After planning my next model railroad for the last 12 years I have been given permission to build a shed in the backyard to put it in. The shed size is up in the air, but it will be anywhere from 10’x12’ to 12’x16’. The shed will be insulated and climate controlled. I will be building in n-scale and have mostly BNSF equipment. Due to the fact that this will also be my designated “man-room” I was thinking of a shelf layout around the walls with a Ashlin trains helix on each side giving me a double deck layout with a continuous run. What I need help with is a location to model and the shelf width. 12” or 16” shelves seem to be the standard at the home improvement stores. I was thinking of a moderate size yard that would serve as my staging area, few industries along the route and possibly an interchange with a smaller railroad. Anyway I’m getting tired of looking at railroads on Google Earth and hoped maybe you could provide me with some ideas. Thanks!
I’m a little confused as to what you’re asking for. It seems like you want help in determining what your railroad should do. After 12 years of planning, I’d have thought you’d already have a pretty good idea of what you want.
A separate shed can be a good ‘man cave’. After finishing the interior, installing heating and cooling and electrical service (what? No bathroom??), you’ll be surprised at how small the space will look. I did the same thing last year, 12x16’ with loft. Looked big at first, but loft flooring, a stairway to the loft and drywall shrank the space. I didn’t build it for a layout room, I needed a new shed and just went with the biggest I could afford. I did consider briefly using it for a layout but decided I wanted my layout in the house, not the back yard.
Getting back to your original question. Where you put the door and any windows will have a great effect on your layout design. If possible, locate the door in the middle of a wall. Twin helices on either side of the door lends itself to a big “U” shaped layout.
How to use the levels? You might designate 4 or more main areas, 2 along each long wall on different levels. One area can be a yard and engine service area, another area can be a cityscape, one area devoted to scenery and the forth area set up as industrial. The yard and engine service area will probably take up more than one wall’s length which will reduce another area of the layout.
I envision your layout in a U shape. Entering the door, the helices are on either side and each helix will take up an entire corner. On the lower right level is the yard and engine service extending around the far corner and along the wall opposite the door. On the left wall, lower level, is a good sized town with some switching opportunities, maybe street running, a business district and
Sorry for the confusion. You are right, door in the middle with a helix on each side. I don’t plan on putting many windows and if I do they will be high and small. What I’m curious about is if anyone has an idea about a specific BNSF mainline. I’ve looked at Texas, Minn, Montana, etc. A stretch of single track mainline that has a medium sized yard, some decent industries to model, a passing siding, and a good amount of traffic. Also my travels are limited to California, Texas and Arizona and during those trips I didn’t have time to look at specific lines. If there are recomendations (i.e. between Temple and some other town) about an area I can study it and apply it to the design.
My N Scale CR&T is now graduating from a 2-level with one helix to “2 1/2” levels by adding staging under the upper level. The usable space is apx. 9’ x 9’ and the layout will be U-shaped with an operator cockpit in the middle of the “U.” The helix will have at least 2 tracks – the outer track for up and the inner track for down – there may be an additional 3rd track.
The outer dimensions against the wall are 5’ - 9’ - 5’ with an oval-shaped helix “in the middle” using an extra 12" wall recess. The lower level and the helix will be the more traditional L-Girder & Cookie-Cutter benchwork – this will serve as an anchor for the upper level and staging sub-level that will use shelving brackets and Box-Grid benchwork.
Helix Suggestion: Think in terms of one helix instead of two helix(s) – go to at least 2 tracks because you do have the space for a generous helix radius – consider an oval with at least one length of straight track to create an oval shape with re-railers as a precaution plus the oval helix will reduce will coupler tension just as using the outer track for up traffic will do for you.
Also consider purchasing at least volume 1 if not both volumes of the Helix PDF-downloads where you can immediately see just from the covers how the staging shoots off from the helix.
My decision-making has been assisted by taking my good 'ole planning time (i.e. new staging sub-level) which will result in lower costs & headaches in the long-term.
BNSF’s Lampasas sub springs immediately to mind (since I am actually dispatching that territory today). 225 Miles Temple to Sweetwater with a good sized yard at Brownwood right in the middle. Fort Hood Military base would provide a Military flavor for unit train movements of Heavy ordinance and equipment. This being the primary route for Texas-California traffic connecting thru Amarillo to the Trans-Con would allow plenty of staged “through” traffic and rock quarry at Brownwood generates plenty of origin traffic at Brownwood, Local switching at Lometa and Nolanville provided by road switcher out of Temple. Also handles through Coal traffic for the power plant near Houston. PM me for much more info if you are intersted.
Earl