Hi guys, Well, I recently got to redo my room, which gave me space for a layout suspending from the ceiling. I only have about 2x7' (the last two feet of the left can be extended by a foot if needed) of room for a layout. The only view points are in front and one side. I've decided to do either mining, logging, or both! I just can't spark my mind for a layout idea! I know I want one 'town' area, and either a mine area or a logging area. Both would be great. I was hoping to go for continuous running, but with some point-to-point and switching abilities too. My biggest want was using the space completely. I don't want just one line and then a two foot square area on each side used. I kind of want to do a layout where the trackage travels up the side of a 'mountain'. That way the track is always clearly visable from the view point in the front (only the front and one side is where you can see the layout.) I wanted to really use tunnels and bridges to not only maximize trackage, but it will also allow me to hide things, and definately work on scenery. I like scenery a lot, so I wanted to make this a really pretty layout. I am also going to be using probably only 1-2 engines. I was going to use 0-2-0's and small trains. This will let me use the scenery more effectively to make it appear to be a larger space in which it's traveling. Does anyone have any ideas, or know of a layout similar. I've looked through dozens of books, but my brain just seems to not want to work! Thanks, Alex
Congrats on finding / making the space! (There's always room somewhere!) You should really check out Jean-Louis Simonet's Possum Valley layout. Sounds like it has everything you need. Are you going to have access to the back? Hole in the bottom? Otherwise, having the slope & the continuous running in 2x7 might be a trick. I have a couple of 2x6 layout designs in my gallery you're free to check out & adapt. Most likely, you'll be using curved turnouts to maximize space: if you're not into handlaying, then Peco has the "tightest" curved turnouts (Atlas are much longer / wider). You have a track preference? If you can give up the continuous running, then check out the Snowshoe & Gumstump page on Carl Arendt's site. Side note: 0-2-0s? Good luck & have fun!
I can't edit my post???? Seems like my dyslexia struck again (only happens once in a while, thank dog), and need to change it to "Gum Stump & Snowshoe RR". (Funny, at first I wrote the correction as "Gum Stump & Snoeshow RR". I'm such a norom.) Oh, I can edit this post, but not the previous??? Me confused.
Alex, Logging (and mining) modeling is a lot of fun. We've even got a TrainBoard group about logging that you can link here. I will send you an invitation as well. We'd be glad to have you. Logging and mining layouts are PERFECT for this sort of size. Logging prototypes, at least, often had/have track with steep grades and tight radiuses going through lots of scenery, and there are switching opportunities as well. N scale works out well for a 2' deep logging layout. If you're truly unsure what kind of plan you'd like probably the best thing to do is to find some images of other layouts or bits of plans that you do like and put them together into a single layout design thread and we can help you get things sorted out. Adam
MC, you are only allowed to edit your post for about 40 minutes or so. I'm not sure what the exact time is, but since the change over we can't go back after a short time to edit. Best to proof read before you hit the Post Quick Reply button. Jim
There is a one-hour on editing posts. After that you can contact a staff member if there is a change you want to make.
So much for Hemingway's "Write Drunk, Edit Sober" method. (or, just sober up in less than an hour ) Didn't realize there was a new editing time limit policy. Got it. For the OP, check out Nscaler44's albums for a bunch of fab logging scenes & ideas. They rock! (or log!)
FWIW, there may not have exactly been a "Gum Stump & Snowshoe" but the real "Bellefonte & Snowshow" that became PRR was probably the most legendary and absurd series of switchbacks in the east. Here's a 1909 topo of the route showing (upper RH corner) no fewer than FIVE switchbacks to gain about 600' of elevation to get from Bellefonte up to Snowshoe. http://historical.mytopo.com/getImage.asp?fname=blft09nw.jpg&state=PA "Gum Stump" was a station on the real railroad: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellefonte_and_Snowshoe_Railroad So if you want to climb up the wall on your 2x6, here's the prototype to do it..... Just think, that's 3 3/4 VERTICAL FEET in N scale, 'straight up'. That was a legendary switchback series on the PRR, and one of the reasons that PRR and NYC made peace in the Clearfield Coal district, so that PRR could use the NYC line instead of the monster they built.
Oh, if you decide to do some mining, check out randgust's (link in above post) kits, specifically, the 7-ton ore cars. That's a fun kit to build. I got two sets and put them together. Also, check out the Class A Climax kits and the rolling stock and structures offerings of RSLaserKits. This photo shows a randgust kit 18-tonner pulling a short consist of a flatcar from one of RSLaser's kits and a saw-filer's shack also from one of his kits:
SteamDonkey, Thanks for the replies and the invitation! So I finally sat down and really wracked my brain. I ended up sketching a little logging layout with a lot of what I'm looking for. I kept the ability for continuous running by hiding a tunnel just after coming out of a loop. It's hidden behind a small bridge that a switchback uses to get over the line below. After going through a loop (A small mine is placed conveniently in the middle ) It goes through a series of 2 switchbacks to get to the logging camp. I'm not sure how it looks though, so I want some second opinion on it. I think I've attached it below...
You have two tracks that say "to staging": one at 0" and the other at (at least) 1.5". Are they going to connect? & how about a quarry or even track construction instead of a mine. (those cars can be connected to the camp & the base town, whereas the coal cars will just make a quick exit) Or it could just be a nice big mountain that she'd comin' around I'd sketch it up on a program, or layout the tracks in the space, as I think you're turnouts are a little "optimistic" Your grades come out to about 4.5% (on the curve), so just make sure your locos can haul what cars you want up & down. Food for thought.
Oh, I'm sure some of the turnouts are. haha! I think the two turnouts just after the loop could be cleaned up a little to be a little more reasonable. As for your question about the staging tunnels, yes, they do both connect. This will allow the option to leave it continously running. However, access to staging will only be at the bottom (a seperate switch just inside the tunnel), which means the upper tunnel to staging... well, really can't be used for staging. When running point-to-point like intended, the rear tunnel simulates "the rest of the world" and the upper, well, pretends it doesn't exist. You are very right about the mine. I was just trying to figure out how to use that space. A mountain just isn't really my style, although a nice waterfall or pond could really make that space. A quarry would be a very nice touch, but I'm just not sure where I could fit the room for somewhere below for it to go. The track layout at hte bottom of the run was really bothering me. Do you have any ideas to fix it?
I have a 30" by 10" space. I need a small logging or mining layout. I was thinking HOn2.5. I have no idea what to use as a plan. I am a high school student with a limited budget. I was thinking of a modified GS&S, with a mine and a tip, plus a runaround. Minitrains 0-4-0 and some V-skips would be the rolling stock. I can only afford one loco, and about 6 cars. any ideas? (I am taking woodshop, so I could build the layout benchwork as a project. Cookie-cutter style. the probelm is, I only have experience with the Plywood Pacific.)
Make the space 1 by 3 feet. I got permission from the roadmaster (read "mom") to widen it by 2" and lengthen it by 6". I am not that interested in point to point right now. I have done enough of those.
Just so you get an idea of how small a curve you want, this is a photo of a 40' boxcar on 140mm (5.5") radius Tomix Fine Track from Japan. I don't know if the HOn30 Minitrains 0-4-0 will make that curve. A B-mann GE 44 Tonner and I believe a Kato NW2 will make the curve but not willingly. Japanese modelers use these curves for trams and street running.
I meant that I'm not interested in continuous running. I used to have a 6' by 8' HO layout with continuous running. (It is now a staging yard for my dad's layout.) I want a point-to-point. (Any idea how the link got into my post? I didn't put it there!)
