I'm relatively new to the N scale scene, and I'm working on a new layout now that I need some track planning help on. Any comments and suggestions others have would be much appreciated. I enjoyed benchwork construction, and I enjoy scenery, but track planning is a little out of my league.
My intent for the N Scale Winter Park and Western is to reflect the flavor of the Moffat Line between Denver and Winter Park. My layout space is generally L-shaped, with two 2' x 6' modules connected in an L, with a 3' x 3' dog-eared turnaround module attached to one end of the L. I also have a removable brace on the inside of the L that could support a small removable scene like a bridge over a creek or something similar. The layout won't be a travelling layout, but I expect that we won't be in this house forever, so I've tried to think about future relocations by making the benchwork modular in nature.
In this space, I'd like to have a single track continuous main line loop between Denver and Winter Park to allow passenger service to the ski slopes of Winter Park and pass through of coal and freight trains to the Denver area. I was thinking of putting a mountain in the corner of the L with a Moffat Tunnel look alike to simulate going through the mountains to get from Denver to Winter Park, but I'm also curious what space that leaves for small line side industries (Rocky or Pactolus come to mind?) as well as a small yard/depot in the Denver area.
I currently have F units and an SD40T-2 as motive power for passenger and freight trains. I'd also like to add F40s, P42s, and various 4-axle or 6-axle GPs in the future. My concern is that I plan for cars that will be able to negotiate tighter curves on the narrow end of the L, and figuring out what length of trains would work with the size yard and sidings that are possible in the space.
I have a sketch of my general concepts for the layout, but I haven't been able to figure out how to attach it to this post.
Any advice and track plan suggestions folks have would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
David
Your modules render 33 square feet of layout surface which is only a hair greater than that found on a 4X8 sheet of plywood; a 4X sheet of plywood has a perimeter of 24 feet and allowing for a 2"-3" safety/security belt at table edge one can usually squeeze about 18-20 linear feet of track. Your space will return a perimeter of 35 feet and I calculate that you should get about 28 linear feet of mainline in that distance. How much lineside trackage you are going to be able to get will depend upon how much cramming you want to do. Keep in mind that the mountain environment of your railroad is not going to allow for extensive lineside industries. AND WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO PUT MOFFAT TUNNEL ON THIS THING?????
That 2' width at one end is going to give you some trouble and this is the perfect location for Moffat; you can fit an 11" radius curve at that location if it is hidden inside a tunnel; if it is exposed your track is going to come within one inch of the table edge and that is courting disaster I don't care how carefully you lay your track. You should allow at least a 2" safety/security belt which brings you down to a 10" radius--50 FOOT CARS--YES; 60 FOOT CARS--ACCEPTABLE; 89 FOOT AUTORACKS ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE AITCH ON THAT SIZED CURVE AS ARE 85' PASSENGER CARS AS USED ON THE SKI TRAIN!!! Considering your space availability I might rein in my ambition on the side of practicality!
From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet
davidmbedard Ill make a quick comment about minimum radius. Take your longest car and multiply it's length by 3. That will give you a minimum radius that will give you good reliable operation. Anything tighter than that wont give good operation...David B
Ill make a quick comment about minimum radius. Take your longest car and multiply it's length by 3. That will give you a minimum radius that will give you good reliable operation. Anything tighter than that wont give good operation...
David B
Mike Danneman had a really nice DRGW N-scale layout that was relatively small.. it fit in a corner of his studio if I remember.. that was featured in this issue of Model Railroader: http://index.mrmag.com/tm.exe?opt=I&MAG=MR&MO=3&YR=1996&output=3&sort=D
I would think trying to find this on ebay might be a good place to start to see how you might convey the feel you are looking for.
Really, the question you should be asking isn't "how much track can I fit in my space" but "how do I convey the feel of the DRGW in my space.."
Now, to be fair, Mike Danneman is the same guy who wrote the new "Painting Backdrops for Your Model Railroad" book which should tell you a little about how he fit "big mountain railroading" in a little n-scale space.
Chris
edit - I pulled the magazine when I got home.. it is the one I am thinking of. His plan fit in a 5x7 space. Pretty cool stuff!
Thanks to all for the good food for thought. As you can probably guess from my initial post, I'm a better dreamer than I am a surveyor, and reconciling the two is my biggest problem. I can visualize the feel I want to convey easily, but the geometry of radii and such is not something that comes as easily to me.
RT's post was a good reminder that, like it or not, it's worth sweating those details to make sure that the look I want also results in practical and reliable operations.
Thanks for the reminder about Mike Dannemann, Chris. I'll have to find a copy of that article. I've seen Mike's work written up in several places before, and it's one of the reasons I decided to take a stab at modeling the DRGW.
It sounds like freights with shorter cars are definitely workable, but the modern day passenger equipment is out. Did either the DRGW or any of the predecessor roads on the Moffat Line have any shorter passenger cars that might work well with a minimum 11" radius curve?
"My layout space is generally L-shaped, with two 2' x 6' modules connected in an L, with a 3' x 3' dog-eared turnaround module attached to one end of the L."
If you can find the room to do it, I would add a second 3' by 3' section at the other end so you could have a 15" radius curve at each end. Otherwise you're limited to the radius you can fit in 2'.
BTW I'm guessing you mean "dogbone" not "dogeared" (which means tattered or rundown).