How Does One Create the Blueprint for Tranquility?

Quickly browing for model train track layout software on the internet, I've manage to find two promising cadidates: Hornby Virtual Track and XtrkCad. Other candidates are train simulation games, such as Microsoft Virtual Train and maybe Railroad Tycoon style games.

From all the above, XtrkCad is the only one which is an open source initiative (i.e. it is free!). It is also the most 'professional' looking app, where it produces blueprint style sheets as opposed to full 3D colourfull landscape found on the Hornby app or the other train/railroad games above.

To cut a long story short, I decided to try XtrkCad. It is available at http://sourceforge.net/projects/xtrkcad-fork/

The learning curve is quite steep, at the beginning the app is not quite intuitive. After one night of trying different things, I finally manage to get a loop using true to scale Hornby tracks. After another 3 days, I've managed to get something that looks like a final track layout: (insert picture here)

At this point I realise that the part where I planned the station will be (upper right area) does not have enough space for the actual platforms between the tracks. Ouch! Time to go back to the drawing board...

Where to Begin?

The decision to start making Tranquility comes with the realisation that moving from a single train set to a full blown layout/scenery model railway is a long and winding road ...

And that is where I am now. I have some tracks which can form a loop, I have a steam locomotive (the flying scotsman) and that's about it.

"Where to begin?" is the main question. All I know is that the Hornby OO gauge set which I have is fully expandable and compatible with different products out there which should allow me to build Tranquililty.

Time to do some research, serious research: Internet style research.
After digging and googling around, I've stumbled on a very useful forum : http://www.newrailwaymodellers.co.uk/Forums/index.php
It has plenty of information on starting a layout.

From the wealth of information available, I concluded the start has to be with the one word: 'Design'. Everything has to be pre-planned, from track layout, station position, sidings, points, where to put it, etc ...

Well, at least this is one part where I shouldn't have too much problem with - compared to the actual process of making the set ;)

Welcome to Tranquility

What is Tranquility? Tranquility is my planned model railway layout.

See, I'm starting a new hobby: model trains. The start of it all is rather silly, my wife and I got our first Christmas tree. What do you need with a tree? Accessories, and lots of them. So the story continues, what do people put under the tree? Among others: trains. After contemplating buying one of those cheap plastic train toy, just for the tree, we finally decided on a 'real' model train. Although it is more expensive, it would be far better investment (and enjoyment) compared to the first option.

After some research, this is what I got: a Hornby model of the 'Flying Scotsman'. It went straight under the christmas tree. (insert picture here)

Of course now that a model train is sitting in my house, it would not be complete without a complete layout, with model train station, scenery, cars, etc, etc.... this is the story behind the creation of Tranquility.