Hi all, here is the first version of my new upcoming N scale layout. I’d love to hear your comments and suggestions on my work in progress. Here are the basics and the track plan itself. Locos will come in the form of a couple of RS2’s, a pair of FT’s and a pair of RDC’s which will operate as single units. My design software is Atlas RTS 8.0. For those who have asked in other posts, the convert to flex track feature works great.
Size: 8x9
Scale: N
Track: Atlas Code 55
Setting: Fictional B&M branch in Central NH
Time: 1952-55
Minimum Radius: 11.25" in reverse loops, 15" mainline
The plan has potential. A few little things that I’d consider changing…
Your yard would gain quite a bit more space if you made it parallel to the edge of the table. I know the “trend” is to make things stay away from being “straight lines” with the edges, but in this case it will increase the size of your yard and give you a bit of extra capability to do some switching.
A good rule of thumb, especially swith dedicated switching leads, is to be able to run out 150% of your longest yard storage track. If you need to pull car number thirteen but the lead only holds 10 and the engine, you’ve just quadrupled your work because of the extra cuts you’ll have to make, etc.
Are your “depots” purely just passenger stations, or will they deal with deliveries to the station agent for use in a freight house? With your backdrop combined with a few “flat” or “low relief” structures you could add in a historic “New England” style freight house, REA building, etc. All serviced by one spur. This could be an increased traffic source for you, with the freight house taking in reefers, boxcars, flats, gons, etc.
Thanks for the feedback, I agree with you both that the yard lead should be longer. I plan on extending that, running it parallel with the siding behind it.
On the question regarding the depots, I like the idea of a spur leading to freight house along the view block, I’ll look into this for my next revision, thanks!
Lengthen the staging yard by moving the switches into those straight sections on either end, you can almost double the length of the staging tracks which are very small now.
Rearrange the yard so that the class tracks break off below the “A/D track”. that way a train can set out directly to a yard track. Way more flexible for a small yard.
Rather than have the reverse loop on the right side a tear drop shape, tie the right side of it into the tracks by the interchanges, then you will have a continuous loop and can operate a train without having to throw switches every lap. Good for breaking in equipment, showing the railroad to others and just watching trains.
Make the backdrop in front of the staging yard a low one, like a line of trees, high enough to block the view of staging, but if you stand on a low stepstool or a little step, you can see and reach over it.
I agree with Dave… You can make a provision for continuous running by simply splitting your reverse loop so you run a double track in front of your depot. This would also provide you with a run around track for locals switching the industrial spurs in the middle of the loop.
Operationally, you can still run it as a point to point, but for those times when you just want to railfan, you set your turnouts for the loop and let her rip.
Thanks for the suggestions thus far. I’ve made a few modifications.
Staging has been extended
The yard lead has been extended
I added a spur along the view block in the lower left with a low relief freight house
I eliminated the reverse loop on the right, connecting it back into what was the MEC mainline. I modifed the MEC trackage and the interchange to support this.
I added a double cross over, in the center. At the time it seemed like a good idea, but the more I look at it, the more I wonder why it’s really needed so that will probably just be removed, eliminating reverse loops all together and making it more of a dog bone style plan.
I still have some yard modifications planned, these will come later.
I would suggest you consider the implications of the scissors crossovers at the top, they create a pair of reversing sections and will require more complicated wiring. Generally I am not big fan of scissors crossovers, I think they scream “model train layout”, but that’s your choice as to the design and the wiring complexity.
[#ditto] Or maybe even take it around the corner on the upper right.
I don’t know about changing the reversing loop to a continuous run unless it was in addtion too and only for occasional use, because that would eliminate the interechange track with the other RR.
I think I would squeeze in a few more industires even if they are only 1-2 cars long.
I agree with you on this, and even thought about removing it after I initially saved the file. I’ve since removed it and updated the plan above. It makes for a much cleaner track flow.
I think this is the most productive I’ve ever been in one day designing a track plan! [:)] Here is ver. 3, trying to incorporate as many of the previous suggestions as possible. This one addes an engine facility, caboose track, and a team track which should help to provide some extra switching. I’ve left the first two versions in the previous posts for comparison. As always, comments and suggestions are welcome. Thanks!
Dave H pretty much covered my concerns, but I still wonder if the yard on the left side has clear access to it or is it along a wall. If it’s along a wall you could run into some problems, especially behind that backdrop.
The staging on the left will be against a wall, but I’m planning on making the backdrop removable for access as needed, the width of the whole layout is 2’.
