Hello all,
Would like to get some input on a design I have been working on. It is a prototype using the Hannibal, Missouri area. Dates between the 50’s -70’s. BN railline.
The scale is N and uses mostly Atlas Code 80 on a 4x8 with possible future expansion.
Multi trains, passenger and frieght.
The turnout is a Fleishmann 9157.
Most radius are using Atlas 2520 11R. Some inner radius using Atlas 2510 9 3/4. Kato Unitrack crossover.
Tracks on the right side by the green lines are in a hill (tunnel)
using XtakCad and the height adjustment was a pain.
By the blue, (river) no bridges are set yet. Hill to the right of the river.
Nothing is set in stone, am interested in thoughts and suggestions on the layout.
The good news is you got something on pixels and you’ve started the process. You have a general idea of what you want and you have some big ideas. Fortunately, 4x8 is a big space for N-scale.
The bad news is that a lot of what you’ve designed won’t work. For starters, the roundhouse is way too close to the turntable. XtrkCAD has an extend track function. If you use that on the TT you can pull tracks off that will work. Line those tracks up with the tracks in your roundhouse and you’ll see where it needs to go.
The yard lead for the Hannibal West yard is too short to switch the yard.
The runaround in the lower right has no track to clear an engine.
You have a very complicated switchback system for just about everything.
You want to run long passenger cars, but designed turns that will run only small cars.
You have industries allocated, but will they fit and still make sense from a landscape point of view?
It’s a good start, but you need to do a little research.
I agree with Space Mouse. To add, if you don’t mind more criticism, you often have insufficient tracks leading to end stops, or bumpers, beyond switches. Look at the track lengths at centre-right, where you have them ending beyond a switch. If you lead the train in with the loco, fine, the locomotive can escape, but where does he leave the cars spotted? At what useful point?
Having built a track saturated layout that several folks don’t care for I can say from the experience I’ve garnished, 9 3/4 radii will be too shallow for what you’re looking to do. In fact the 6 axle engine won’t roll with cars on a 9.75 radius. My 4-8-4 has minor trouble (noticable rubbing from the wheels to the rails) on the 9.75 radii. For the passanger cars I’d ask one of the more experienced folks to respond but I’d suspect 11" would be a min to shoot for.
I’d take Chip’s (SpaceMouse) advice, he is a resident expert of sorts and typically offers lots of great info.
As for your layout, I agree with selector (since he ninja posted me ), some of where you have switchs compared to bumpers, it almost appears that even an engine may not clear the switch before it hits a bumper.
However, I think you’ve done a great job in just getting the hang of XTrkCad and the layout overall looks good, just need some minor tweaking. That said, the radius issue may force some more drastic change than what you have in your minds eye.
Take out Hannibal West Yard. Take out the North Yard and make sure the South Yard has long enough yard lead, escape pocket, &c to function. See also The Model Railroader’s Guide to Freight Yards by Andy Sperandeo, who clearly enjoyed writing the book and loaded it with useful information.
Take out either the Armory switchbacks or the Downtown spur from the middle of the board and extend the other into the space. If you keep the Armory (I think this is a Timesaver segment) you will have a section much like my own model railroad. If you can figure out the geometry, you could lay the runaround tracks around a curve, in the middle of town, for an unusual scenic effect.
You will have to get around at least 3 sides of your 4x8 to construt and operate, so you are really looking at an area that is at least 9x11. Consider a U shape or an around-the-walls design instead. I think you’ll be much happier with that.
), some of where you have switchs compared to bumpers, it almost appears that even an engine may not clear the switch before it hits a bumper.