Hi everyone I am new to model trains. I am looking to build a layout and I have some questions. I want to make a 12X8 layout with N scale in a horse shoe shape that represents SHERMAN HILL in WY I am going to have to yards one will be laramie and one will be cheyenne. I want to run Big Boys and Challangers and have some yard goats for my two yards. I also may add a passanger train that may be an old 1950 style diesel. I want to run two main lines and I would like to use flex-trak. My questions is, Does it matter what Code I sould use for my layout, I dont know if I should use 70, 50, or 40, also can you connect 70 and 40 code together. I need some help on this. Thanks. I will have a lot more questions in the future. I have draw some pictures of what I want, I will post them on here if anyone want to see them. Thanks. I will need the help.
First, welcome to the forums and the insanity we loving refer to as “model railroading.”
Second, you’ve made a typical early assumption that you can model a huge prototype area in a small space. If you have some snap track, try laying out what you have in mind on the floor and reality will quickly set in, you’ll need to downsize your expectations to the size of your layout room. Long wheelbase locomotives like Challengers and Big Boys will need a wide radius to operate reliably and even larger to look right. As a first layout, try something simple.
Since this is your first layout, I’d recommend staying with as large a rail as you can, in N Scale that would be Code 70. The smaller sizes are more delicate and you should get the experience with the larger rail sizes. Also, on your first layout, don’t attempt to mix the rail sizes. Try to stay simple and straight forward until you get the basics down.
A good beginner place is on the NMRA website.
I thought today that N-scale track regularly came in 80, 70, 55, and 40 as the “standard” sizes.
The biggest difference is in looks vs reliablity. From a looks point of view: In N-scale code 70 rail would be over 12.5" tall. I’ve never seen rail that tall. Code 55 would be close (within 10% of real) for the heaviest track used on USA main lines. Code 55 is about 155 pounds per yard, where I think reall class 5 rail was 125 lbs/yd. That would leave code 40 (113 lbs/yd) for the spurs and yards.
As for performance I’ll leave the answer to some one who has been modeling N-scale more recently than I.
The Atlas code 55 blow their code 80 away looks wise. Don’t know about the running characteristics since I do HO.
I am currently building my N-Scale layout with all code 55. I also agree that it blows away code 80 when it comes to lookging real! I am not sure yet the performance of the track.
Be aware that not everything will run on code 55 track. Some wheels will hit the spike heads and derail. Also, don’t assume that you can fit twice as much in N scale as you can in HO. The difference in scales [1:87 vs. 1:160] might lead you to think that, but it just doesn’t work out that way. I have seen articles that showed HO track plans for a 4x8 layout say “2x4 in N scale.” I tried one of them when I first switched to N scale and it took me 30"x60" to fit it in. My Challenger will negotiate 11" curves with 19" easements, but the Big Boy won’t. My U-shaped layout takes up 10.5’x11’, with 30" wide benchwork at the ends for the turnarounds. Also keep in mind that you will need to limit grades to about 2.5% to pull an N scale train of any realistic length – that’s ten feet of track to climb 2".
Code 70=11.2 inches tall IRL
Code 55=8.8 inches tall IRL
Code 40=6.4 inches tall IRL.
David B