First Post - new layout plan

Hi,

as a newbe I have spent weeks looking around at layouts, you tube videos etc and had a great deal of trouble coming up with a layout I liked. I wanted something not too large, that could run a couple of trains and had some variety in it. I then came across an old book called "N Scale Model Railroad That Grows" by Kent Wood and Ric Laban. My local shop had a pretty beat up copy of the book which I purchased. The layout is attached. If anybody wants the Railmodeller file I will post that as well.

I have ordered all the bits to build it, but since they won't arrive in Australia from the US for another 10 days or so, I wonder if there are any mods that might be worth doing without exceeding a 40 x 72 inch space. The current layout fits in a 40" x 60" space, so I could put a few minor changes in.

cheers
Gary

 

Gary - Welcome to the board!! Please feel free to contact me through the forum.

This was my previous layout and just about did me in on trains. Part of it was me and part of it was the layout. The problem is when you get it done its the 2 trains just go around in 2 fancy circles. I found myself wanting more than the layout could offer but I didn't know what it was. A decade later I found I am Operations guy- who knew?

Anyway, the 2 mods I did was to add a 4th tack to the yard and added another siding coming off the run around on the lower right side. It came just before the lower switch and went up to the top. This wound up being my team track. The siding on the lower right in the plan had flats for business to justify the RR.

On the yard I made the new right track industry flats, the 2 middle ones loco service tracks and the left one a power plant so the mine had a customer to haul the coal to- back before I knew what operations were- go figure.

I also left off the water feature out as it was getting too tight to be realistic to me.
I was too impatient back then and I found it was better and easier to build it all at once. I would build it all at once if I was to do this over. Some of things just fight better when done all at once rather than piecemeal.

I don't mean to rain on your project, its just this project left me wanting in almost every manner. It was a fun project to build and it ran nice mostly. I took one loco and reversed the motor to run opposite (this was before DCC was even in it's infancy). I would run trains on the 2 loops off of one block (one running in opposite direction now) and then I could work the sidings and yard independently.

Some of things that are used in the book like the textured paint were new then and made it pop somehow. You really don't need them. The foam base he used was expensive then and I'm not sure you can even get it here anymore (it's like 1/2" super gator board for those who haven't read the book).

Anyway, ask a way. I still have it kicking around on the garage for some dumb reason... it was cool in the beginning- all powered switches and magnetic uncouplers in every imaginable spot- both of which I wanted so badly back then but will never do again

Steve

 

Welcome aboard!

A lot of good advice is given here.

Just remember, it is YOUR railroad.

Remember to have fun!

 

Welcome to Trainboard Gary, Seems like you have a good plan already in mind and once your parts get there you'll be off and running. Keep us up on your progress.

 

Thanks for the suggestions Steve,
I had thought of some of the things you've mentioned, and have already come up with something similar. I am somewhat limited for space and I've discovered that it seems difficult to fit everything in that one wants to!!!! The problem is that as an inexperienced newbe, it's difficult to know what will look/work well.I actually don't know what sort of railroader I am yet so I figured this will give me a taste of it all - roundy, ops and lamdscaping. Like most I don't imagine that it will be my last layout, or at least survive unmodified for more than a short time!! I had to start somewhere, and I found that I was paralysed by analysis, so I took the bit between my teeth and decided to go with this plan. I am getting all the track to put down at once, and I figured that even if it didn't survive the first week, I could always change it without wasting too much money... It will be interesting to see what I think when I get it all laid out for the first time. I too want lots of powered switches and gadgets!!!!!!! I'm sure I'll grow out of it when get big (I'm only 59 yo now, so a while till I mature).....It'll be fun having something to do on cloudy nights - my other hobby is astrophotography, but the night sky where I live (Melbourne Australia) seems to be getting cloudier every year, so I needed something to do other than watch the idiot box at night. Will post regularly as I get going......now got to wait a week or so for the postman to deliver.....

cheers
Gary

 

Gary it was a fun layout to build and being your first it is a good one to start with.

I would consider laying all of the track at the same time as opposed to stages like the book was written. Things just don't line up right when added after and poor track is no fun. I found I had to make my upper mine loop a little taller, not much just a little, to get better clearance for the lower loop. On the DC version I did, they had you put the control panel in the roof of a building on the lower left. I wound up building a little panel off the end - it was just too tight to fit it all in. This will operate better if it is DCC if are going that route.

You had talked about making it possible wider- left to right - and that would be nice. You can do more than squeeze on more track in the upper right. I would take a little time, just a little, and think of a nice industry for there. You didn't mention your era or locale, but I would tailor the new industry for that... brewery is timeless, food processing, or something like that.

The most important thing is to have fun, learn and run trains..

Steve

 

Steve,
you got me thinking about ops and stuff, so I had a look at what I could do with the track I've already ordered. Without wasting pretty much anything I've bought, and the addition of a few straights and some flex, I came up with the attached plan based on the Carolina layout, which I think gives a wider scope for both roundy stuff and ops. Because I've added width to the layout, I had to shrink the depth as a tradeoff space wise. Anyone care to comment on whether this might be a better layout to do?
cheers
Gary

 

Gary - A couple of questions on the new plan. I am assuming 40" X 72" (6" grids)and the yellow track is elevated similar to the other plan. I like where you are going with this. The yellow track and the upper run around might be a little close to each other to pull off. You could try "S"ing around a little to fit.

Nothing wrong with a roundy round plan either- I still like having the continuous running ability.

Steve

 

How is this?

the grids are actually 10 cm - about 4 inches. the board is 720mm x 2000mm or about 28.5" x 78 inches. The yellow is elevated thinking like the original Carolina layout that there would be a mountain range hiding the staging track behind and the yellow would run along the top of it. Thought there would now be plenty of ops for industries, perhaps even a small gold mine etc....The siding I showed off the yellow elevated (not included in this iteration) track is not necessary, but make a nice little gold mine.....

cheers
Gary

 

A gold mine? how do you guys say it? Too right!! Ripper!! Sorry, I get distracted by shiny objects easily.......

It looks very good to me. A couple of last things to ponder - only if you wanted to.
The siding on the lower right you could go under the yellow line and it would give you two or three tracks of hidden staging .... if you get into the OPs side. You could then put another siding off the yellow line in that area so you wouldn't loose a rail industry

Steve

 

Good ideas Steve, I have added them now and put the goldmine spur back.

So we now have an elevated loop in yellow with a spur -red, going off to the mountain gold mine which will be even higher up in the mountains. At the bottom right we have in blue a couple of hidden staging tracks that will be hidden under the yellow loop. So now I think we have heaps of industry possibilities, a lot of ops potential, good scenic opportunities, and 3 hidden staging tracks. not bad for a small layout - anything else need changing?

Best thing is, nothing I've already bought will be wasted!

cheers
Gary