Going to college and living in an apartment, there's not an abundance of space for trains, even N scale. BUT...I was messing around with some Tomix track, and realized one radius of track could run most 4-axle (and a few 6-axle) locomotives, and fit on the dresser in the apartment I'll be in for the next year plus. (I lived in one for a semester, moved back home for the summer, and am going back to the same complex in August.) So, half a hollow core door and some foam later, here's where we're at. The basic idea, one spur for an industry. It looks very small like this, but stick with me, it gets better! Here's where we're at now. The industry became a grain elevator, there's an abandoned siding, code line, and a road in the corner. There's a hillside to divide the scene, and I'm planning to have a bridge over a creek on the other side. A lot of work to do, but what I really should do is ballast the rest so I can get to more scenery (my favorite part.) It's also set up for DCC (because I'm too addicted to give it up!) Anyway, what do you folks think so far? My idea is an Appalachia-esque branch line, taking inspiration from the lines located around me (southeast Ohio area.) The name Lucy Creek Branch is a take on all the Hocking Valley branch line names, and named after my dog! Here's a closeup on the corner with the road.
Bravo! Bravo! Ingenuity to the max by building on top of a dresser draw since college dorm/apartments are usually on the small size. And to fit MRR along with your college studies is admirable. I'm sure it comes in handy to watch trains go round and round on those tough days!
I don't know if it 'helps', really! Why do homework, when I can watch a train go around, and switch an industry. It's a real productivity-killer, and I'm happy with it so far
WE all gotta start somewhere. Here is my first attempted n scale layout circa 2002 . A 32x80 inch HCD on our dresser in our bedroom.. And look at us now...
My first N scale layout, 1984, was a two by four foot plywood board that I set up to slide under the bed. It was a figure eight over and under with two sidings, one was for a coal mine and the other was a team track. I too like doing scenery the best of any type of layout work. Your layout looks good, looks like a lot of fun. Joe
You're off to a good start with your Micro Layout. I'm also an apartment dweller (but not a collage student) that only has room for a 24" x 80' Hollow Core Door layout. A good friend of mine's only model railroad space was a small walk in closet, so the 18" x 36" Closet Branch of the Southern Pacific railroad was born. Here's a video he made of the layout. He has quite the sense of humor. you'll see this in the video Sometimes you have to get out of that arm chair and make due with the space you have available and it looks like you're off to a very good start
It's perfect. You can do some kit building, test equipment, bash, and just run a train as the urge strikes.
Great start. Have to make do with what we can fit in the space. Rember an article of an HO scale switching layout built on a board in a dorm room. Did not have room for a loop. Have fun with your layout, that is what the hobby is all about.
Love it. I also got started in college, although that was a long time ago. You've gotten a lot further than I did so give yourself a pat on the back and don't stop after college like I did for 45+ years . Keep posting updates, Sumner
I designed a tiny 'dressertop' portable N layout back in 1975 to fit an 18x36 dresser I was taking to my college apartment. I equipped it with a rather nondescript plywood cover and carrying box to keep dust off and to reduce the number of questions I'd get. It turned out to be both practical and durable, and is still running today. The design was basically a stacked 'loop to loop' with 8" radius curves a a 4.5% grade between loops. It's been pretty well publicized; made it to Model Railroader as a feature article and I've now had it down to the N Scale Weekend show in Altoona for about six years straight. This will be the first year it hasn't been there simply because I have so many T-trak modules now there's no room left in my truck. It's partner, the 21x42 Beaver Creek module, will be there; that's a point-to-loop with a 4% switchback showcasing the Atlas Shay. There were a lot of college friends I had that never knew what was in that box. It's very much old-school with pushbuttons and DPDT reversing switches and DC, but it runs very reliably and has proven to be an excellent portable layout ambassador for N scale. At the time, I was about the only person out there even trying to do eastern prototype logging in N scale, everything had to be adapted. Much, much easier now. Prime power was, and still is, a heavily rebuilt Rapido 0-6-0 to a 2-6-0, and this layout also spawned my N Heisler.
I've seen Randy's layout above in person at Altoona last year and it is GORGEOUS!!!!! And it operates flawlessly...in slow speeds!
I second Mike's vote for Randy's gorgeous layout. I too saw this layout in person at Altoona last year and give it two thumbs up. Randy, are you bringing this layout back to Altoona this year along with your other Micro Layout you had displayed last year?