I want to build a shelf layout and I can’t decide if I want to go N or HO. I want a lot of operational action and hidden staging. And I want to be able to switch from NS to Conrail and sometimes Penn Central. There aren’t too many buildings so it shouldn’t be too rough. I just have to change out automobiles. Big Scenery would be a plus so maybe N-scale.
I thought for the prototype, I go with this. I’m aware I have to use selective compression. How would you do it? Stein, Chad, Dog, you out there?
Mods–There were instructions on how to link so there is your permission.
Take a hard look at Z scale for something that size in that space. I have a friend who does Z, and he says they run good for their size. You don’t have to worry much about super detailing; who would see it? There is more North American prototype stuff coming on the market all the time. [:P]
Hey Chip, you always like a challenge, don’t you?? [:D]
Chip-“N” sounds like the way to go.The only real suggestion I can make is to use one of the available layout programs and see what you can come up with.I use XTrakCad.My layout is also 2’x8’ but I’m in HO.It’s an industrial switching layout.
Your idea is very ambitious and I wish you luck with it.Using a program like I mentioned will enable you to see what you can and can’t do.I went through many changes before I got one that worked.Bob
Well, I’d vote for N scale, though obviously you are not building that!
With N, you could get turned around, and get your stagin underneath. The curves would be awful looking, but you could hide them, for the most part, and run down the back to get to the staging below, I think.
To me it’s a no-brainer. With your givens already, and with the small space, you really have little practical choice. Nano-technology. Otherwise, the next biggest market is N.
A scale small enough to fit on a 2x8 would be microscopic. Just think how perfect your trackwork would need to be…[:O]
Seriously, I would pic only a small chunk of that yard. You can see from the pic that there are many different things going on. There is an engine terminal, container yard, that are with an overhead crane (rip track?), and what looks to be a running repair shop. It may be possible to fit one of these on a 2x8, even in HO.
This here yard occupies a space no wider than 2’ and about 8’ long. It’s got enough working space to push about 20 trains of 20 carlengths through in a typical 4 hour session. It also sports a good size working engine terminal capable of housing almost 30 locomotives at any given moment.
Remember, it’s not how big it is… it’s how you use it![:D]
Hmmm - I realize that you are almost certainly joking, but would it be possible to get a nice big yard “look and feel” in 2x8 feet ?
What be the druthers and givens, sir AstroRodent ?
In particular, the biggest question would be whether this could be a section of a bigger layout (so e.g. the yard lead can extend off the layout) or whether it needs to be capable of functioning as a standalone layout ?
If part of a bigger layout, N scale probably would make most sense, as Lee has illustrated very well in his post. You should be able can get a very nice big yard “feel” of long parallell (single ended) tracks in 2x8 feet in N-scale - the equivalent of 1.83 (160/87.1) x 8 feet (or 2 feet) = 14.6 feet by 3.6 feet in H0 scale.
The center set of tracks pictured looks like a hump yard (in principle single track spreading out to groups of tracks, tower on the left) ? Humping would probably be extremely hard to model in this space in N scale or bigger, and I suspect even Z scale would be very hard pressed there.
Anyways - how serious are you ? And what would be the druthers and givens ?
I’ve almost got two Normal trains for my office layout. I have a B&P Coal Drag with 10 90-ton hoppers so far. pulled by a GP-9 and a GP-38 (ordered today). And I have a NS mixed freight with about 10 cars, pulled by an SD60M & a Dash 8-40B. All I need to get that layout running is space to build the cabinet (which is a pretty major obstacle because I have a bunch of stuff from old office/store clogging the garage and layout room. But it keeps getting closer.
To tell the truth, I’m concerned the SD60M will make the 11.5 inch curves. It’s a lot bigger than I expected.
