Hi from a Mancunian in France.

[LesW]

Hi to all.

My name is Les and I currently live in the Mayenne. I'm an ex railway man having been a driver at Man Piccadilly, Crewe and finally Reading.

I joined the forum as I am about to rekindle my love of model railways which started in the mid 50's.
I've already had a large layout when I lived in Cheshire, but now I live in France I have to start again. Fortunately, after moving house, I have a spare upper floor area of around 37' x 15'. I will build a quad oval with the usual sidings, sheds, etc in OO gauge using all of my original stock which is LMS and early BR steam. The only exeption is a model of the Flying Scotsman and that's only because I once drove it on Trafford Park sheds.

I'm bound to need some help as DCC didn't exist when I had my last layout and it's all new to me.

Can't wait to get started.

[glencairn]

Hi LesW. Welcome on board. I cannot help you with DCC as I know far less than you do.
There are others here who do know though.

Glencairn

[Dad-1]

OMG Les,

37 x 15 !!!!!!
That will cost a small fortune. Once I would have been envious, but I've been there
and had a large layout.

Geoff T.

[Mountain]

Lovely, though that is a lot of track to keep clean!

Welcome to this site.

DCC does need a bit of learning but it will come. Is more reading up manuals and asking for advice when needed which is what sites like this are for!

[Bigmet]

... I have a spare upper floor area of around 37' x 15'. I will build a quad oval with the usual sidings, sheds, etc in OO gauge ...

Enough area to make a 'walk in' layout, so there is no need to 'duck under' the baseboard, or have a lifting section for access.

[LesW]

Thanks chaps.

Yes, a large layout indeed. It will be a larger version of my last one which was 20' x 10' garage. I will have it running around the perimeter and will build a lift out bridge for access from the entrance door, I did the same previously at the garage entrance and it worked really well.

Fortunately I still have loads of Peco points plus all of my loco's and rolling stock, so the main expense will be flexitrack and the DCC conrol system.

[End2end]

Hi LesW. Welcome on board.
Thanks
End2end

[GoldenOldie]

Bonjour Les,

Wishing you well with your layout, there's certainly some very friendly and knowledgable folk on this forum who can help you. I've called on their advice a few times already with my micro layout and it's been so helpful.

As someone who 'missed the boat' escaping to France before madness set in I envy you 'chez tu en France', especially in the Mayenne which is a beautiful place to live. What's more, all that room for your layout! I really look forward to seeing your progress if you're happy to post about it.

All the best,

Simon