Need help thinking outside the oval

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Hi, I’m back to the well for some more layout design help. I need help thinking outside of the box, or maybe it’s outside of the oval :slight_smile: I’m building an “N” scale shelf layout. The look I want is Anthracite Coal Country of Central PA, Think, mountains, mines, grades. I had (2)Net-RR’s offer up a real nice plans, but it may be beyond my scope at this time. I’ve had (4) back surgeries, the last 0ne unsuccessfull, so I mostly try to work, and try to sleep, and every other weekend I get time for trains. I don’t have too much free time that I’m not laying on an Icepack or working :frowning: I’ve managed to build the basic benchwork, and have built a basic loop with some woodland scenics grades to allow me to run some trains for sanity. But I want to stop playing and start building. What I have is an “L” shaped benchwork that is 2’ wide and each leg is 10’ long. At the end of each leg is a bulge, dogbone of 32" to allow for turnaround. The frame is 1x3"s with 1/4" birch on top, and 1" pink foam on top of that. I have a good selection of Woodland Scenic 2% grades and risers, plus a 3% grade. My risers are 1/2", 1", 3/4", 1", and 2". I’m also using Kato Unitrack and have a pretty good selection to get started.

Here are some links to a sketch, some rough pics, and the (2) designs.

http://www.saycheesephoto.com/model_trains/basicloop.jpg

http://www.saycheesephoto.com/model_trains/rightleg.jpg

http://www.saycheesephoto.com/model_trains/middle.jpg

http://www.saycheesephoto.com/model_trains/leftleg.jpg

http://www.saycheesephoto.com/model_trains/anthraciteCreek.jpg

http://www.saycheesephoto.com/model_trains/stclair.jpg

This is what I want which maybe too much to ask.

I want at least one continous run to show off the layout to friends and family. If I could get (2) continous runs all the better. I can get past just (2) parallel loops.

I want one or two mines. At least one tunnle.

2

If your just going to let it run then a crossover between 2 mains isnt the best idea. Its only a matter of time till you have a huge pileup between the 2 trains

3

Nonsense. Let’s be clear that a crossover is a pair of turnouts connecting the two loops of track. A diamond is where one track crosses another. Diamonds need to be controlled. Crossovers are safe unless you open them to switch tracks.

Why not connect the second loop to the first over in that raised section, then climb higher from there. Then realign the lower track so that the upper track flies over.

One thing that you may not have noticed yet is that the track you are using with the roadbed attached, is very limiting. Before you get too much invested, it might be a good idea to change to regular flex track. It will allow your designs to flow.

4

Hi Dave,

It looks like you’ve got a pretty good grasp on what you want to accomplish, and both plans actually look very nice, and very buildable. I prefer your hand drawn layout plan over the CAD plan, but I do like the small yard in the CAD design.

I helped my father design and build a similar N scale layout for the same general area (Sayre, PA). Basic construction was 1/2" plywood with stacks of 2" pink foam. Based on his layout (30’x2’, with a 4’ square blob on one end), here’s some random ideas thrown at you:

  1. Make the “ground level” main a simple double track main that runs all the way around, to represent the Pennsy main line. This will give you continuous running on two mains.

  2. Add a 2-4 track staging yard at the back of the layout, to hold a variety of trains. With a little planning, you’ll be able to run a freight in each direction, and then park 'em and run passenger trains.

  3. Keep a smallish yard off the mainline. This will give you someplace to drop off and pick up cars for local switching, and for my next idea.

  4. cover the entire back half of the layout with 3"-4" of foam. One layer of 2" foam is perfect for N scale clearances. On top of this extra layer of foam, build a snakey, stub-ended coal branch, serving 2-4 mines. The branch should terminate at the small yard, making it a dual purpose subdivision/marshalling yard. You’ll be able to run a mine switcher up and down the mountainside while having two mainline trains running laps below. Not bad for a one-person layout!

Keep us posted on your progress!