Hi Guys, Though I've modelled for a number of years, besides an N-trak Prairie themed double module build I've never built or had my own layout. I started off in HO and was scratch building structures then started painting and detailing locomotives. One of the local hobby shops at that time time, Pacific Scale Rail in Vancouver BC, though all scales, was owned and staffed by N Scale modelers and when I saw the improvements in the locomotives and rolling stock back in the 90's, I traded in and sold my HO gear for N scale. I painted and detailed in all scales for a few years and turned a lot of that income into N scale locomotives, rolling stock, structures and track but never got my s*&t together to start a layout. I drifted off into Hotwheels Redline restorations for a few years, recently selling some off for a good profit, found all my stored N scale gear and decided what I should really do is finally get a layout started. Then I planned and changed and planned and changed when my brother Dale an HO scaler all his life just told me to get off my A$$ and just build something, anything! So here we are today, about a year later, with a 3 x 6' open grid frame with cookie cutter plywood roadbed, a folded loop with a train length passing siding, two sidings and a soon to be 3 or 4 track stub end yard. The mainline is code 70 Shinohara flex, Peco insulfrog turnouts and Peco code 55 sidings. Hot wheels money got me a Great Northern BLI Mikado and NW2 and Santa left me with a Digitrax Zephyr for control. The immediate objective was to get to the running stage which is where I'm at now, with the exception of the yard.. I need to get my wiring in order, right now I'm using the Peco turnouts to route power, need to cut some gaps and wire for blocks and a programming track. There's always weathering, structure building and locomotive detailing to fill in when I have short blocks of time available. For now I'm happy to be running trains and showing off the sound system to anyone who seems even remotely interested... Even with sound it's gotten a little boring going round and round so I'm getting together the materials to add a hinged 36" staging yard addition. I still want this movable as I built it on casters to roll over top of and hide my messy work bench. The hinged yard allow will allow it to stored in about the same 3 x 6' area but extend it to 3 x 9" when in use so I can run it point to point... Here's a modified trackplan, it was quicker for me to draw it free hand than create it in a software program I don't even have... If you're at all familiar with the Great Northern the town names would identify this as a part of the Spokane subdivision that crosses the International border from above Northport Washington into British Columbia and connects the GN with the Canadian Pacific Railway in Nelson BC.. I've omitted a lot of the towns and sidings but am hoping that this gives me the opportunity to run this loop like a point to point... Here's a route map of the prototype from a great book I had on the shelf - Railways of the West Kootenay by Gerry & Corwin Doekson. It's basically a single track, low speed mainline with few trains but enough industries and interchange with the CPR to keep me and hopefully another operator busy for a few hours. The book also contains a 1950 Timetable that gives me a lot of information ... Here's a photo I found online from the early 70's when the line was running under BN Control, And a print of this photo became the backdrop trees for this photo I Posted earlier... Thanks for reading through and stay tuned for more, sooner rather than later I hope... Brent
Nice layout and expansion plan! You might consider a crossover in at least Waneta, to allow turning a train on that end. Right now, the only runaround is at Salmo, which is a long way from Waneta and Quirk. I use a free layout design app called XTrackCad, that I like really well. As with a lot of things, there is a learning curve, but not a bad one. It handles everything from hand-laid rails to flex to sectional track, and can also simulate running trains, throwing switches, etc., with a library of railcars and locomotives.
Thanks for the suggestion Jake, I’ve been playing around with track plans for this extension and am considering leaving as is to maximize train storage or a crossover or wye to get engines out and turned. I’ll only be running short trains so could potentially have 2 northbound and 2 southbound trains pre-staged if I skip any connection between them. Brent
I was only thinking running diesels around to the other end of a train to reverse the whole train (back-back paired diesel locomotives, so either direction appears "forward"). Of course, if running a caboose, you also have to get that to the other end of the train. A wye or turntable is required to turn steam locomotives (or single-cab diesels). Your extension plan could easily support a wye, with a crossover between the inside tracks at Waneta and Nelson, or a fifth track between the two yards, fed by both yard trees. The existing double-ended siding at Salma would be the best place to park the train while you reverse the power, so you can hook up the reversed loco(s) to the other end of the train for the reverse trip. It almost looks like you've thought of this before...
Really like what you have so far Brent! Saw the pics you put in another post and those look great as well.
Work continues on the 3rd subdivision. I built and installed the hinged benchwork for the folding staging yard… Then I started laying out the track and turnouts, I ended up with 4 storage tracks and the wye connection. I’ll cut templates for the plywood roadbed after the plan is tested by the 0-5-0 switcher. I like planning with actual flex track and turnouts, I end up with built in transitions and gentle curves. Let me know what you think! Brent
I like it! Lower the mirror a bit, and you'll have two layouts. Now that I think of it, that's an interesting idea. The previous owner of our house had a big wall mirror in his workout room (that is now a guest bedroom for kids, an office, and my train room.) I took it down and put it in the back of the closet (I couldn't just throw it away!) I could re-hang that mirror up behind my layout...
Funny, nice way of having two layouts, less work : Nothing could go wrong with a Full Length mirror in a KIDS room Timmy don't throw that...crash!
I’m still trying to work out how to get a runaround or passing siding track for the Fruitvale yard without having to use the passing siding at Salmo to get engines from the front to the rear of a train…kind of a long trip for a simple manoeuvre… it may have to be over a few bridges…
I'd prolly double track the horseshoe from Fruitvale back to the bridge. Given the cookie's already been cut, that'll take some work, but it's close, and long enough. It's no step for a stepper!
Great Idea Jake! Or should I say Andy? I laid out a slightly revised turnout layout at Fruitvale that will allow a train length passing siding for a runaround to feed the spurs there from either direction. It also pushes the signature bridge , Beaver Falls, a little further North but that's not a problem... I also thought that I could use the part of the current folded loop that allows continuous running for what will become 2 dead end spurs, from the south Quirk Siding takes half of the "loop" siding and we can add the next northbound spur, Columbia Gardens in what was Quirk and Northbound the other half of the "loop" spur now becomes Boulder Mill on the way to Nelson and the CP. This gives me two more potential sidings and least that many more industries to switch along the line. I'll have some room for structures as long as I stay away from the hinge line on the left full 3 foot side... Changes from the previous plan are highlighted in yellow...this works out great as it pretty much cleans me out of my used Peco Turnout inventory. I just picked up some Peco Code 55 and Cork roadbed from the LHS so this should keep me busy for a little while cutting in turnouts and plywood additions to the cookie cutter roadbed... Jake if you have any more suggestions let me know! But I think I better slow down, it's starting to get a little congested in spots... Brent
LOL, I was actually thinking about the other direction, to the underpass under the other bridge. But your version works great too. In fact, I think I like yours better. Big Jake is one of my favorite characters of my favorite actor. Jake is also an acronym consisting of the first initials of my wife, me and my children. Call me anything but late for dinner!
Hey Andy, this was really the only choice as the radius would have been too tight on the other, lower curve. It’s about 10 1/2” radius where I’ve drawn it out, pretty much the tightest curve on the layout so GP’s F-units and my SW7 will be fine…now to build!
First turnout cut in and rolling stock tested....I was worried the white carpenter's glue I used to secure the track to the cork wouldn't let go but a little 70% IPA spray on got it loose only where I wanted, perfect!, onto the others! Also found some photos taken along the line in the past... the first is Columbia Gardens.. And the siding at Boulder Mill, North of Salmo...
