Hello Everyone. My name is David and I am new to the forum. I have just recently gotten back into modelrailroading and have decided to model the Norfolk Southern in N scale. I am looking for suggestions on the layout I have come up with. I have taken aspects from different layouts I've seen and incorporated them into this layout. This layout will be accessable from all sides as it will be on rollers. I have purchased benchwork from Mianne (4x8) and have it completely assembled. I am also using Kato unitrack as I have heard it is very reliable and easy to work with. I am using a Digitrax Zephyr xtra DCS51 to make my layout DCC and have the following locos on my roster: Atlas NS GP38-2 High Hood, Atlas NS GP38 High Hood, NS Atlas MP-15DC, Atlas NS SD-60, Kato NS SD-70M and Bachman NS Dash 8-40C. I will also have CSX running on the layout as well since CSX and NS both share alot of the same track here. For CSX, I will be running Kato (2) CSX SD-70MAC and Kato CSX SD-70ACe. This will be a non-prototypical modern layout, late 90s early 2000, and it is located around Raleigh, NC. I have decided on some of the industries but still need ideas from others as to what is interesting and fun to model. I like long rail scenes along country roads so I have decided to model this type of look along the back of the layout where the grain elevator and mill are located. The front of the layout will have a river going from the left side bottom up towards the backdrop. I'm looking at probably making this area a small country town located right outside of the city with alot of small businesses and houses and 3 or 4 industries. (Have not decided on which yet. Thinking maybe gas supplier, wood supplier.) The yard to the left of the layout will be an addition later on once the main portion of the layout is complete. Please let me know if you have any suggestions or comments. Thanks!!! David
On the track connecting the main section of layout to the yard, the track makes a right angle curve to bring its tangent parallel to the 6 foot side of the layout. The first turnout (track switch) of the yard ladder has its straight side leading into a long yard track and its curved side making a REVERSE CURVE to go into a yard ladder. T%Rhis introduces an S-curve situation, where a car goes one way, then the other with no transition. This can be avoided easily by replacing the right-hand switch there with a left hand switch and cutting it in to the curve the same number of degrees back as the curvature of the switch. Cars going into the first yard will enter by the curved side of the switch which is curving the same direction as the "corner curve." Cars going into the yard ladder will go directly from the corner curve in to a straight path across the yard ladder, with no reverse curve. This alinement also saves a tiny bit of space.
I would say Cary would be a good location, a town outside the city with alot of small businesses and Ready Creek Concrete. The CSX Aberdeen Sub and NS Raleigh District also join here (Fetner) where the mainlines switch sides by a double crossover. Garner is another good location to consider modeling except for the fact that CSX does not operate west Raleigh. Cargill has a plant in South Raleigh that is served almost everday. CSX's Aberdeen Subdivision hosts about 4 trains a day, Locals F741 (Raleigh-Hamlet) and F742 (Hamlet-Raleigh) and Amtrak Silver Star (91 and 92). The NS Raleigh District is busier with about 4 Mixed Freights a day (NS 349, 350, 351, 352), 6 Amtraks (73, 74, 75, 76, 79, 80) and 1 or 2 Coal or Grain Moves. If you need more info on the line I would be glad to help, I have railfanned the area my whole life. Also be sure to check out this track list http://www.blet375.com/H-Trk-Blank.pdf. Page 18 to 20.
I have a similar approach on the Grey and Grandure. Here is an idea of an alternative yard design: This is 2'x8'. You can add or omit as you see fit. The left most tracks were to be the interchange. I don't know if it will help but here is the development of the Grey and Grandure. Most of the initial focus is on the yard. The Grey and Grandure V - TrainBoard.com
Nice layout design David!:thumbs_up: Similar to Steve's yard design you might consider a couple of staging lanes. This will provide a place for your trains to come from and go to. Jerry
Thanks for all the input so far guys. I really like the idea of the staging yard so I have added one the far left of the layout. I have included two seperate plans with different yard layouts. Let me know what you like about them and what you would change. Thanks again!!!
Ok so I decided to take a few pictures of the main part of the layout. I hope this gives you an idea of what I have so far. I'm missing a #6 right turnout on the spur to the right of the layout but plan on purchasing one soon.
