I posted an earlier version of this in the N Scale forum and got some good feedback, but realized that it should have gone here instead. I've got room for an 18"x60" shelf layout, and am in the Imagineering phase of the design. I've tweaked the original nine (!) versions, including flipping it mirror-imaged end for end to take advantage of the number of turnouts already on hand. It's all Atlas #6 customline switches and flex track, so there's some wriggle room available. I like the idea that there's plenty of room for scenery too. I'm open to suggestions and recommendations. There's no extra room on the ends for staging, so the interchange is going to have to fill that function. Thanks for looking.
I like the idea of leaving some open space. Or at least not filling every square inch with tracks. You could simulate a small portion of a town in the front area. A store, filling station and a couple of houses with a street ("T"?) and some vegetation.
Open space - Yes, I agree that the open space is a good. Crossing - I am concerned with the crossing near the top center. It does not appear to fit properly. Dry Gully - I could see one starting between the scrap yard and team track passing to the right of the cement plant and going off the table in front of the Food Proc. This would give you a chance to have a few light bridges and such. Town in Front - Is a great idea especially if a road could cross at street level or a highway on bridges from bottom right to left of the Golden Flames Fuel.
Overall a nice looking plan. I would say that although the town in front is visually appealing, you may find yourself cursing it when operating the layout. Awkward reaches to uncouple cars along with possibly snagging a shirt cuff on a finely detailed structure, makes this something worth thinking about.
When I suggested representing a town in front, note that it was a bare number (three or four) of small buildings. Not a metropolis.
Being only 18 inches deep at maximum, reach over low N scale sized buildings is likely not a concern. My idea is that is would add a feeling of both depth and size to the layout.
If you wanted separate Arrival and Departure tracks and didn't care about a town then you could: Move the interchange to the forward right location. or Swap the interchange and scrap / team spur usage and add a 2nd track. The 2nd track would facilitate GHA, (Giant Hand Action), movements.
Overall like you plan but if you've taken a good look at plat maps especially around RRs you'd see the building lots are usually rectangular & parallel to the RR mainline. Same goes w/ the spurs & sidings being parallel to the main. It may be esthetically pleasing but it's not usually found on the real RRs. Tried to achieve that but couldn't do it to your whole plan using Picasa as it's too difficult. So recommend you do it in your Cad program. Did make your mainline straight as most are so thru towns. The town can stay where suggested, just operate the layout from industry side. Just try to keep any operating side buildings easy to reach over.
'...usually...' is the key word here. I personally feel visual priorities should be greater than prototype accuracy.
To each his own. Guess it depends on how prototypical you wan or don't want your MR to be. And it's your MR so do what you want.
Grey One - the crossing doesn't fit perfectly in the software, but because I'm using flex track throughout, I'll be able to line things up correctly once I have the physical pieces in front of me. Good catch. As for A/D tracks, that's something that might get added if I get the chance to expand or extend to another module. Manitoba - good idea about the extra industrial buildings in front. Might add a small truck terminal or transfer shed across an open space from the team dock. Cajon - the original plan was very parallel and straight, and this version is definitely skewed for visual interest and to make it look less like a 'postcard' snapshot. I also did modify the interchange/main to be almost straight, and decided that I could live with the one bend in the route as it stands. Thanks for the feedback everyone! You've given me things to think about, and I'd love to hear more ideas.
Postcard shot or not, to me it's more important to model reality, not just what's visually appealing. That's more like fantasy modeling & not even freelance modeling. But again it's your MR so do whatever you want. Even though I've been an HO modeler since 1957, liking the looks of On30 rolling stock so may have a few industry spots where On30 can operate just for the halibut. LOL
This is my first post in a very log time due to being forlorn over having to move and thus tearing my HO layout down. But I happened on to this thread. And being new dwelling will be way smaller than present, I too will have to settle for a small switching layout. My input on this one is : Perhaps cut an arc in the front edge of ply beginning at below 'team track' curving up toward and following trackage (but not close), and curving down to RH front corner. Then, either remove this for easier access, OR, lower it in place using modified bench work and turn it into the bottom of a water scene; lake, river, bay. Then, much less fear of snagging anything and will look, well, .....cool ! Embed small boats, rocks along embankment, bait and tackle shop, car ferry slip (needing new track).. lumber mill with floating logs....Mark
I like seaside scenes, so this certainly sounds good to me. I'd say well worth serious consideration.
That's a great idea. I haven't gotten beyond a few preliminary ideas about scenery yet, so this definitely is in the mix. I believe that earlier someone mentioned a stream running through the industrial area which would require small bridges. That would fit right in.
I think a water front would be great! If you go this rout you may want to put a car ferry in someplace, possibly off the lead to the team track.
I like it a lot. I think the only I would do if it was my layout, is turn it around so the town space was at the back of the layout.
I printed the plan out full size (easy to do when it's 18"x60") and I've modified the layout slightly. The main difference is the track parallel to the interchange on the left. Originally I wanted to put a small scratchbuilt cement plant there, but there just wasn't room. For now, I'm thinking that may become a RIP track with diesel servicing facilities. Does that make sense at an interchange point? I think so. Otherwise, I've extended the runaround lead on the left and have a much better idea of what will fit where, and what size my scratchbuilts will need to be. The team track was moved to the back right corner. For now, I'm going to skip the car float and waterfront ideas. I have in mind how to incorporate them into an extension, should the planning department grant future expansion rights. Construction starts July 1st. I'll probably start a thread on the N scale forum for progress updates. Thanks for the advice. I'm learning a lot.
