help with a N-scale track plan

[Dboy58]

My son and I are newbies looking for help with a good track plan. The space we have to work with is a L-shape that is 4 feet on the two long sides and 2 feet on the short ends and insides. Basically a 4 foot square board with a 2 foot square piece cut out of one corner.
Thank you for any help.

[Dboy58]

My son and I are newbies looking for help with a good track plan. The space we have to work with is a L-shape that is 4 feet on the two long sides and 2 feet on the short ends and insides. Basically a 4 foot square board with a 2 foot square piece cut out of one corner.
Thank you for any help.

[Anonymous]

I just start my first ever layout on a board last week. One week and a half ago I had no N scale track or trains. None. I used two 4' x 4' x 1/2" pieces and used wood pieces 4' long x 2" wide x 1/2 '" thick (4 pieces this size) across the bottom with screws to hold the two 4' x 4' x 1/2" thick plywood together. So now it is 8' x 4'. I got news for you. You are trying to cram something into nothing. I think you need to find a bigger space to build your N gauge layout. Look around. You will find it if you really want to. 4' x 8' is a good start. I suggest two 4'x4' put together. Your not going to get much on your size board and even if you do you will get bored of it real soon. In N scale feet your talking only two football fields long and two wide with a fourth of one cut out. Have you ever see a real railroad that is only two football fields wide each way? You need to find more space and if your going to invest your time building this you will need to invest some money too. I suggest you set aside a few bucks ever week for you and your son's layout. Like make it his allowance. To buy train stuff. Be it $20 or $30. Whatever you can afford. Then take him with you to buy the goods and get him involved.
My total cost for my lumber was less than $25 bucks. I built it in two pieces so I could get it into my third floor apartment easier and if I move I can take it apart in to pieces. Don't waste your time and money on something your not going to be happy with. Look around your place. There must be room for a 4'x8' board someplace. I made room for mine. You can too. I never built a train layout before this but as a child had lot's of N gauge and H.O. trains and dreams of building a super layout.. Now at age 45 I am finally going to build the layout of my dreams. My little empire! I'd like to send you a PIC of it so maybe you will be inspired or get some ideas for what you are going to build on yours. Send me your e-mail address to [e-mail] and just tell me your the guy with the son that wants to build a 4'x4' with a 2' square cut out. Then I will know it's you. When you see my layout I know you will be impressed. Remember it is two 4'x4' pieces together so when you look at it cut it in half and remove your 2' square. Then maybe you can get some ideas from my layout. Just so you know it has 20 remote control turnouts and in scale feet is over 1,200+ long. That a little more that four N scale football fields in long. You should remember that if you are going to spend time and money building a layout don't cut yourself short. Make it the best you can. Take your time and invest. Or else you will just be wasting your time with a dinky layout that is boring to operate and was a waste of time and money to build. It could take years to complete. So be it. It will teach you son the value of a dollar. If you take it slow and ad piece by piece and maybe start with your board you have now but add another board in the future than maybe you will be happy with the end result. Hope my advise helps you out. Think it over. Hope to hear back from you so I can send you a PIC of my layout. It could and should give you some ideas. I started planning it a week ago and all the track cost a lot of money but if I am going to spend hours building mountains and lakes and "working on the railroad" I am going to do the best I can do so that I will be happy with my little empire when it is done. Wait until you see this. If your wondering how much money this type of track would cost it is about $800. for the track alone. This is the new power- lok track from Life- Like. No messy rail joiners ever again. I would never go back. . Good luck. Ernie.

[Anonymous]

