Planning a new N scale layout

[Puckdropper]

At home, I'm gonna stick with HO, but here at school, I'm going to go to N scale. I have 2.5 feet by 5 feet to design a layout in. Any suggestions?

Btw, kentsoftware.com, I found your N scale layout on the I'net. Started out to be the same dimensions, I see. Looks nice!

[Puckdropper]

At home, I'm gonna stick with HO, but here at school, I'm going to go to N scale. I have 2.5 feet by 5 feet to design a layout in. Any suggestions?

Btw, kentsoftware.com, I found your N scale layout on the I'net. Started out to be the same dimensions, I see. Looks nice!

[Anonymous]

I might have to do some hunting, but back in 1993, as a co-op student living in an apartment, I had similar size restrictions and spent many months designing and redesigning small layouts to fit. I had a very specific intention: West Virginia coal hauling mainline, and I wanted to feature a vignette of a realistically-sized mine, and whatever bridges I could squeeze in. Yard space and industrial trackwork puzzles were not on the radar. All my designs were done on graph paper, and the one I ended up going with was 3.5 feet by 5.5 feet, and in that I incorporated a long folded loop of mainline that began from hidden staging (long enough to hold an entire mine turn), passed by a junction station similar to Point-of-Rocks Maryland, climbed over itself to get to a large three-track mine (about 15 cars capacity), then moved beyond that to a return loop, so that it could go back the way it came into staging again. In addition, the switches at the junction could be set so that instead on one long loop it acted as two independent loops, good for show running (I did display this layout at a few train shows). And I still had room for a medium-sized grain elevator spur plus an off-the-edge interchange track, which hinted at future expansion potential. And, what was really key for me, it all happened in a scenically plausible setting, with a small creek winding through the scene, necessitating a whole menagerie of bridges and culverts. The chief visual feature was a long multiple-span steel bridge which sliced diagonally across the middle.

Of course, to get all of this in, I did have to resort to tighter radius curves than I tolerate on my "big" layout. I tried to keep it to 11" minimum, but I think I bent some flextrack tighter than this in places. The same plan won't work with your smaller space, but I know there's a lot that can be done with that much N-scale real estate. Do you have a focus, a particular railroad or vignette you'd like to see? If not, as a first step I'd say that refining your focus is the first step.

[Anonymous]

I might have to do some hunting, but back in 1993, as a co-op student living in an apartment, I had similar size restrictions and spent many months designing and redesigning small layouts to fit. I had a very specific intention: West Virginia coal hauling mainline, and I wanted to feature a vignette of a realistically-sized mine, and whatever bridges I could squeeze in. Yard space and industrial trackwork puzzles were not on the radar. All my designs were done on graph paper, and the one I ended up going with was 3.5 feet by 5.5 feet, and in that I incorporated a long folded loop of mainline that began from hidden staging (long enough to hold an entire mine turn), passed by a junction station similar to Point-of-Rocks Maryland, climbed over itself to get to a large three-track mine (about 15 cars capacity), then moved beyond that to a return loop, so that it could go back the way it came into staging again. In addition, the switches at the junction could be set so that instead on one long loop it acted as two independent loops, good for show running (I did display this layout at a few train shows). And I still had room for a medium-sized grain elevator spur plus an off-the-edge interchange track, which hinted at future expansion potential. And, what was really key for me, it all happened in a scenically plausible setting, with a small creek winding through the scene, necessitating a whole menagerie of bridges and culverts. The chief visual feature was a long multiple-span steel bridge which sliced diagonally across the middle.

Of course, to get all of this in, I did have to resort to tighter radius curves than I tolerate on my "big" layout. I tried to keep it to 11" minimum, but I think I bent some flextrack tighter than this in places. The same plan won't work with your smaller space, but I know there's a lot that can be done with that much N-scale real estate. Do you have a focus, a particular railroad or vignette you'd like to see? If not, as a first step I'd say that refining your focus is the first step.

[Puckdropper]

I'm thinking of a shortline with a single (or maybe two) diesels with a lot of switching to do. Something along the lines of a GP9...

[Puckdropper]

I'm thinking of a shortline with a single (or maybe two) diesels with a lot of switching to do. Something along the lines of a GP9...

[Wdlgln005]

Another way to go might be an industrial district. I think MR may have had some the last few years somewhat similar to Turtle Creek. It would be fun to compare the LL SW9/1200 with Atlas VO 1000. One online industry should require daily inbounds. At big printing plant, you could have 1 car in 100 or so rejected for poor quality, or damaged in transit. Also, the recycled used paper & iron cores were shipped back to the mill. Of course, everything is shipped in & out by rail.

I've also seen some layouts that change the industry at a location so that you get another chance to run different cars. Makes a good excuse to have a string of beercan tankers on the layout. Have fun & good luck with your studies!

[Wdlgln005]

Another way to go might be an industrial district. I think MR may have had some the last few years somewhat similar to Turtle Creek. It would be fun to compare the LL SW9/1200 with Atlas VO 1000. One online industry should require daily inbounds. At big printing plant, you could have 1 car in 100 or so rejected for poor quality, or damaged in transit. Also, the recycled used paper & iron cores were shipped back to the mill. Of course, everything is shipped in & out by rail.

I've also seen some layouts that change the industry at a location so that you get another chance to run different cars. Makes a good excuse to have a string of beercan tankers on the layout. Have fun & good luck with your studies!

[Puckdropper]

Hm...

Well, I have bought some flex track, a bunch of turnouts (got them off of eBay) and 3 Atlas box cars. I still need to find an engine, but within my price range: $40-50. I looked at a couple, and noticed the gears were exposed underneath. Not very protective... A stray piece of ballast or two, and the motor's jammed.

I'm considering using AMI instant road bed, no nailing, no diluted white glue...

[Puckdropper]

Hm...

Well, I have bought some flex track, a bunch of turnouts (got them off of eBay) and 3 Atlas box cars. I still need to find an engine, but within my price range: $40-50. I looked at a couple, and noticed the gears were exposed underneath. Not very protective... A stray piece of ballast or two, and the motor's jammed.

I'm considering using AMI instant road bed, no nailing, no diluted white glue...

[der5997]

I'm not sure of the N dimensions of John Allen's "Timesaver" switching puzzle layout. My guess is that you could fit it in very hadily, and have some room left over for an interchange track and other goodies. Ed Vondrak wrote up his version in the November 1977 MR. the article is "One of my towns is a Timesaver. Have a look, it may spark some ideas.

[der5997]

I'm not sure of the N dimensions of John Allen's "Timesaver" switching puzzle layout. My guess is that you could fit it in very hadily, and have some room left over for an interchange track and other goodies. Ed Vondrak wrote up his version in the November 1977 MR. the article is "One of my towns is a Timesaver. Have a look, it may spark some ideas.