I have dabbled in HO for many years, but now I’m thinking about switching to N scale, and I’d like some N scale pointers on a simple switching layout. My main goal is to have a place to display rolling stock that I build and weather, as well as something to play around with and actually see them run.
I’m interested in creating a small switching layout. I’m thinking something in the neighborhood of 3X4 or 4X4. I’d like to keep it fairly portable. Perhaps just a yard of two or three sidings. I’m not even sure that I even want it to have a circle for continuous operaion. Does anybody have any suggestions for a layout of this type. I’m probably going to start playing around with some of the track plan software and reading the books, but I was hoping that some of you might have some tips for me.
I’d ideally like a place to store a few engine pairs, a few tracks for sorting cars, a track or two for building trains, and perhaps even a RIP track near a depot or something to play with scenery and put some MoW stuff that I make.
Well, thats a bit of an odd size for an N scale switching layout, but it can work. 4 foot isn’t going to offer a large yard, but it can be workable. I don’t know that you’ll need to go all that wide as the track centerline spacing in N scale is usually 1.25-1.5 inches for parallel straight track. The real trick in this size is going to be getting the lead long enough after you add the ladder. You might gain a few inches by laying out the yard diagonally in the area you’ve got.
As for the yard plan itself, you could lift the yard out of any plan and use it, or you could design one for the space.
This is what I’m thinking of copying. It has a NS mainline that serves a large soybean oil plant. I probably won’t get around to modeling that for some time, but that gives me room for expansion one day. There is also an active and abandoned CSX line running into the NS line and next to it that gives me room for expansion. One day I can even add the rather long yard that it a little ways to the northwest of this picture.
It’s roughly 5000ft by 2000ft. If I understand the scale right…that makes it around 31in by 13. It is 1/160 right? I see what you mean by not needing anything that wide. I may add a few feet of length and make it 6ft by 2ft or something…
I like this because it has a bunch of siddings for sorting cars as well as a place to store engines, and MoW equipment. It even has a team siding and passenger station. It also allows me to add CSX to the mix one day.
What program did you use to make those layouts? Is that the Atlas one or the Xtracad?