I just start my first ever layout on a board last week. One week and a half ago I had no N scale track or trains. None. I used two 4' x 4' x 1/2" pieces and used wood pieces 4' long x 2" wide x 1/2 '" thick (4 pieces this size) across the bottom with screws to hold the two 4' x 4' x 1/2" thick plywood together. So now it is 8' x 4'. I got news for you. You are trying to cram something into nothing. I think you need to find a bigger space to build your N gauge layout. Look around. You will find it if you really want to. 4' x 8' is a good start. I suggest two 4'x4' put together. Your not going to get much on your size board and even if you do you will get bored of it real soon. In N scale feet your talking only two football fields long and two wide with a fourth of one cut out. Have you ever see a real railroad that is only two football fields wide each way? You need to find more space and if your going to invest your time building this you will need to invest some money too. I suggest you set aside a few bucks ever week for you and your son's layout. Like make it his allowance. To buy train stuff. Be it $20 or $30. Whatever you can afford. Then take him with you to buy the goods and get him involved.
My total cost for my lumber was less than $25 bucks. I built it in two pieces so I could get it into my third floor apartment easier and if I move I can take it apart in to pieces. Don't waste your time and money on something your not going to be happy with. Look around your place. There must be room for a 4'x8' board someplace. I made room for mine. You can too. I never built a train layout before this but as a child had lot's of N gauge and H.O. trains and dreams of building a super layout.. Now at age 45 I am finally going to build the layout of my dreams. My little empire! I'd like to send you a PIC of it so maybe you will be inspired or get some ideas for what you are going to build on yours. Send me your e-mail address to [e-mail] and just tell me your the guy with the son that wants to build a 4'x4' with a 2' square cut out. Then I will know it's you. When you see my layout I know you will be impressed. Remember it is two 4'x4' pieces together so when you look at it cut it in half and remove your 2' square. Then maybe you can get some ideas from my layout. Just so you know it has 20 remote control turnouts and in scale feet is over 1,200+ long. That a little more that four N scale football fields in long. You should remember that if you are going to spend time and money building a layout don't cut yourself short. Make it the best you can. Take your time and invest. Or else you will just be wasting your time with a dinky layout that is boring to operate and was a waste of time and money to build. It could take years to complete. So be it. It will teach you son the value of a dollar. If you take it slow and ad piece by piece and maybe start with your board you have now but add another board in the future than maybe you will be happy with the end result. Hope my advise helps you out. Think it over. Hope to hear back from you so I can send you a PIC of my layout. It could and should give you some ideas. I started planning it a week ago and all the track cost a lot of money but if I am going to spend hours building mountains and lakes and "working on the railroad" I am going to do the best I can do so that I will be happy with my little empire when it is done. Wait until you see this. If your wondering how much money this type of track would cost it is about $800. for the track alone. This is the new power- lok track from Life- Like. No messy rail joiners ever again. I would never go back. . Good luck. Ernie.

[Anonymous]

try using atlas's ritetrack software its free and can be layed out on a ruled grid so you can match track ideas to your layout space..i too am building a small N scale (65 sq ft total board space ) mine is in a "L" shape 4x8 with a 3x5 extention...i agree with WARLOCK that your board size sounds awful small i had to put mine in my livingroom so i tried for maximun size and by using the ritetrack prog. and several months of layout ideas and incorporating my work bench under the 3x5 extention it seems to be a workable idea for me...i also live alone so i only have to put up with my own complaints....and believe it or not with some corner cutting on my table it will still fit thru a standard door frame..in case a move is necessary....scott

[Anonymous]

try using atlas's ritetrack software its free and can be layed out on a ruled grid so you can match track ideas to your layout space..i too am building a small N scale (65 sq ft total board space ) mine is in a "L" shape 4x8 with a 3x5 extention...i agree with WARLOCK that your board size sounds awful small i had to put mine in my livingroom so i tried for maximun size and by using the ritetrack prog. and several months of layout ideas and incorporating my work bench under the 3x5 extention it seems to be a workable idea for me...i also live alone so i only have to put up with my own complaints....and believe it or not with some corner cutting on my table it will still fit thru a standard door frame..in case a move is necessary....scott

[Anonymous]

you might also look into doing a modular design..its basically a 2x4 layout designed to be interconnectable with other modellers designs...i know theres more to modual railroading but i dont have much more info than this..im sure this forum could answer more questons about them if you are curious about it..rather than my limited knowledge of this subject....scott

[Anonymous]

you might also look into doing a modular design..its basically a 2x4 layout designed to be interconnectable with other modellers designs...i know theres more to modual railroading but i dont have much more info than this..im sure this forum could answer more questons about them if you are curious about it..rather than my limited knowledge of this subject....scott

[der5997]

