Those of you who read my posts a few months ago know I was refining an HO scale design to showcase some PRR Passenger operations. After a long break for some life events I’ve returned to designing and have unfortunately been forced into a smaller apartment and have decided to play around with a smaller N Scale layout to hold me over until we move again, most likely several years away. I have built two previous n scale layouts, but both were small, simple layouts with no turnouts used to showcase a train set I received as a gift.
I’ve attached a drawing of the initial attempt, using many of the lessons I gained from the previous HO experience. The layout features a large yard for the turnover of several passenger trains with the help of a yard crew. The yard is then attached to a double loop of track around the perimeter that has a crossover in it, effectively doubling the run around length. The goal is to have a passenger train move to the mainline and run around while the next train is turned over in the yard, effectively creating a continuous departure/arrival schedule. It’ll just be me operating so this allows me to focus on yard operations while still having a long mainline run. I was also thinking of using a scenic block to separate the yard from the large open space on the right and turn it into a mountain scene or country hills, but I’m open to input and suggestions.
My main concerns are in my unfamiliarity with the scale. From what I have read the #6 turnouts will handle passenger cars and larger locomotives just fine at low speeds. I’m also worried about having enough room to mount tortoises with so many switches so close together and have been condsidering the “humpyard” manual switches but am having a hard time finding reviews on them. My last concern is the minimum radius. The inside passing track has a radius of just 14", which my research has been mixed on, some feel that that’ll handle most passenger cars, others do not. Thanks for all
