48"x16" n-scale shelf switching layout...

[mearrin69]

Hi all,
I have long-term plans to build something more grand, but while I plan for that I'd like to have something to push some cars around on and relearn how to lay track, install wiring, put down ballast, etc.

I kind of liked Mr. Mindheim's modern Florida industrial shelf layout in the November MR so, I did some Google Earth searching through the streets of LA and took lots of screen grabs of industrial trackage then did some playing in XTrkCad:

While I have a pretty large space (11x2 + 2x4) to play with for my eventual 'real' layout, I can spare about 4' of wall space for this one, with removeable cassettes for staging. I am interested in doing some modern city scenery, graffiting up some cars, and am trying to learn about modern freight prototypes. I don't require this to be 100% prototypical though.

With staging on both ends of the single-track through line I was thinking that I could simulate a small urban yard used to gather and sort cars that would then be sent along to a larger yard - down along the double-track (like to have staging for that as well). I also imagined there would be some local traffic along the single line.

Industries 1 and 2 would receive and send unnamed loads in boxcars. I think #3 might take in chemicals and ship out plastic pellets in hoppers - one car at a time. Not sure about #4 and #5. I think it might be the same industry, maybe offloading trailers and operating a local warehouse/shipping company. VB signifies "View Block".

I figured since this is a junction between a local industrial corridor and the larger line there could be a small classification yard and maybe a little switcher lives here.

My wife likes trucks/trailers...which is one of the reasons for industry #4 being front and center. I guess that makes it the least negotiable part of the plan because she needs a place to park her blue Volvo cab (when she can find one in N instead of O). ;)

For this I think I'd do a box, mounted on the walls, with sides and fascia above (hiding lighting) and below (hiding the underside and for mounting controls) - maybe mounted at chin level so I can reach (on a stool) but still get a nice horizon effect from the backdrop.

I'd love to hear any feedback you guys might have on this one. I actually like it quite a lot but I'm new and have no doubt not considered all ramifications. In particular, how much am I going to hate not having staging on the two-track line?

Thanks!
M

NB: If it matters, I plan to use Atlas Code #55 flex track and #5 turnouts. Control is NCE's PowerCab.

 

[SpaceMouse]

You have to make a switchback move to get to your yard and you need a runaround to switch your forward facing industry tracks. Creating the runaround should solve both issues.

Looks like fun.

[cuyama]

Personally, I think a runaround on the visible trackage would be more fun than always setting the facing and trailing point cars up in staging. Lance's layout is fantastic, but that's one thing I would miss about operating on it.

Although they are slightly larger than you are considering, I posted two 6' long N scale switching layouts toward the end of this thread.
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1255388/ShowPost.aspx

These layouts are self-contained, though, so they'd be about the same length (or shorter) as your layout with the staging cassettes in place.

I might also opt for fewer, longer, industry tracks, but that's somewhat a personal preference. Good luck and have fun.

Byron
Model RR Blog

 

[Autobus Prime]

m:

Nice plan. I agree with c. on the runaround idea. I tried to rough-in a design for one, with a few other changes:



The double track was taking up space but not doing much (as the single track to staging is representing your mainline) so I just got rid of it.

Your industry tracks appear to be long enough for 2 65 ft. cars and some change, or perhaps 3 50 footers, if I am measuring right. THis may be short, but I feel that on a tiny layout like this it's more important to simulate traffic destinations than traffic volume. Switching 1 car at a time into a 2 car spur is just as much fun as switching 5 cars at a time into a 10 car spur.

However, I do show one spur extended into another building (camouflaged by a fence, wall, signs, or anything handy) to increase its capacity.

The biggest change was the runaround. I altered the yard a little and removed one track to free up some space for this. I figure the trains would arrive on the upper track, then the local cars would be sorted between that and the lower track, using the track to industry 5 as a lead. Two yard tracks should be enough for that, but you could always add the other one.

I also added a track into the unnamed building at upper right. You would have to use #3 as a switchback to reach it, but I couldnt' figure out any other way to get a reasonably long spur in. This does add some complication that could be fun, in that you'd have to switch the mystery co. first, then #3.

Finally, I have suggested a couple of scenic details that might be interesting, though they don't add anything to operation. A street gives your trucks somewhere to drive, and helps a small layout look like part of a larger world, for which effect I have also suggested a dummy, unusable branch curving off one yard lead. You could even rust up the tops of its rails, to give the effect of a seldom-used line.

[mearrin69]

Hey. Thanks for the comments guys. I will do some more thinking about it and post a revision when I get some time to go over it.

I like the road Autobus Prime added and I certainly get the concept of tying it into the real world. As I mentioned I was imitating a particular bit of LA I viewed from above and streets were north and south and east and west of this area - but putting the road makes an explicit statement about it.

I appreciate the help!
M

[steinjr]

m:

Nice plan. I agree with c. on the runaround idea. I tried to rough-in a design for one, with a few other changes:

 Slight mod proposal - make that runaround like this instead, perhaps:

 

 Easier to run around that way, without eating up part of the topmost yard track for runaround moves.

 Smile,
 Stein

 

[mearrin69]

An idea, keeping with the scale of track on the prototype: what about having a two-track mainline running from left to right with one crossover on the layout and one simulated off-layout by either a sector plate or a two-track cartridge with a crossover? That would get the runaround without having to show it on the layout itself?

Also, I'm toying with the idea of expanding linearly a bit (to the width of the desk it sits over) without increasing track complexity - again giving a little less compression than it has now.
M