Building N Scale Layout

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Hey

I have an area of 4 x 9 ft to build an n scale layout, this is fair bit of room for N scale but i prefer them over HO.
This will be my first layout, i have a few of the Kalmbach Building books, they will help, but i dunno whether to use DCC, (it seems complicated) or the analog one.

I want to run 2 maybe 3 main lines i have a basic layout that i will follow:

the right hand side will be tunneled but each line entry at different levels, (should i use woodland scenic riser??) and the left hand side will be over a hill, then exiting on the far side over a lake?

I will also add a larger yard and better area for a station.

Any help to get me started would be great

Thanks Zack

2

Welcome to the forum, PG,

My only advice would be to be very careful with all the trackwork you have inside the mountain.

  1. Test run trains over all that trackwork for a long time before you cover it up with mountains. If there is any problem (kink, misalignment, etc) you can’t do anything to correct it once it’s covered.

  2. Be sure you have sufficient access to all hidden trackage. No matter how well you layed the track (see item #1) you will still have derailments from time to time. You need to be able to reach all hidden trackage.

  3. Be especially careful with the switches you have inside the tunnel area.

I have no experience with either the risers or with DCC so I can’t offer anything on those questions.

Regards

Ed

3

Welcome, Zack!

I think you’ll have more fun with DCC than with DC, especially if you plan to run more than one train at a time. According to what I’ve read on this forum, some of the DCC systems aren’t as complicated as they once were. On the the layout you show, DC would be fairly complicated to wire, too.

Like Ed said, make sure you leave plenty of access to the track inside the mountain. One of the basic laws of model railroading is that derailments always occur in the least accessible spot.

WS risers are easy to use. Just make sure you have a gradual transition between the flat track and the ends of the risers so that you can keep all the locomotive’s drive wheels on the track when it passes over the transition.

Enjoy!

4

OK, thanks for your help,