Hey guys, new member here. I am 26 and live in North Carolina. You can call me Brasko. I am a huge Norfolk Southern/CSX fan, they have been around and I have seen them running for most of my life. I am an apartment dweller so size is the challenge(3ft by 6ft maximum)! I am looking forward to getting into the hobby, most likely HO scale. I have taken a serious look at N scale and it is just too small for me. With that being said I do not expect to be running SD70MACs or C44-9Ws in my space, so building and operating a small switching layout will be optimal. I look forward to hanging out here and getting some inspiration!
Hi Brasko, Welcome to the TrainBoard, glad to have you on board. Take a look at the Layout Design Forum and the HO Forum. Also, look at the N-Scale Forum for some great switching layout ideas, even though you don't model in N-Scale.
As Hank suggests, check out those other corners here on TrainBoard. Where we can start on ongoing topic, more folks will likely see and offer ideas. Welcome to TrainBoard!
Well N scale hasn't been completely dismissed, I just haven't held it in my hands. I remember having some HO scale stuff from when I was a kid...so I am just going from what I know. My only hobby store in the area has everything locked up in glass shelves and I simply haven't had enough determination to ask to handle something I can't afford to replace at the moment. The main problem is my hands are huge and I haven't been known to be "delicate", I can see it now...I go to throw a switch and uproot a mountain smashing everything in its path...perhaps I am just psyching myself out.
Here are some small layouts I designed for simple switching operations. They are for N scale but you could adopt some of the ideas for HO. The first three are designed for access from 3 sides, with different scene on each side. N 4 foot by 2 ft 4 inches. Provision for both switching and round-round running. Only one train at a time can run. The double-ended siding at top of the plan can be used as a runaround, or to hold one train while another runs. (Alternate running through train and local switcher.) The dead-end spur next to the double-ended siding can be used to hold cars not in any train, and 3 tracks side by side gives a minimal impression of a yard. One can do a little yard switching between cars from the through train, cars for the local and the dead-end spur. Four industry spots to switch, one is a switchback. Another layout, same size, same trick with the "yard" at top of the plan. This one has loads in-empties out pair. Train can pick up loaded coal cars from mine, transport to power plant, pull empty coal hoppers and replace with full hoppers. Endless cycle. Plus 2 other industry spots. A layout for 3 x 4 feet in N representing a farming town. This layout could hold THRE trains at once- a passenger train that stops in the town, a through freight, and a local switcher. One double-ended siding is scenicked to resemble a passing siding disappearing under an overpass on one side of the layout, and part of a yard on the other. This is a 2x3 foot N scale layout I have actually built- a Navy blimp base for switching only- but a roundy-round loop. Allows continuous running, BUT also allows access to various spur locations, and making runarounds by going all the way around the loop. One spur is the interchange access onto the base from a trunkline railroad. Other three spurs are a Naval Stores warehouse, a helium car unloading spot, a fuel dump for aviation gasoline and diesel, an end-unloading ramp and an open area for unloading flatcars and gons.
Welcome to Trainboard, Brasko. Have you been following the NS steam program? They have been running TVRM 630 and recently hosted Nickel Plate 765 on some routes.
Welcome aboard, Brasko! As I see you're already getting feedback in terms of possible designs, I'll merely wish you luck in finding an idea that catches your eye. And like anything else, the hardest part sometimes is just taking that first step and trusting that you won't trip...
I guess you may be right, perhaps I will become unsatisfied with HO scale, lovely details but just not much to do in such a small space...I want to be modeling Norfolk Southern's original Gray scheme in the 60's and apparently Atlas made a GP-38 with this scheme. I'm still in the research and planning phase, I don't want to just jump right in and waste money or do something that I will be unhappy with. But if I can find one of these Atlas GP38s I will buy it...trouble is finding one!
Your talking about the original Norfolk & Southern. The original Norfolk & Southern Railway ran from Norfolk, VA to Charlotte, NC with various branches (Aberdeen, Asheboro, Beaufort, Belhaven, Carthage, Columbia, Durham, Ellerbe, Fayetteville, Goldsboro (A&EC), Jackson Springs, Lee Creek, Oriental, Snow Hill (A&EC), Suffolk and Virginia Beach, VA). It was merged into the Southern Railway system on Jan. 1st, 1974. Gary
Thanks for the info (correction). I am reading up on the relations to the NS that we know of today, looks like i'll need Southern and Durham Southern information as well. Ill be modeling the Piedmont area of North Carolina in the 60s and 70s. I'm having fun just doing research, thank you for helping me get motivated!