Sounds like the shape you have is going to keep you to pretty tight curves, and still leave room for scenery, buildings, places for the trains to go to, as it were. N scale minimum radius is, I think, 7 inches, but I wouldn't go below 9 or 9 1/2 inches. That means you have enough room on your board for a loop of track at each of the 2 foot ends. Try drawing this out on math (squared) paper. If you bring the loop of track nearly back to itself, and run the (now apparently two) tracks side by side around the back of the V formed by the two 4 foot sides of your board, you will have what looks like a double track main line! The other end is treated the same way. You now have a continuous loop of track which will allow you to run trains around. In the centre of the board, where the 2x2 notch is cut out, you have space to put in a yard for switching, or engine servicing, a humungous industry, whatever your hearts collectively desire!. If you bring the lead for this yard off the top of either of the corner loops, you've quite a lot of space for it.

That's just to get your imagination going. There's lots of track plan books and websites out there. Perhaps some other reader will be good enough to guide you to them. What about it people? [:D]

[der5997]

Sounds like the shape you have is going to keep you to pretty tight curves, and still leave room for scenery, buildings, places for the trains to go to, as it were. N scale minimum radius is, I think, 7 inches, but I wouldn't go below 9 or 9 1/2 inches. That means you have enough room on your board for a loop of track at each of the 2 foot ends. Try drawing this out on math (squared) paper. If you bring the loop of track nearly back to itself, and run the (now apparently two) tracks side by side around the back of the V formed by the two 4 foot sides of your board, you will have what looks like a double track main line! The other end is treated the same way. You now have a continuous loop of track which will allow you to run trains around. In the centre of the board, where the 2x2 notch is cut out, you have space to put in a yard for switching, or engine servicing, a humungous industry, whatever your hearts collectively desire!. If you bring the lead for this yard off the top of either of the corner loops, you've quite a lot of space for it.

That's just to get your imagination going. There's lots of track plan books and websites out there. Perhaps some other reader will be good enough to guide you to them. What about it people? [:D]

[der5997]

Dboy58 & son: I've just been following a thread on the Atlas N scale Forum = Train Length. There is a good discussion that you may find useful as you plan your road. I think the URL is <www.atlasrr.com> and click on Forums. You'll have to register if you want to reply or start a topic, just like here. Train Length may not seem like something you are wanting to know about right now, but have a look. I think you will be enlightened. [:D]

[der5997]

Dboy58 & son: I've just been following a thread on the Atlas N scale Forum = Train Length. There is a good discussion that you may find useful as you plan your road. I think the URL is <www.atlasrr.com> and click on Forums. You'll have to register if you want to reply or start a topic, just like here. Train Length may not seem like something you are wanting to know about right now, but have a look. I think you will be enlightened. [:D]

[Anonymous]

Hi Dboy58 & son, I have been running N scale trains for the best part of 20 years. I am now in the process of building my third layout because of a recent move to my retirement house. My best suggestion for you, I think, is to read about layouts and then read about layouts I do not know if you get my drift but you will never read enough about it. One good book you could look at is from Model Railroader Magazine: How to build Model Railroad Benchwork. This is another method of creating a layout which I think can be inexpensive and give you all kinds of flexibility. Using this method you can have modular layout that are easy to move around and easily adaptable to the floor space you might have available. Hope this will help you and good luck! :-))

[Anonymous]

Hi Dboy58 & son, I have been running N scale trains for the best part of 20 years. I am now in the process of building my third layout because of a recent move to my retirement house. My best suggestion for you, I think, is to read about layouts and then read about layouts I do not know if you get my drift but you will never read enough about it. One good book you could look at is from Model Railroader Magazine: How to build Model Railroad Benchwork. This is another method of creating a layout which I think can be inexpensive and give you all kinds of flexibility. Using this method you can have modular layout that are easy to move around and easily adaptable to the floor space you might have available. Hope this will help you and good luck! :-))

[Anonymous]

If you want to email me (click the link provided by this forum) I might be interested in developing a track plan for you. I just need to know what your interests lean towards. I've done a lot of small N-scale plans in my time, most of them back while I was in college and was forced to go that route myself; I ended up with a very compact yet versatile 3.5' x 5.5' layout which incorporated a whole host of goodies. A 4' x 4' L-shape is tight, but could be very interesting too. I would also need to know your level of modelling proficiency.

