Hi all, I'm wondering if you all can help me out here. I just moved into a new apartment and would like to start designing/building an N scale layout. I've previously been in HO scale. I'm not the best (at all) with developing track plans. I have ideas of kind of what I want, and such, but can't seem to fit them together. I know it might be hard without knowing exactly the industries and such, but I'm wondering if you can help me out anyways. Here's what I'm looking for / what I have: L shape bench dimensions: 10' long X 2 1/2' wide, with extension 5' X 2 1/2' on the right (if you're looking at the layout). What I'd like: A main (possibly double main if it can fit, with crossovers, maybe they share parts sometimes?). Small staging yard (4-5 tracks at most) Switching in the middle - I can rearrange these a little, but looking for general ideas. I would greatly appreciate any help or ideas you might be able to share. If you have sample plans/diagrams that would be great! Thanks, Matt
Hi Matt, The first thing that I would suggest is getting ahold of 102 Realistic Track Plans put out recently by Model Railroader. There are a couple of plans in there that might be just what you're looking for. Your LHS (local hobby shop) should have it in stock or, or course, you can order it online. John
I have some books similar to it, and am trying to take ideas from those. The thing I guess I'm having trouble with is that they're different shapes and such so I'm having trouble transforming them. I'll take a look at that book though.
Matt, You should be able to make your double track layout with this size layout. It sounds like you know what you want. What type of equipment will you be running and what type of landscapes are you looking for? This info will help as well.
I'd like the following I think: - A little bit of switching / industry - Small staging yard - A small "mountain" or at least some hills, possibly with a tunnel if possible - Small city / downtown area (with track going through) I used to pretty much be an all freight guy, however I am now starting to like passenger service more. So that may be considered as well. If so, a small passenger depot may be nice as well. Thanks so much for your help so far!
Also what type of plan are you looking for would help. Do you want a loop so you can let trains run while you watch or would you like a double track main point-to-point with spurs and sidings for your switching?. You could even get the best of both worlds and use a dogbone configuration so you get illusion of a double track main but it is infact a loop. To figure out my track plan (my first ever) all I did was make a blank slate in CAD as I've done for you, printed it out about 10 times, picked up a pencil and went crazy. Then picked out the parts I liked of each one and attempted to combine them into one plan. Then I took that plan, and started playing around in AnyRail til I got something that would fit. Perhaps you might try the same.
Ideally, I'd like to have the double main so I can let trains run, while I do a little switching a such. A dogbone would be good, maybe even get rid of the extension on the side? In other words, the best of both worlds
I hit the piece limit for Anyrail, so this could be extended, but it gives you a rough idea. It also needs a little tweaking so that gap in the upper right connects. Oh yeah, also this is Unitrack since I'm familiar with it.
Chris, Thanks for coming up with that! I will take that idea and try putting it into Atlas RightTrack or something and then run from there. Maybe later tonight, have some work to do at the moment. Thanks!
Here is my L shaped. It is a little longer on one end, but you could shorten it. I drew it in XtracCAD and it is layout #26 in the 102 track plans (Fox River) - having a senior moment. I can e-mail you the source file if you are interested. Forgot to mention - this is 10 X 8 Jim
Jim, Thanks very much for sending that to me! I've been swamped with work lately (which is why I haven't been on lately), but I hope to start looking more into this in the next week or so. Thanks for everyone's help so far!
