Hello All,
I have finally finished a version of a N scale Polar Express track plan that I've designed for my granddaughter. The layout is planned as a fantasy "rail fan" display, meaning the trains can run on their own without supervision. I wanted this so my granddaughter could see the wonder of trains running round n' round, disappearing into mountains etc. while she is very young (she will be 2.5 years this Christmas. If she is interested I can convert this into a more interactive layout (although I am not a fiddle yard kind of guy).
The "givens" are long and constant runs, with broad curves. I want to model Pullman long haul trains, and plan to use the Kato 20th Century Limited and Pennsylvania Broadway Express models for the passenger trains, and a long frieght train on each of the mainlines as well. The smallest curve I have is a 13.5 " radius, hidden in a tunnel. All other curves are 15" radius or greater.
Another "given" is a hiding spot for the Polar Express, until it makes it's appearance on Christmas Eve. The subteranean yard serves this purpose. The other sidings in the yard will store the two trains on the Redline while the Polar Express is making it's run.
The polarline has a simple reverse loop to return the PE, but unfortunately is going in the opposite direction- the main reason why the other two redline trains need to be in the yard during the PE run. Multiple attempts on my part to address this have all ended in frustration (this polar express trackplan is the 12th, with three to four alternates in each version). I just couldn't for the life of me get an arrangement for return to the redline in the same direction without the plan looking like a ball of twisted yarn!
I have access to the layout on all sides, and plan access windows through the fascia for any hidden track. The subterranean level will be left open on all sides. I also plan access from below for the two helicies. I plan to wire the layout with DCC, the main bus sending feeders every 3' of track. I plan on Atlas code 55 flextrack for the majority of the layout.
I've provided the link to the layout plans, and have provided 3D renderings as well. If you are kind enough to respond, please let me know if there is anything else you need to know.
Thank you in advance,
Brian
https://www.flickr.com/photos/195409861@N05/
So it looks like you're planning a 3" clearance for the hidden yard. If you haven't already I would mock that up (not the whole yard but just some tracks to test with) and make sure that will work for you. Personally, I would want at the very least 4" and preferably 5.
I would re-work the S-curves to have a straight section, ideally at least as long as your longest car, between any two curves that reverse direction. With back-to-back curves, as cars pass through them at one point you'll have a car overhanging one side of the track directly followed by a car overhanging the other side, causing them to be missaligned. To me, this is one of the most "toy-like" things to see on a model railroad. Making sure you have a straight section between reversing curves can drastically improve the look of the train as it goes through those curves. Having as wide of curves as possible and/or using easements also helps. An example of what I would do follows. The picture has your backside of the red line on top, followed by two options I would consider. They both have 7" straight sections, and my first option has 21.25" curves while the second one has 30.61" curves.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/X1UmuazAv8zHwxbM7
I would also include easements anywhere possible where you transition from straight to curved track. You would have to use flextrack for the easements, but if you want to keep mostly sectional, then you could use a single section of 21.25" or, preferably, 30.61" curve, to simulate an easment.
Hi Brian,
I'm going to suggest that she will want to interact with the layout right from the beginning, not necessarily by running trains, but she will want to be able to 'play' with the layout. N scale figures will be too small for her to handle safely for several years, but I'm sure that you should expect to see a few dinosaurs and pink horses on the layout. More importantly, I am worried that she will quickly grow tired of just watching trains go round and round.
I will make two suggestions:
1. Get your grandaughter a decent sized Brio train set and let her do all the track planning (each plan will probably last for less than 1/2 hr. max) Kids don't want to watch as much as they want to do. Brio is great for that. Just don't make the same mistake that I did. I built a permanent layout out of Brio track. Yes, the kids played with it, but I totally took away their opportunity to be creative.
2. Build the N scale layout for yourself and make it operational from the start. By the time you have the layout running your grandaughter may be 5 or 6 years old. If she wants to graduate from the Brio to your layout, that will be her decision (hopefully she will).
I know that I am raining on your parade a bit, but if you look at things from the perspective of a 2 1/2 year old, you might understand my reasoning.
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Thanks Robert for the excellent suggestions. I did plan on easements- both for curves and grades, but I didn't want to invest the time into making the CAD depiction "picture perfect"until I had my final tack plan concelt finalized. I do like the suggestions you gave for the S curves, and thanks for the images, that really makes sense.
Hey Dave,
I think You may have provided a very valid perspective actually resonate to me "the voice of reason". The entire project started this year at Christmas as I enjoyed the company of my granddaughter and remembered my Christmas train set ups, which I had throughout my childhood. These memories were further reinforced with memories of reading the Polar Express book each Christmas Eve to both my sons throughout their entire childhoods, which was always so special. HOWEVER, what I've overlooked in this process is what you've pointed out so well, and with reflection is also confirmed with my own experience: 1. I was quite a bit older when I began "playing" with trains (Lionel classic post-war), about 5 or 6 years old- the remains left from my oldrs siblings, 2. I remember repeatedly setting up and re-arrranging all the layouts I created repeatedly, and 3. I remember the stories of my dad creating a "grand" Lionel layout, with automated switching and a central control area with Lionel switch controls mounted to a table-top ( pretty cuttin edge for 1949) for my older brother and sister for Christmas that year- and they destroyed it on Christmas Day!
Your comments of course brought these memories all crashing back into consciousness! Thank you for your sage insight. I've looked at at the Brio- they have even more stuff than they offered when I bought them for my sons.
The Polar N scale will go forward, but as my baby, as you kindly suggested.
Thank you again.
HO scale is small enough for kids. N scale is way too small. if it's for space... try the Canadian canyons track plan with new scenery