got a wild hare...N Scale 2x4 Tunnel Motor Haven

bremner Jan 1, 2023

  1. bremner

    bremner Staff Member

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    OK, I am not abandoning Playa Desnuda, but I do want a small roundy round for my 1980's era equipment, especially my pair or Intermountain SD40-T2's, and I am thinking either Tehatchapi or Sierra Nevada style scenery, with the longest mainline run possible to hide the fact that it is a small loop. I have a 2x4 sheet of plywood doing nothing, plenty of Atlas Code 80 Flex...and a desire to build mountains and maybe a station...anyone have any ideas for a track plan that could work?
     
  2. in2tech

    in2tech TrainBoard Member

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    Some ideas. This site had been around forever :) Even if you don't use one, might get some ideas and modify one?

    Also, mine is 2' x 4' , actually two to form an L if I choose, so I am really looking forward to what you do?

    http://www.cke1st.com/m_train2.htm
     
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  3. bremner

    bremner Staff Member

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    never really liked his plans...
     
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  4. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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  5. bremner

    bremner Staff Member

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    IF I add a 2 foot square to the 2x4 and go with 11" radius curves....

    tunnel motor haven.jpg
     
  6. WolfWorks

    WolfWorks TrainBoard Member

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    Could always go with Mike Danneman's Grande plan, if you have 5x7'
    [​IMG] [​IMG]
    I have always liked this simple layout
     
  7. SLSF Freak

    SLSF Freak Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Can't believe I've never seen that angle of the layout - I would have remembered as that has awesome visuals (esp the snow side) packed in such a small footprint. I'm making an assumption, but did that make it safely home from APO NY? :sneaky:

    @bremner - I like your plan and the first thing I thought of was Mike Dannemans layout, too. I saw it way back in the late 90s when it was set up at the local n scale shop in the Denver area. I had never seen such a high quality, small layout before. Always thought it would be neat to build my own for a corner in my small office space. Either of those would look great hosting some tunnel motors.
     
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  8. bremner

    bremner Staff Member

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    yeah, if I didn't have kids still living with me, I would be looking at building something bigger in one of their bedrooms....
     
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  9. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    That is the layout as it currently sits in my train room--I crated it in 7/16" OSB on all 6 sides from Montana to Germany and back to ND, and it survived with only a tiny bit of damage to my snowy trees. One of these days I need to finish the fascia over the removable tunnel side seen there in pink and blue...
     
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  10. Mudkip Orange

    Mudkip Orange TrainBoard Member

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    How about this for a 4x4? Fits into a corner.

    [​IMG]
     
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  11. bremner

    bremner Staff Member

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    too much city and the tracks are too close for what I was thinking....but not a bad idea
     
  12. Mudkip Orange

    Mudkip Orange TrainBoard Member

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    Yeah, I drew this for JNS 10+ years ago so it’s set up like a little Japanese fishing village. But the twice-around gets you more runtime than an equivalently sized figure 8.
     
  13. Shortround

    Shortround TrainBoard Member

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    But, how do you get out?
     
  14. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

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    That's a very long reach to the rear tracks in the corner.

    What is the max grade for this plan? The two bridges & tunnel at upper left will make it hard to achieve necessary vertical clearances without some pretty steep grades.

    Personally I prefer a Figure 8 or a Folded Dogbone, since they give you the appearance of running in different directions, rather than orbiting in one direction. And a reverse loop is usually fairly easy to work into them. But your twice-around fits your available space better.
     
  15. bremner

    bremner Staff Member

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    agreed
     
  16. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    That it is. Unless it could be easily rolled out for access, then quickly rolled back again. Otherwise, I like the plan. Very nice.
     
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