The Coosa Valleys N Scale model railroad layout has been going to shows for about 15yrs. It was build to no standard, just build to tour at shows. The years of putting it together and taking it apart, plus it staying in a small travel trailer when not in use had taken its toll on the layout recently. The clubs HO layout has undergone a huge upgrading, and I started pushing for the same to be done with the N Scale layout. There are not many N Scalers in the club, so support was pretty slim. They wanted to focus on the HO layout. A new President elect for the club had more interest in a better N Scale layout but there was nowhere to work on it. I offered my layout garage, and work began. The layout is 22 X 12 and had three lines....with only two still working. This is the layout at a show in Birmingham.
Here's a picture of the yard, which was never wired correctly. At shows it was just a collect all of cars. Thats the clubs Vice President Dave, and one of the N Scalers in the club. Plans are to redo this yard, add a steel mill next to it, remove all tracks and lay new cork and track.....making one functional branch line, and a new double track mainline.....and once that is done, completely redo the scenery and buildings.
Here's a look at how the mains looked, and the dated scenery..... Only the two outside tracks worked.
At one of our first work sessions, new club President Dewey uses a shop vac to clean up after removing old track and cork. Dennis, Dave, and Ed help out. This was not easy as the cork and track was put down with nails, staples, and glue.
Here's a city scene. This will have the two new mains on the outside, branch line with siding inside with access to switch everything in the scene, new crossings removing the big 'humps' in the road, narrowing the road, and new scenery.
Yea, for about 5 regular N Scalers in a club of about 30...thats not bad. We are hoping the upgrading will get us more members.
I should also add that we are working on it only once every other Saturday....unless I have to work, and the regular crew is usually only 3-4 members, so progress is slow, but steady.
In this area, the branch line will follow the line without a switch, and the two mains will run on the outside.
This area to the bridges is completely different now. The branch will be in the middle following the rock line, and the now non-functioning line to to mine will be working, as well as the double main sqeezed in too.
On this section, the branch line will hug the mountain, and the new 'realigned' mains will have broad curves outside.
Here it is with the cork down. The idea being an older original line following the mountain, and now a newly installed double main added years later. The mountain was also taken down so the mine can be seen by the public at shows instead of hidden.
Scenery will eventually get redone on the entire mountain. The 'hole' in the mountain is going to be a 'picture window' showing the miners working under ground in a mine shaft.
Here's the yard getting worked on and the new addition of the steel mill section. This will be able to be independantly switched by a member during shows.
Another look at the new section. Not following any prototype on this layout....just building it for fun.
