Inspired by David Popp “A busy mainline town” in the July 2010 MR
N scale, 12 inch grid, 14" min radi, will be Peco code 55 with Peco medium turnouts,benchwork is two 36x80 inch doors that I can separate and move if neccassary. Double mainline is 1.50 inch centers, I would probably adjust the easments for 1.25 centers on the straights. I have not decided on any specific industries yet, but am leaning toward a grain elevator, and a few others to get a mix of tankers, box cars and maybe some gons. Continous loop to keep things more alive for solo ops. Not sure if I even want the double main, maybe a single main would keep things more interesting, and open min rad to 15.5 inches. Blue line is a divider
My questions are:
1: If I keep double main line, where should I install cross-overs? Is this more dependent on the location of the industries? Or should they be located toward the outsides of the siding (s)?
2: I have plenty of room to work both sides of the layout. Would you make the top a yard with engine and car service etc? Or maybe add a few staging tracks, then have spur from the bottom climb a grade to some other rail served industry?
I have a hard time “selectivly compressing things”
If you have any better ideas, let me know.
I just want to keep it on a couple of doors and tracks straight where they meet. Keep the loop and keep the radii as big as possible
I forgot to add that my goal is to get just get the main line and turnouts associated with the sidings installed, just to get something running. I thought I would adjust sidings to fit the industrys etc as I build them.
I think I would keep my crossovers outside your sidings, with the exception of the servicing facility. That could come off outside the crossover and go to a small 2 stall servicing house. Services could be on the leads to the house or on a seperate track. Some would depend on your era. With steam you need more space for coal and water facilities.
Might put a small yard in the top section, as well as the servicing area. Since you have a divider, it would be a place for your trains to go and pick up cars and a place for them to go when they leave the front side. Another siding on the front could add interest too.
As for getting the trains running, a good idea, but one thing to remember. If you are going to put your track down, it would be a good idea to know where your turnouts off the line are going to be. Much easier to put them in before securing track. All you have to do is put the turnouts in that are coming of the line you are laying. The tracks and other turnouts can be added as you go.
“3. As for getting the trains running, a good idea, but one thing to remember. If you are going to put your track down, it would be a good idea to know where your turnouts off the line are going to be. Much easier to put them in before securing track. All you have to do is put the turnouts in that are coming of the line you are laying. The tracks and other turnouts can be added as you go”
This is my intention and maybe I did not explain that well enough. I planned to install the required turnouts on the main then adjust the siding tracks to fit the structures as I build them.
“The cross-overs on the main on his plan have nothing to do with the industries.”
Why are they located where they are? Is the No.6 crossover near the Feeder Barn and Feed Mill located there to provide easier access to the siding on the left? Rather then having to pull cars all the way to the end of the layout?
“I am not sure if the footprint you choose is the best one; you need to be able to walk around the whole layout.”
This is not a concern, I have plenty of space (28’ x 36’) I am just not interested in an “empire” and do not want any kind of permenant layout. This way I can set up in the extra garage stall in the Summer months.
