Hey guys first post here. I'm new to the N Scale scene and I'm still not sure if I want to go this route or not but I've started on a layout concept no the less. Thought I'd post up my design thus far and get some input on it. Like I side N Scale, 2 layer, modern or more modern day CSX/NS. I live not far from a decent sized intermodal yard that I have looked at from Google Maps. Also, I live south of Atl, near the Ted CSX has a large yard I believe its Inman yard but not sure. I'll see if I can some how post a link to that map page. Cars would be Autoracks, Well cars w/double stacks and your regular box, tanker and covered hoppers. I do not have any N Scale at this time I grew up with HO scale, so I'll be starting off with all new stuff. I plan on running DC at first and then going to DCC as budget permits. Here are a few specs... 9x11 room Dual layer(deck) layout without a Helix (Hidden Incline to upper level) Twice around for long lap times Intermodal yard, my version of Inman Yard in Atl. Duck under at door way Code 55 Atlas Flex Wood Ties 15" min Radius 16" or larger on most main lines Upper level mainly scenic wooded areas features a twice around design Of course the first pic is the main level and the second would be the upper. The incline/decline to the upper level will be the outer line that will be behind a removable panel/backdrop. I'm going 2.5% and no more with a separation of 16" from main to upper level. Just a first draft but I think its cool to have a hidden egress to the upper level. Indicated by the arrow like marking. A Helix would just take up too much room. I hope to have my desk and computer under the layout, I will adjust the bench height to accommodate. Yeah I need to address the one bend that is less than 15". Pink track.... The two track ends you see that just stop are the route back down or up depending on which direction you're heading. Well let me hear ya'lls comments, I'm a grown man so let it rip! I'll post changes as they are made.
I like the first plan. If you need any advice / inspiration, recently MR did an N scale series "the Salt Lake route. They had a lot of things you want in your layout. Might want to check into it. Looking foward to seeing pics of the layout in progress. Good luck and happy modeling! Cary Hewitt President and CEO, Alpine Pacific Ry.
All of your switches look be within easy reach which is a main consideration. It seems to have lots of potential for doing operations which is the purpose of railroads. As well as letting trains get in some long running. I only have one level, but your way (called a nolix) to move up and down is a simple and reliable way to get from one level to the other. I highly recommend going to DCC at the beginning. Spend the money now as it is more expensive for a really good system, but the cost will be done and over. Besides the wiring for DC is a lot more complicated if you wish to run more than one engine at a time. And engines do not have to sit on electrically dead track to be on the layout. And, oh yes, I have done the DC thing, and that is why this time I bought my system and some decoder engines right at the start. Of course being that the engines I already had were from the 70's and not worth using was a plus on my decision to go DCC after all of the stuff I read since 2005 til I started in 2007. Of course buying all of the electrical switches etc would make the electronics sellers happy. Have fun.:tb-biggrin:
Twicearound with passing sidings. I like it. If you can work in three distinct passing sidings rather than two, that will considerably enhance operational possibilities.
How much separation between decks will you have? Assuming a little under 40 feet for the climbing loop, you might be able to climb 10 inches with about a 2% grade. If your lower deck track climbs 2 or 3 inches before moving onto the climbing loop, and the upper deck track rises an inch or 2 from exiting the climbing loop to get to the main elevation of the upper deck, you could have a 14 inch separation. How much of the climbing loop will be hidden...and how much access will you have to the hidden tracks for initial construction and, later, for routine maintenance? If the pink 15 inch radius track is at 10:30 on a clockface and is to be your access to a yard that runs across the top of the "clock", then you might want to make a longer lead running parallel to the left edge of the plan (say, from 7:00 to 9:00), and have the throat of the yard curve from 9:00 to 12:00.
