I am designing and building my first N scale layout. I am gonna use Atlas code 55 track. It will be on a 3x5 foot peice of plywood with foam board over it. I plan on modeling the 1950's, as I would like to run steam and diesel locomotives. The biggest steam loco I will run is probally a 4-8-4. I got a basic plan using RTS, Im using 11.25 radi on the outside track, and 10 radi on the inside track. All turnouts are #5. Here is a pic of the plan so far, it is subject to change though. So take a look and tell me what you think. There are a few thinks my layout must include. And I am trying to design around these. 1. continous running. 2. some switching, preferably 1-2 small industries and a small yard. 3. a town somewhere in the layout. 4. must still have room for scenery.
Welcome to TrainBoard! What is your plan for the switchback siding? You won't be able to do much with that, as you will barely be able to get one car and a small loco in there. If you want some industries, you may want to create a set of branches there, possibly with some space between them, to separate the buildings. Consider a scenic break diagonally across the layout, so that you can have different scenes. Will add variety. Good luck!
Alrighty, here is a slightly revised plan. Took out the switch back and made 2 spurs(I think thats what there called), and I also re-did the yard and the other spur.
If you're looking to run a 4-8-4, you're looking at potentially a world of trouble on 11 & 10 inch curves. I would recommend bumping your minimum radius up to 13.5 inches and your outside track to 15 inches.
I will second Mark's motion. I did the same thing with a similar layout plan but in HO, along time ago. Room restrictions and space restraints can work against you. If this is it. Then go have some fun. This will be a good teaching layout. You will learn a lot from it.
Alrighty, made some more adjustment to the plan. I changed the radius to outside is 15 in and the inside is 13.75 in. I also changed all the turnouts to #7. Figured that might help too.
I like the layout. I also like the the double track main. In a 3 x 5 you get to either run two trains, OR for operations you can segregate sections as passing tracks. I read about that strategy years ago. I can't recall if it was Lyn Wescott, John Allen, John Armstrong. Anyway. I think you have a good plan. My only suggestion is to consider "bisecting" the center with a scenery block to make the 3 x 5 look even larger.
The light blue line on my layout plan below is a center backdrop, bisecting the two halves of the layout and effectively doubling the appearance of the space by creating two distinct scenes. In addition, this also breaks the circular appearance to the onlooker creating a more realistic railroad. Instead of seeing trains run in circles, they enter from one side and exit the other. Too often I see layouts like this where the main focus is put in the center, leaving the edges of the layout purely as a border. The result is a single scene being circled by trains. With the backdrop, the scene is extended to the edges of the layout, and instead of being circled by trains, the trains travel through the scene.
Ive never seen a divider like that, or a divider period. But I kinda like the idea. Im still playing witht the track plan for right now, trying to figure out exactly how big I can make the track plan. The way I got my room laid out right now, 2x4ft is all I can build. But if I move stuff around a little, I can probally build a door layout(dont know the exact size), so Im still toying with it.
The divider idea is a very good one. It gives a greater feeling of size and distance to a layout. Door layouts are a very popular theme. Portable, good for living areas with minimal spare space. Excellent for a start. We also have a TrainBoard Group "HCD Layout Society" here you could check out. Boxcab E50
Overall I like it. Just my opinion but I feel a 4-8-4 would be disproportionally large on a layout that size. I'd suggest something no bigger than a 4-6-2 Pacific and there are a couple of 2-6-0s on the market that might be best. An early GP would not be bad either.
The difference between Code 55 & Code 80 is the height of the rail, Code 80 being taller...............I'm not sure, so others may have to correct me, but I believe it is measured in .001's of an inch, thus .055 & .080. I am a big proponent of "Unitrack", have you given any thought to using that?? Very high quality, and Very "user friendly", especially for those just starting out. ( "Unitrack" is Code 80, and reported to be more friendly to steamers than C55, although I can't speak to that, as I don't run any steam ).
Ive built HO layouts before, so I am use to laying roadbed, track, and ballast. Im just a begineer when it comes to N scale. Thats why I want to use either code 55 or code 80, I like laying my own roadbed and ballast.But I do apprciate the idea. And on the 4-8-4, I know it will be to large to technically look right on my layout. But I just want one to play around with everynow and then. My main plan is maybe a GP38 and a road switcher, and like you mentioned a nice 4-6-2.