As for my design proficiency, I am an architect, a profession I chose because of my long obsession with layout design.

[Anonymous]

If you want to email me (click the link provided by this forum) I might be interested in developing a track plan for you. I just need to know what your interests lean towards. I've done a lot of small N-scale plans in my time, most of them back while I was in college and was forced to go that route myself; I ended up with a very compact yet versatile 3.5' x 5.5' layout which incorporated a whole host of goodies. A 4' x 4' L-shape is tight, but could be very interesting too. I would also need to know your level of modelling proficiency.

As for my design proficiency, I am an architect, a profession I chose because of my long obsession with layout design.

[Anonymous]

My suggestion would be to go narrow gauge in N scale. Basically it is summed up with ore cars and tank cars and log cars that are short I would suggest ore though (atlas makes them...they are relatively cheap (25' 70-ton). Keep engines that are small too. Usually like a 0-6-0 at biggest. Then tack down the track at differences in sharpness of turns. Find the sharpest turns you can make while keeping the train on the track and go with that. The sharpest turns you can afford the better as it leaves more room for scenery. Also something to be considered is how high can you go up? Somtimes it might be wise in such a small place to have a train or a couple working up a mountain. This will fully utilize your small space. Best of Luck

[Anonymous]

My suggestion would be to go narrow gauge in N scale. Basically it is summed up with ore cars and tank cars and log cars that are short I would suggest ore though (atlas makes them...they are relatively cheap (25' 70-ton). Keep engines that are small too. Usually like a 0-6-0 at biggest. Then tack down the track at differences in sharpness of turns. Find the sharpest turns you can make while keeping the train on the track and go with that. The sharpest turns you can afford the better as it leaves more room for scenery. Also something to be considered is how high can you go up? Somtimes it might be wise in such a small place to have a train or a couple working up a mountain. This will fully utilize your small space. Best of Luck

[Wdlgln005]

A 2x4 foot section could be a N trak module. Ntrak publisbhes several good track planning guides. The 2x4 section could be your connection between Ntrak and your layout. This would be a good place to create a junction between 2 rr or a branch with the mainline. It could contain a small yard, an engine facility, and perhaps an industry or two.
The 4x4 section could be your mainline running from the junction through A to D. Try to see if you can do a wye back to the junction. Or you could find a trackplan for two 2X4 sections connected back to back. This way, you get 3 2x4 sections to build. 2 sections represent the 4 corners of a standard loop layout. when you get more space, 2 new 2x4 sections could be inserted, making a larger 4x8 loop. Lifelike uses a layout like this to show off their N scale models at train shows. Hope this gives you some good ideas. Have fun Nscaling, and if you have a chance, go Ntraking!

[Wdlgln005]

A 2x4 foot section could be a N trak module. Ntrak publisbhes several good track planning guides. The 2x4 section could be your connection between Ntrak and your layout. This would be a good place to create a junction between 2 rr or a branch with the mainline. It could contain a small yard, an engine facility, and perhaps an industry or two.
The 4x4 section could be your mainline running from the junction through A to D. Try to see if you can do a wye back to the junction. Or you could find a trackplan for two 2X4 sections connected back to back. This way, you get 3 2x4 sections to build. 2 sections represent the 4 corners of a standard loop layout. when you get more space, 2 new 2x4 sections could be inserted, making a larger 4x8 loop. Lifelike uses a layout like this to show off their N scale models at train shows. Hope this gives you some good ideas. Have fun Nscaling, and if you have a chance, go Ntraking!

