I've recently acquired a larger place and have a spare 8x10 room. I've been spending the last while organizing my garage and recently been making plans to turn the spare room into my train/computer room. Scale is N, Minimum radius is 12.5, grades are 2% and less (might be too small to read on the pic). My idea was to have a somewhat longish mainline run, a small intermodal yard (center bottom), few industries (lumber yard, left side and possibly team track above the street, near the trees) and a yard with car/locomotive repair shop (right side). Please let me know what you guys think. Any input is appreciated!
I like it a lot. Suggest an interchange track possibly upper right, upper left or lower left. Will add to operating interest. Good start! Carl
Yea I think I will add an interchange/off layout staging track. I've also removed the crossover in the top passing siding, and shortened it to about 3/4 the length.
I also agree with the interchange as it ads to possible future expansion or even having different railroads running on your layout if you like more then one railroad.
Recommend the spurs on the left side be put on the siding in case there needs to be run arounds moves to switch them. Also would only have one bridge across the river as they are VERY expensive. Maybe not to modelers but real RRs avoid them like the plague. Back in '70s was working w/ some Santa Fe civil engineers. The junior engineers came up w/ a plan to cross 3 washes. The chief engineer had a cow because each would cost over a million a pop even back then! Besides the RRs would just move the river out of the way. LOL Since your layout is going to be in a room is there any reason it can't be around the wall. Maybe have two loops stacked so your trains could go point to point. If you don't want to 0-5-0 your rolling stock all the time think about using a spur for a a staging tray. that the cars are moved on/of the tray by your locos. But then maybe N scale stuff isn't as fragile as larger scales.
Looks good. Agree with an interchange track. Also, your large concrete lot that will be your intermodal ramp can also double as a bulk loading facility. That is what I have done on my layout. Depends on what I want running during the session. JMS
Alrighty, here's the original plan with some minor changes. I also added a spot for a turnout leading off the layout in the left corner. And here is another plan I was drawing up today. It is based on the Salt Lake Route from MR magazine. I made some changes to fit it on a 32x80" door, added another turnout leading off the layout, moved some industries around and kept it single track main. I am tossed up between these two plans right now. I think the door layout would get me up and running sooner. I know they are almost two completely different styles, but that's partly why I'm tossed up as well. The door is easy to fit large radius curves, but a shorter mainline run. I do like the thought of a divider with two completely different scenes as well. Cajon, the original plan can only go about 1/3 around the room, the back wall, and part way along each side wall. This room is gonna double as a computer room/guest room. Also I like the thought of having all or most of my rolling stock on the layout at all times. I dislike constantly putting them away in cases every time I wanna change something up with my old layout. And yes N scale stuff is just as fragile, if not more haha. John Smith, I like that idea, I actually added a team track on my "Fraser Pacific Route" door plan so I can make use of more rolling stock. Thanks for all the input so far! I am taking it all into consideration, even if I don't directly reply to you all.
Like bottom plan better but would put interchange track off yard to the left. Also add another siding or two in back for staging trains (not just for passing trains).
The 0-5-0 switcher is a humorous reference to picking up cars or engines, and moving them using the five fingers of your hand.
Well I ended up scoring a free door today! So my bench work is now already started, trying to come up with a good height to work with. I was thinking of making the base of the layout 52-54", and was planning on using WS 4" risers to give me some room to make scenery. Is this a good height for a door style layout? The bench work will also be on wheels to move around the room. Cajon do you mean the spur in the top left? I was planning on having a 6" shelf/cassette attach onto that end for staging. Would you move it somewhere else? The reason I moved it there because I was originally going to put that end against the wall. I am open to suggestions though. It's easier to move things now in the planning stage! I also did some slight modifications to the plan today as well. Removed one of the intermodal tracks to give me more room for containers and equipment, added an overpass for the highway and played with some scenery.
If you have the interchange track in front it could be longer & maybe it could a place for a staging tray so you're not always handling the cars so much. If it were 2' - 3' long you cold get 8-12 40' N scale cars on a tray. Looks like there's room for four yard tracks & they could be longer w/ the right switch arrangement. You could use the front yard track for a staging tray.
It looks good except I think you said room was 8x10. Why not then make a shelf layout around the perimeter up at chest or shoulder level (trains look great across from instead of from above) and situate computers under it. Areas where main is out in the land can be 10" in HO. So N may be cool at as little as 5-6". Shelf then widens where yards, spurs, town exist. Then back to narrow. What about using all that length to begin a 2% climb and rise up to a higher level and/ or a full blown double decker layout ? Does it have to be contained on the door ? Well, anyway, I think you can eliminate the rear (in green area) passing siding. The one yard is enough for this size pike and will also make more a single track RR. Or keep say the left rear switch but curve track left and go across the river to represent RR's connection to the outer world. Track can dead end into rear scenery or turn right and go to right side of layout on a grade over right rear main curve. staging could be done here, too.
Mark; I had originally drawn up a shelf style layout. I can't go around the room as it needs to be a multipurpose room for guests and stuff. Which means no ducking under track or things to bump when walking in the dark. I was just having a difficult time designing a decent shelf layout in the size available, and the turn around loops eat up a lot of space too. Resources, both money and time, are the second reason I'm going with a door style layout. I scored a free door, benchwork is simple, I'm more likely to complete a simpler project like this at home when it's not so intimidating. Not to say I can't afford or lack the skill to build a large layout but I have other hobbies and a full time job (sometimes more) that I need to balance. For now I just wanna get started on something finally. Been planning a new layout since last year and now I have the space to do it!
Doors are great! I have two doors that are the main shelves for my staging yard area. Light weight, and super straight! JMS
