Greetngs all Well this week was interesting as my Boss is now suggesting hes going to move the company to a new location, soooo JUST as I was about to assemble benchwork for my new layout here in Canada, plans change, but it could be a while.. So, I need something to run trains on, and I started looking at the Woodland Scenics Scenic Ridge layout, with a view to getting something running, and then possibly building it into the final layout at somepoint... sooo inevitably questions arrise... Has anyone built one of these and been pleased, happy, unhappy with the result? I know there is an Atlas track pack to go with this, but am planning on using Peco code 55 track.. since I have loads of it.. does anyone know if the Atlas and Peco turnouts match in radii etc, or will I have to mod the trackplan slightly? (I may mod the trackplan slightly anyway) It seems to me from reading the blurb, that the tunnels are completely enclosed with no access. This seems like an invite to disaster to me, and am planning to provide access.. Has anyone who has built one of these lost any stock in there permanently? Does anyone else think I should wait another 3 - 6 months before starting my empire, or does getting something running now sound like a plan to anyone else? Regards
Graham - I have been working on the Woodland Scenics layout (N Scale) for awhile now...and have modified the basic plan to incorporate modeling ideas I have seen and for the experience. I have also moved it a few times with ease. It will also be just one huge module that I can eventually incorporate into a larger layout when I get the room. Check out my website for the BearCat RR. Use this link BearCat RR
I built a Scenic Ridge a few years ago. It's a great layout to learn on and its nice to run on until you can build something better/bigger. The PROs of it are: Kit includes just about everything except hot foam cutter, track and things like that. It includes all the scenery and basic stuff you would want. The Cons are: The track plan. Its a bit tight with some 9 3/4" curves. I would modify it a bit so your curves are bit wider. The plan does have access to the tunnels from the back. You are instructed to cut holes in the back so you can reach in to clean up any derailments.
True about the tight radius. I have been only running 4-axle (GP 35-40s and GP9s) and big steam definitely does not work (GS4 for example) but the new IM SD40-T2 runs just fine on this layout.
Thanks for the replys Good to know people are happy with it. Yes I will ease the curves where at all possible.. Nice modifications on the Bear Cat RR... quick question.. is that still the full width of the layout with all your mods at the front or have you added a few inches to the width?? Regards
The Scenic Ridge is a great kit! You learn just about everything you need to know in regards to basic scenery. I used flex track instead of the Atlas track pack and was able to broaden the curves a bit. My six axle diesels run fine. I have some pics of the layout in my RailImages album: www.railimages.com/gallery/petebresciani
Graham - no, same original profile, nothing added to size. Here is the track plan. http://www.railimages.com/gallery/michaelchristy/aaf
Greetings Thanks very much for the info. OK, looks like this will happen then. I have spent most of the weekend looking at a couple of simple changes to just break away from the standard mode as delivered, and will use the whole thing as a trial of methods for the main layout, which hopefully this section will get built into when I eventually get to that stage. It will be wonderful, however, to just get something done that can run trains again.. its been over a year now with my move that I haven't been able to really play trains, and its getting a bit much I guess I should do the decent thing and slowly but surely add photos to my album as and when I get started. Thanks all again.. Regards
Your layout looks great Satokuma! Graham, after building the Scenic Ridge, I wished I had added some more industries to offer more operational interest. Even a couple more would've been be better. It was a blast building it, and looks great not being a spaghetti bowl of track, but operationally it holds no interest, and I rarely operate it. It did make me realize I like HO better, probably because I grew up with HO, and that scale makes me remember my youth!
Hi all, no I did not fall off the face of the earth, work has been busy. Ghram, I got the Scinic Ridge about 4 years ago and found it really complete. I was in an apartment at the time so a big layout was out of the question. I did not care for the track plan so I borrowed an old John Armstrong plan from the Atlas book 9 N scale layouts. The twice around with sidings and spurs look really good. I used Atlas flex track and turn outs. all the curves can handel my SD's but I model Main Central in the pre Guilford era, so I run mainly GP38's and 9's. Give it a go! Running trains is far more fun than looking at them in the jewel cases
Hi Pete Thanks for that, and the photos of yours look great. I had already decided to add a few bits for operational interest.. basically, I have been building some building kits for the main layout, and these are now allocated to the Scenic Ridge layout. I will add some "stuff" at the front in the spare space as shown by the BearCat Track plans by Satokuma which is an inspiration. I should wind up with a grain elevator and an engine facility at least in there, hopefully one more industry as well. I am also adding a reversing loop into the plan as hopefully, this will wind up as one end of the full layout when done. It will also give me a chance to play with all the DCC aspects and set this up with full signalling etc. Maybe living in an apartment is a good plan for now as it forces a lot of decisions. Thanks again all. Regards [ 03. February 2004, 01:10: Message edited by: Graham Evans ]
all i have to say is the woodland senics is a great kit. i am having loads of fun building it. i did make changes in the track plan. i used 2 switches and i made a passanger station and a frait station "still working on both"
This is such a great board. Everytime I have a question, I can usually find someone with the exact same one who'se already posted! I thought I'd ad my question here, since it also involves the Woodland Scenic products for N scale. If I'm wanting to run a parallel track around my layout, would it be too risky to lay both tracks down on the same foam inclines? It appears that with 1.5" center spacing, my cork will be at the sides of the spacers, etc. The overly protective part of me thinks I'll be asking for troubles if something tips off the risers! Should I be extra safe and double the risers so nothing will fall off? Thanks! Joe
Joe, I added a strip of balsa on top of the riser to extend my workable surface. I'll see if I can dig up a pic...
Ok, I highlighted the area (in red) where I used the balsa planks... where I had planned double trackage you can see them a bit better in the following pics: and worked well I might add!