[Anonymous]

Hello Avondaleguy, I'm looking for help developing a yard scene on a section of benchwork 8' long by 16" wide. I'd like about 8-10 sections of track, like a track ladder, but in 2 sections so 2 engines could switch cars at the same time, I'll be using a Lenz Set 90 for layout control and the benchwork leading into the yard is 5.5 ft long by 10" wide. Contact me for more info. Thanks, Bob

[Anonymous]

Hello Avondaleguy, I'm looking for help developing a yard scene on a section of benchwork 8' long by 16" wide. I'd like about 8-10 sections of track, like a track ladder, but in 2 sections so 2 engines could switch cars at the same time, I'll be using a Lenz Set 90 for layout control and the benchwork leading into the yard is 5.5 ft long by 10" wide. Contact me for more info. Thanks, Bob

[Anonymous]

Alright, I'm 15 years old, live in Vermont, not much around for hobby shops in my area (Burlington / South Burlington.. biggest Vermont Cities, and there are no hobbyshops in my scale..N..) I went to the local hardware store and got some 'leftovers'. I managed to get a 2x4 piece of quarter inch plywood, all square edges and no problems with the board itself. I then bought some 2x3 pine boards to support the bottom of the plywood. We (Grandpa and I) had also found some nails for his nailgun (Yes, we used a nailgun to secure the track. The nails were roughly the size of standard HO/N track nails, and thank god one of his nailguns is small enough.). The total cost was under 15 dollars! My track plan consists of an oval (10.5 inch radius with one inch clearance on all sides) with a left hand turnout on the operators side. Off this turnout is a right hand curved turnout, that allows me to have a 'team track' between the mainline, and the newly acquired yard. The 'main' side of the second turnout allows me to switch/setout cars. When I get back to the US, if you like I can draw up this track plan for you. I'd be happy to do this.

Note: I forgot to add one thing in about the layout. There is a third turnout. It is located right before you enter one of the turns. This is so that I can continue adding 'modules' to this layout. I plan on adding 2 more modules, another 2x4 module, and then a 2x4 module to the end of the second one, making it into an L shape.

[Anonymous]

Alright, I'm 15 years old, live in Vermont, not much around for hobby shops in my area (Burlington / South Burlington.. biggest Vermont Cities, and there are no hobbyshops in my scale..N..) I went to the local hardware store and got some 'leftovers'. I managed to get a 2x4 piece of quarter inch plywood, all square edges and no problems with the board itself. I then bought some 2x3 pine boards to support the bottom of the plywood. We (Grandpa and I) had also found some nails for his nailgun (Yes, we used a nailgun to secure the track. The nails were roughly the size of standard HO/N track nails, and thank god one of his nailguns is small enough.). The total cost was under 15 dollars! My track plan consists of an oval (10.5 inch radius with one inch clearance on all sides) with a left hand turnout on the operators side. Off this turnout is a right hand curved turnout, that allows me to have a 'team track' between the mainline, and the newly acquired yard. The 'main' side of the second turnout allows me to switch/setout cars. When I get back to the US, if you like I can draw up this track plan for you. I'd be happy to do this.

Note: I forgot to add one thing in about the layout. There is a third turnout. It is located right before you enter one of the turns. This is so that I can continue adding 'modules' to this layout. I plan on adding 2 more modules, another 2x4 module, and then a 2x4 module to the end of the second one, making it into an L shape.

[Anonymous]

well dboy58 and son i can tell you this on the size of a layout you can do a point to point if it is your frist one you would get the feel of things with it and you can later add to it as space opens up i been in the hobby for 17 years now and don both ho and n scale i statred with a 3 x 3 n scale layout point to point and now it is 24 x 30 and growing i found with the years new pepole getting itnto the hobby and building a big layout from the start and befor it is finshed they trash it or sell it off just start small and you can get into all the other things that make this a great hobby their is more to a layout than a track plan you have to see the whole thing the weatherd cars the buildings and all the landscaping with a small layout you can do all of it and get the feel for it for when you do add on or build your dream layout here is a web site from other modlers it is www.the-gauge.com

[Anonymous]

well dboy58 and son i can tell you this on the size of a layout you can do a point to point if it is your frist one you would get the feel of things with it and you can later add to it as space opens up i been in the hobby for 17 years now and don both ho and n scale i statred with a 3 x 3 n scale layout point to point and now it is 24 x 30 and growing i found with the years new pepole getting itnto the hobby and building a big layout from the start and befor it is finshed they trash it or sell it off just start small and you can get into all the other things that make this a great hobby their is more to a layout than a track plan you have to see the whole thing the weatherd cars the buildings and all the landscaping with a small layout you can do all of it and get the feel for it for when you do add on or build your dream layout here is a web site from other modlers it is www.the-gauge.com