great video.

I'm gonna do one on a standard flat interior 32 inch door. I've got an idea and I like the no plan route.

I toss between coming close to prototypical and total free lancing. I’m now starting to build small layouts for kids to get hands on experience operating layout. This is where not planning a layout and just building it works well. Kids have imaginations and why not as adults use imagination when constructing a layout. Also have a constraint of space helps to really use those brain cells to come up with a layout that is interesting and fits within the constraints.

I actually use a free software on mac. It is super helpful because it gives you a list of what you need. This helps estimate the cost and know what you actually need to buy. There is almost endless options for gauge and brand.

Thanks for the straightforward clear advice

You think loads like me! Lol! Very helpful for many- who just love "to do with what they have". There are many like that lad who need the precious guidance / encouragement! We all do! Cheers! Particularly for this ideology!

Wonderful job! I got some good ideas from your layout.

Wing it, is a common method... as the plan develops the purpose comes to you. Good one!

Great stuff lad, enjoyed that

Excellent im going to do something like that !!

3:27 DAMN that's a cog railway incline if I've ever seen one!

I think the "no plan, just do it" approach works for some people but not all. I need _some_ idea of where the trains are going to go to get started, but I sort of free-lance when it comes to working out details of where the tracks go in switching areas and such; I try the tracks and structures this way and that until it looks right.

Excellent, better to get on with things and let them develop, you'll then discover the area of modelling that you really enjoy. And don't just spend money. Keep it up.

Thank you it's very helpful, I've got the same size piece of wood, and bust playing around with model train software, and seeing your "triangle" or curved main track, I'm going to play around with your idea. Thanks again

Nice video I will try some of your ideas.

I just love these small shunting layouts. You did a great job by keeping it all cheap which saves money for other layout projects. Still I have a question or two: 1) where do you get the basic material on which you built the layout? 2) is it your goal to fasten this particular project to others... How you manage that? Best regards, Dirck Lammers, Middelburg, the Netherlands

I really like your down to earth approach.

Agree with your sentiments entirely. 👍

I concur completely!

Just go with what fits your space and experiment with different layouts until you are happy with what you decide on and build around it temporarily as you will no doubt find other ideas as you go along.

I bought a heap of used track and some buildings etc and roughly set it up until I got close to what I can build in the space I have and even after that have changed it three more times: I'm only just now after two months starting to cut and lay foam... it all started when I bought a used Minic set the same as I had when a kid and recalled the level crossing that integrated into it. Buy job lots, just make sure it's good usable and sell off what you don't use, quite often you'll get your money back. Btw, mine is size of my dining room, the base is four hollow and braced doors and will be on a pulley so it lifts giving 6'6" head space under it.

Hello, i like your thinking ! planning is fine but can also limit creativity if to rigid. Evolving a layout as you build it brings new and exciting ideas and makes it more enjoyable to build. Mark :)

I built my entire layout matching your philosphy . Great video.

Just stumbled across this one...brilliant concept and a brilliant layout. I had a laugh when you said you were chuffed with 30 subscribers to the channel...early days!

Very good.

spot on

Procrastination in pursuit of perfection is a flawed 'plan'. I concur that the singular most important thing is to just start. Get some track down and something running to have fun. A standard oval with a couple of crossovers and shunting or section or Hornby Trackmat layout will do. Simple, quick, affordable. Ideas, aspiration and creativity will stem from there flowing from the hands on experience.

Raised background will give it added dimension..but this is great

Im exactly the same mine was not planned too but ive got loads of hornby buildings and platforms that are of no use to me points too some stuff broken or butchered in some way that im going to get rid of if your interested? Reminds me i need a clear out for new stuff haha.

It's simply about space, square footage if you like, and scale.

Took me about 5 minutes before I realised it was N gauge! I never planned a layout when I had space for model trains, just let the creativity flow

Got everything now to do it, but stuck on the planning stage, I think I will do what you said and just go with whatever is in my head.

The thing I really dont get is when people plan garden railways, atlest with an indoor railway there is no possibility of a huge rock getting in the way of the holy track plan.

Your channel is great

Planning was the one thing I was really dreading. I was going to try a computer program, but I find them too complicated. Now, I just have a very rough idea of what I want. In a ‘U’-shaped layout, loosely based on the closed part of the Edinburgh to Carlisle line, the Waverley station will just be a representation of it, not a strictly followed copy. The other end will be a small station long since gone (sigh). Along the way, I would like to put a girder bridge and Instead of building an elevated line, I intend to leave a gap in the baseboard and use that to hopefully build a gorge with a waterfall. Apart from that, I don’t have any plans drawn out.

Subscribed after seeing this video 👍🏻

I would echo other comments about the very refreshing approach to model railways. After all a lot of it is about enjoyment rather than 100% absolute historical accuracy or never making mistakes. Also the pace of the commentary is very good. I get fed up with the terrible, pedestrian dialogue that accompanies so many videos.

I find it interesting for not pricy and easy way to storage layout...guess i could build module units that i could store easily since i miss place where i am now...N scale is amazing

love the concept - can you help me with a train, i am not fussy but it has to work well (00) - i guess any sales from major retailers like hattons?

Great layout . Was it inspired by the Gum Stump & Snowshoe Railroad perhaps ?

Well your statement is a double-edged sword. If you are on a budget, a little planning with a simple track plan makes sense. So its cheaper to draw some tracks and know what you want to built, so you can search for exactly the track-plus safety marge- you need. Planning safes money!

Nice video

This is fantastic! I am disabled and do not have a great budget as I only get Benefits to pay bills etc.. so not much left to afford to try build a model railway! I have the space in a loft but every site I have looked at to help reduce the price of wood used etc. is going to be very costly. I bought my trains about 25 years ago and moving all the time had to get rid of my 6’ x 4’! now I am going to have a loft space and need to make a safe secure area for myself ( and not drop out of the loft door!) I think I need to go down your road? As I am using a loft the temperature changes greatly, is there a board I should not use?

one day a friend said to me kae4466 we are going to build you a train layout( baseboard). we went to 2 hardware stores and bought the following, four screw in bases , four legs that screw into the bases and the basoard itself. i live in a small apartment 600 square feet and the baseboard is a 4foot by 4 foot board. i have 3 ovals of track of different gauges , outermost 3 rail o gauge . ho and n. i also have a village and tunnel. works fine for me .:) i also bookmarked this site and am going to subscribe as well.

Thank you so much for this. My floor space is very limited, and this is just pure epicness. If you could maybe do something for HO Scale, (the one I have), that could really help me. Thanks again!

Yep. Just start.!

How well does the train go up the hill?

What kind of cardboard do you use for the base

Ps love the cardboard I saved all mine from ikea packaging..brilliant

Hide the rock gaps with greenery.

I'm very envious. Just the fact that you can buy anything for a layout at all. I'm an Englishman, now living in the Philippines, ( married to a Filipina ) and model railways just do not exist in this country. Also, I cannot get anyone to post items here, because the system here is so corrupt, I'd never receive it. I'd love to be able to build a layout again, but just not able to.

Isn't looking at what space you have planning? Plus it's helpful to have an idea what you want to go in the space before you go spending money.

Love your channel all ways watch it can u help me out I wood like to sort the track out on my dads army town but I want to use a pc to control but my trains are plan dc not dcc don’t want to open the trains as thay are old steam ones and was given to me buy my late father who passed a way in 2016