Thanks! I will definately take you up on that. Thanks again for the link. This will definately come in handy.:tb-biggrin:
My thoughts: Note the change in how turnouts come off the curves. This makes for a smoother transition. Go for the largest radious curve you can get to the interchange lead. Keep in mind that backing into the yard will likely have an 80% ~ 90% success rate. It's the 10%~20% that you will need to take with a grain of salt. One way to reduce this would be to put an Atlas GP at the tail end of the train or let the yard hoss come out and drag the train in.
Steve's suggestions are very prudent. They eliminate the "S" curves, provide easements and extend the track length of the siding all at the same time.:thumbs_up::thumbs_up: You might consider swapping the yard and staging. Since you will have access to all sides of the layout it would be easier to switch the yard if it were closer to the edge of your bench work. The least accessible inside of your "L" can handle the staging without the need to modify the bench work. Staging can be semi-hidden by the scenery (hills and valleys) around the bridge. More ideas to ponder. Jerry
I'll say this, you have a pretty nice rollingstock collection already, and those look like some nice locos.
I don't really deserve much credit. The turnout aproache is from "Lynn H. Westcott" who used it in plan #10 in '101 Track Plans'. I have just applied it whenever possible. Changing the switchback to a crossing is something I picked up on trainboard. You may, (or may not), want to run a track between the innermost yard and interchange tracks. This would allow the moving of cars between the two without fouling the main. Not a biggie. Edit: This may not be viable. I tried to draw a line between the two and found myself "crinking" it. Overall - I really like what you are doing. Lots of running room Lots of switching Huge amount of room for scenery. The yard is the perfect size as you will be able to make up trains that are proportionately just the right size for the layout. Ya, I know, you can and likely will put together trains 3x that length now and then. Don't we all? Can you tell us more about the work bench? I think many folks could benefit from that. I sorta wish I had gone that rout.
John Armstrong also used this approach along with curved turnouts to better use available space and improve flow. I like how the passing siding provides a drill track for switching operations without fouling the main. Jerry
my thoughts I had a couple thoughts. They are represented here in paint-cad At the bottom I ran a track diagonally across the layout representing the neighboring CSX line with a crossing and a connection as pictured. It even has an industry to take care of in the lower left. I would push the bridge around the corner a bit and work in a lead for the switching in the town without having to foul the main line. I would bring the secondary bridge in a bit for a single crossing of whatever the bridges are crossing. Why build two bridges when one will do would be what most railroad bean counters say. On the back side I would bring the left side curve across the main(which continues off the layout to the yard) on a crossing and then swing it back in to join the main. I would put an old railbed continuing off the layout from this crossing. This would represent where two old competing lines crossed at one time and they were at some point merged together and the line going off the layout was declared superfluous and removed. I would add another spur or two as shown just because I like more switching opportunities. Just my two cents worth.
Ok, based on your suggestions, I have managed to make this work in XtrkCad. Kato unitrack is pretty tricky to mess with when it comes to special configurations but after a few hours of tinkering with it, I think I finally got it right. I'm really happy I finally got to make use of my 15 degree crossing but am sadened about the double crossover. :tb-sad:I'll probably use this on my yard somewhere. Let me know what you guys think.
I like Specter's ideas about the CSX line. From the photos you don't have room for it the way he suggests. Instead make the spur to the bottom right the interchange. Omit the interchange from the "L" and build a full compound ladder and engine facility. Um, in the photos there is no room for the "L". Did I miss something?
I really like his idea of the CSX line too. I will try and move things around to see if I can give it the same "swept" look across the bottom. I definately think it looks more appealing and interesting that way. I haven't started building the L section yet. I will incorporate this later once I get the main layout put together. Still waiting on funds to purchase the extra necessary material. Thanks again for the suggestions and input guys!!! Please keep them coming!!:thumbs_up:
While I agree that the sweeping CSX line would be visually impressive it would become difficult to use as an interchange. The switch back does not allow for more than a loco and maybe 2 cars. I'm not sure how to fix that. I look forward to your developments.
