N Scale 4x8 Layout Feedback

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

I’m posting here hoping to get some feedback from those with more track planning an operating experience than myself. Growing up, I’ve tried to make a layout a few times. None of these made it beyond incomplete track laying because of combinations of time, money, and poor forward planning.

I’m intending for this to be my “final” adult layout (not that I’m old enough for that yet!). A few principles to start:

  1. This will not have a place to be permanently set up, so I’ve made it a modular design based on a 4x8’ format. The modules are largely already made with a 2" deep tray to allow for scenery below track level. They are also 18" deep, as in my starts, I found 2’ to be excess in this scale.
  2. This is N scale
  3. The layout is intended to be a group of 4 scenes with backdrops seperating each module. I don’t have room for a large layout with all the features I’d like, so I decided to make it a series of large “dioramas”.
  4. I expect to operate this alone and primarily as a “rail fan”, but don’t want to leave this with no operational interest
  5. I’d been planning for double track mainline throughout to allow simple two train operation, but have been quiestioning this a bit recently.
  6. This is intendend to be effectively modern era, but with aging infrastructure so it wouldn’t be absolutely odd to run 60-70’s equipment on the layout. My equipment is mostly BNSF and UP, with some CNW. I grew up in Chicago and live nearby, so I have a decent Amtrak and Metra group as well.
  7. Mainline minimum radius is 15", there’s one 11" radius on the siding on module 1. The layout will be laid with flextrack, but I’ve planned it with sectional track keep clear radiai and avoid something too sharp. I left the 15" radi
2

I’m no track planner, but I’ll make a couple of comments to bring this back to the top.

If I am looking at this correctly, you have pretty much double track all the way around, more in several places. It looks cluttered with track on 1 & 3, what’s the purpose of each track?

You say you primarily want railfanning, but with some operations. To do that I think I would add a few more sidings. Since 4 is a mountain scene, how about a mine or quarry or just a gravel pit? On the 1 & 3 sections have less through tracks and more sidings serving industries, a team track or a warehouse.

As I said, I’m not proficient at planning and not to familiar with how N fits in a given area.

Hope some of our track planners get to see this and give you some better ideas.

Good luck,

Richard