hello,just got the bug for a model railroad afetr 25 + years, because of space, time and budget i am looking at getting into n-scale,also from what i have been reading that kato unitrack does an ok layout in a short time. i have been playing with some ideas and got a little stuck.i am looking for a layout where i can run some passenger trains, also i want to play arround with a little bit of switching in a small yard.i am trying to base the layout from the variation kits available because it saves money over individual track.where i am stuck is i would love to have two tracks elevated on the oposite side of the yard.i am thinking of scenary from here in arizona but we do not have alot of elevated tracks and bridges.so without doing a figure 8 with an elevated track and have a bridge in the middle of the lay out is it possible to connect the two elevated tracks to the radius or will i have to move the siding and yard to the middle and then add some switches off the straight run. thanks
I'm unclear on your request. Do you simply want to raise the mainline on the left side of the plan for scenic purposes? Or do you want to add another line?
Welcome aboard and always nice to see an modeler from AZ and N scale sounds like a win win. What radius are you planning? Pass cars are generally long wheel base especially the modern era and a tight Rad will have them looking different navigating them. 18' if I'm not mistaken would work. As far as your elevated track it's kind of the general rule to stay within the 2% grade for N scale. With those things being said you could leave your Yard where it is And I'm sure you'll get some added opinions from some other folks also to shine the light on this subject. Njoy it's built rite in
Another alternative for some variety is to only raise the outer track on the left. Give it a bit more separation (add a 62mm or 64mm straight at the top/bottom of the outer curves, and then lengthen the outer loop sides at the upper end of the diagram also by either 62mm or 64mm-- the 20-030 or 20-040 packs). Then just start the slope at the start of the curves on the right hand side, you can use the Woodland Scenics 2% risers for ease, and decide where you want the maximum elevation to be. Since you will have no crossing, you don't need to reach a full 2", if you want to just a a section of flat but higher track. If you want even more visual separation, consider LOWERING the inside loop. This is easy to do, even with what looks like a HCD base, by simply putting a layer of foam on the door. Any HCD sized layout, with the required tight radii, will look awkward for modern passenger cars on the curves. But they will look great on the long straight.
i wish to add a double track line along the back side opposite of the yard. when i find a final location for this lay out i would like to do a mountain on that back side.i would like the line to start before the yardloop arround the back and tie back in somewhere on the bottom before the yard . thank you
