Thoughts on ways to add interest to this double-track straight?

Taymar Jul 31, 2019

  1. Taymar

    Taymar TrainBoard Member

    121
    17
    7
    Hi all,

    I have an area at the very front of my layout which a double mainline track needs to run through (red and green lines at the ends).

    it's 10" tall at the widest point and 54" long. I can run track right up to the outside edge of the board as there'll be a plexiglass fence. The curved top edge is the start of an incline and is not tall enough to run track under.

    I'd greatly appreciate any ideas on how I could route the track to make the area inside the green line more interesting to the viewer - for context, longer passenger and freight trains will be running in both directions through this section, with a tunnel portal at one end and a curve at the other. It's really the main 'showcase' spot for these trains so I'd like to make it interesting to watch.

    Thanks a ton for any thoughts or suggestions!

    [​IMG]
     
  2. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

    10,673
    44,835
    142
    Perhaps at one end a depot with a house track would be a nice addition. Would give you an additional location to switch and add operational interest as the local takes the siding while through freights roll past.
     
    Taymar likes this.
  3. Dave1905

    Dave1905 TrainBoard Member

    265
    284
    22
    Part of the answer depends on what is "above" the 10" green line. It appears to be another pair of main tracks, what's behind that? What scale is it? (looks like N). How high is it above the floor? (viewing angle).
     
    Taymar likes this.
  4. Dave1905

    Dave1905 TrainBoard Member

    265
    284
    22
    Assuming that you don't need open viewing to whatever is behind the rear line, I would gently curve the two mains through the center of the space. I would put a row of trees behind the rear main and then lower the scenery in the foreground down 1-3 inches. Possibly putting the mains on a low fill. The foreground would be pasture or field, with a couple small sheds or cattle in the foreground. If the layout was set in the spring I might cover the ground with corduroy and paint it dirt color and then pose a tractor along one edge with a pick up truck next to it, like the tractor is being refueled. That would create a stage effect to highlight the passing trains around a sweeping curve.
     
    Taymar and acptulsa like this.
  5. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

    22,014
    27,407
    253
    Kurt Moose, Taymar and Hardcoaler like this.
  6. acptulsa

    acptulsa TrainBoard Member

    3,342
    5,868
    75
    Curving the track like the track behind adds (a little) length to the line, and makes the train look (a little) longer. A creek is always nice, if the scenery beyond allows one. Placing it where the track behind has climbed a little allows for two bridges of different types, at different angles, and different heights, which always looks good.
     
  7. Taymar

    Taymar TrainBoard Member

    121
    17
    7
    Thank you guys! Some great food for thought here. To answer the questions - behind the green line is a single track 2% incline which ideally will be hidden from view with scenery/a tunnel.

    Nothing else on the ground level really needs to be in view (it's going to be largely hidden by other terrain that holds the top level of the layout)

    Yes, it's N Scale. Height off the ground is 'to be determined' though I'd imagine in the 3-4' range

    Thank you all so much - these ideas are far better than anything I came up with.
     

Share This Page