layout question n-scale

[Anonymous]

what do you think about haveing two railroads on two layouts that never touch but instead having a cassette type yard to change cars between the two rail roads. Like having two 2'x4'moduels on one side and two more seperated by two foot isle. at one end a termination point off the layout and at the other end a point where to make up trains and store them both ends "off the layout". spefically Boston&maine And Maine Central. The cassette represeting portland terminal. any input would be great since this is for a space limited area and four moduels are almost complete
it would lookl ike this /-----/-----/ but only 2foot isle

/-----/-----/
with two one foot extensions on each end so that the trains go on to say boston or bangor

[Anonymous]

You neglected to post the scale you are working in. Do you really expect a cogent comment? [#dots]

That said, it seems you have two postage stamps separated by a walkway. If you tend to visuals set two interesting scenes. If you prefer operation make two fiddle yards and use your cassetts to transfer the makeups from departure to arrival.

Randy

[IRONROOSTER]

It's not quite clear to me what your arrangement is. It sounds like you have it arranged like
|----|----|aisle|----|----|
This being the case. I think you'll find the cassette a little tedious for regular operations, although a good way to store excess equipment if you have room for multilple cassettes under the layout. I would consider a temporary bridge that you could put up while operating and take down when not. assuming the aisle has to be open most of the time.
Another option would be to put the cassette on a stand with wheels and use it like a car ferry rolling it from one section to the other.
Enjoy
Paul

[leighant]

I have been thinking about something like this only with one layout OVER the other. My existing 3x7 layout represents Santa Fe in the piney woods of East Texas 50 miles or so north of Houston.

I would also like to build a BIGGG layout representing interconnections of three major passenger trains in a city similar to Houston, and an island seaport similar to Galveston. And would also like an expanded East Texas scene. At least more staging and gentler curves. Could probably do most of what I want in a 20' by 30' room...but until I win the lottery, I don't see how I can ever get that big room. Been trying to save for it for ten years.

I am thinking of building PART of that planned layout in a 10 x 12' space and when and if I get it finished, rebuilding a shelf version of the East Texas scene ABOVE it. No room for helix. But about half of traffic on East Texas secondary line scene would connect to lower level mainline scene. And maybe 20% of traffic on much heavier mainline would be to/from east Texas. The connection between the lines is a long way from BOTH modeled scenes and I would move a couple of trains from staging on one level to staging on another, probably only BETWEEN operating sessions. The train that runs from east Texas today wouldn't get to the coast until next session, but YESTERDAY's train from East Texas would be on staging ready to arrive today. I might or might not operate both levels at the same time, depending on operating crew available. I just want to model the scenes and traffic from both.

[DSchmitt]

Get " Small, Smart & Practicle Track Plans" by Ian Rice. .Any good train store should have it.

[Wdlgln005]

Sounds fine to me. You will have created a puzzle layout with your "cassette" interchange between the 2 modules. Or some kind of ferryboat service that shuttles between the layouts & any kind of storage so that you can always change the mix of cars!

The fun part will be to set up a loads/empties program so you have a reason to shuttle cars. A paper mill will send rolls to the printing plant. Iron cores need to be returned for the paper mill. Waste paper will go back to the mill to be used to make more paper. Some paper will be damaged in transit or will be unuseable by the printer.

Rolling stock will demand the use of 2 or more roadnames for locomotives & almost any freight car. Enjoy your layout!