Well on Thursday I got some track and a couple or cars, so I guess I'm an N Scaler now. I went today and got a good bit if not all the boards for my bench work. I also cut some Masonite for the spline roadbed that will become the nolix(no helix) and started gluing a curve. Real easy, messy thought and looks like it will be extremely strong! It needs to be strong a long unit to bridge windows and doors. These obstructions are in the corners which makes it even more difficult just to build the bench work. I think it the tails are long enough that will help. I plan on doing straight sections also and I'll just join them together to form one integrated unit. Well that's it for now I'll get some pics together and post'em. Thanks for looking, Bob
Twice around through basically the same scene will stretch "credibility" quite a bit, railroads prefer to get from A to B the shortest way. Since you build all along the wall ... have you considered having a steady incline with only the passing sidings and stations being on flatter sections? You could do three distinct levels with long stretches of mainline in between. :neutral:
One of the items that is often overlooked: where are the trains coming from? and where are the going to? Staging could be either on the top or the bottom level, in this case it's on the lowest level. Staging tracks are easier to use if the tracks are all about the same length - trains fit in any of the tracks. The shortest track (inside of the loop) is used as the run-through track. One extra track comes off the run-through track and is used to access the stub end tracks inside the staging loop. Traffic flow is RH i.e. trains go CCW through the loop. I have no idea where the door and the duck-under are supposed to go, I picked/guessed at the location from the posted trackplans. Track plan drawn with AnyRail
The area that I'm loosely modelling has a large Intermodal yard, Chemical Production plant and an Owens Corning Fiberglass Insul. factory all in the same area. The Intermodal yard is behind the two plants. Oh yeah and a CSX/NS switchers station or field office. Usually 5 or 6 Locos parked on a siding next to the main line. See Google maps....http://g.co/maps/ew99t This is just a start plan, I've changed the plan a bit just moving thing around to better utilize the given space. The upper level is just about right. I would like a siding up there to use as some what of a staging spot. This is a small room even for N Scale. I don't like a cluttered layout. Bob
Hi Bob, Don't get me wrong ... however I'm a firm believer that selective compression works best if one starts with a proto situation that needs "not too much compression". Yes 11x9ft is not much real estate even in N. There are some interesting features in that situation at Palmetto, GA -- a Wye at the westend to connect to the Intermodal yard, the eastend widens from single track to three tracks, with the south track connecting to the Intermodal -- the single track main widens to two track between the west and the east approach to the Intermodal -- in that section there are two spurs to "chemical plants" coming off the south track -- two loading and two unloading tracks in Intermodal Not having observed traffic at Palmetto I would guess the following -- Intermodal arrives from east and west, from the west it is flow through, from the east it is terminate and head back east via the Wye -- the double track between the connections to intermodal serves mainly as a siding to serve the "chemical plants" But what functions have those by pass tracks south of the Intermodal? Anyway it will be a major job to compress the different functions of the track arrangement into the available space. Which brings up the question: how much traffic is on this line?
I agree, think of the places where you can see the same train go by you twice without moving....I can think of 2 close to each other, the Caliente horse shoe and Walong (Tehatchapi loop)
Reality hits when one does the planning with the given parameters. Apart from squeezing Palmetto into the space - yep, I managed that including the glass and the chemical plant - gaining that 16" height separation will require two full "turns" around the room. Track is 2" from the wall and the curves are 22" radius. With just one "turn" as planned the grade would be 3.8%!!! However ... if the stipulation is "no Helix" I guess the "Helix" just takes a different form.mg: mg: Once Around drawing attached.
Wow......... The grade is 2.25% you haven't seen the one layer I didn't post which looks a lot like what you have drawn up. 2.25" rise over 100" of run = 2.25% so 16"/2.25"=7.111*100"=711" of track to cover the 16" height distance. I used xTrackCad to tell me the lengths involved and it is more than twice around. You know I'll just build what I want and keep it to myself from now on. Thanks for all the supporting comments.
I used AnyRail to determine what the grade would need to be with just one turn and 16" from top of rail to top of rail. Of course I could have used CADrail and then the "once around" with a 16" elevation difference comes to exactly 3.754%, but since I was already working on this "challenge" using AnyRail I just kept on going - I like doing these projects with stipulated parameters, to me it's like "precision doodling". Oh yes, one of my "guiding principles" .... Never design something unless you're sure it can be built and will be functional. CADrail grade calculation :bashful::bashful:
hi i have one major concern. having such a long piece of your track behind a backdrop is asking for difficulties. Never ever i would do that, it might be better to have your grade out in the open. Or go back to a helix. This might give you an idea about an alternatice use of your space. By double tracking the helix more trains can run at the very same tine with ease. Keep a view on the helix open at the upper aisle, so engineers are able to follow their train. BTW it would be best if you included doors and other obstacles in your drawing. The plan above is just a first draft, to share idea's about a possible main. Smile Paul
why not just continue the thread with the new design? makes for a good read with all the decisions and compromises and how sometimes you need to start over because it just ain't gonna work
