As I wait to purchase the last few remaining pieces of foam to complete the benchwork on my N scale layout, I'm growing tired of watching my N scale locos run around the test circle of Bachman E-Z track I have setup. While I'll be using Atlas code 55 track for my new layout, I have a ton of Atlas N code 80 sectional track left over from a previous layout project that never happened. I also happen to have a spare piece of lumber from an old shelving project, 1'x3' in size. This sounds like the beginning of a switching layout to me.
I am working various track plans for such a layout, which will be sceniced, but am always interested to see what others are doing as well. If you have ideas, or are up for a track planning project and want to design my switching layout, feel free to jump in.
Here is what we have to work with:
1x3 feet of space
Four #4 code 80 left hand turnouts
One #4 code 80 right hand turnout
A plethora of code 80 11" radius and 5" straight sectional track sections, enough to cover what we could fit on a 1x3.
Since I'll be scenicing this, my aim is for early 80's New England, that way I can use my B&M GP38's/40s which won't fit into the 1950's era of my up coming full layout. Rolling stock on hand consists of 40/50' box cars and few covered hoppers of various types. This layout will be DC as I haven't converted the newer N locos to DCC as of yet.
Interested? Lets see what we can all come up with.
Modeling the fictional B&M Dowe, NH branch in the early 50's.
I just posted this in another thread, but here's a classic that should fit well in 1X3 in N scale as a place to start.
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
For lots of great small layout ideas, check out MICRO / SMALL LAYOUTS FOR MODEL RAILROADS. It is a great site that is full of ideas for those of us with limited layout space.
- Jeff