Hello, all!
After working on a 1x4 module for a while and reading moocho books & forum postings, I’d like to throw out my idea for a 6x9 n-scale layout.
NAME: Sourdough & Sequim Rail Road
LOCATION: Olympic Peninsula, 1920s-1960s
(The Layout is handdrawn with pencil, so sorry if there’s visibility probs. I’m still getting the hang of xtrakcad) (updated with color: blue = mainline, green = passing & depots, red = spurs, sidings & yards)
GIVENS:
–Benchwork shape is pretty set: this is a nook in the masterbedroom, so it’s limited by full window along wall to left (bedroom opens up to left, though, so left section is an peninsula), walls on top & right, bathroom door behind & wife all around, as well the center is going to have a 1.5’-2’ deep, 4’ wide removable desk that fits below the benchwork (at 30" or 32") for a laptop, workbench & grading papers. (I’m guessing track “0” at 40’-44", so room for stuff underneath). I can play with the shape of the left section, but it can’t extend more than the 5’ it does.
–Thick lines show sections (needs to be semi-portable), will build all framework this summer while wife & kids are in Japan, but will build left-side Sourdough Mt / Logging / Port Angeles section first, so probably won’t get to right side Port Townsend section for a year or so.
–Atlas Code 80 flextrack, & still debating between Peco & Atlas Custom turnouts ($$ is main issue). Currently using Caboose handthrows on 1x4 module, but like the idea of Peco “snap” with finger. Probably use Peco on mainline & Atlas on yard / spurs.
–DCC (NCE Powercab looks good)
–Long mainline for continuous running (distance, meditiation & kids lov
There’s empty space / bedroom to the left, so that 3x5 section is jutting out. It can’t go all the way 6’ cause there’s a bathroom wall at the “bottom” of the plan. So actually the widest reach would be to the right, with 30". I got long monkey arms.
Now that you’ve posted a larger plan, it really seems like you’ve tried to pack way too much into such a space.
You’ve got a lot of “stuff” crammed in everywhere, and I just can’t see how a train would operate from one portion to another. Does every track have a purpose? There’s a lot of “extra” that I just don’t understand the need for.
I’m hoping the crudeness of the drawing makes it seem more packed than it is (and it is n-scale), but more likely than not I’m trying to pack too much in.
I see a couple of different operations:
–an SP&S frieght starts at the hidden staging at left, comes up the penninsula northeastbound along the back and curves through the tunnel on the right into the yard. While some frieght is for the port right here, there are metal & food supplies for Sequim / Port Angeles & the logging camp that need sorting and delivery. Certain Port Townsend goods / services (like beer) get mixed in and off that consist goes westbound, dropping off stuff for the town of Irondale on the way. The train can do as many circuts on the smaller loop as needed before pulling into Sequim / Port Angeles yard, where cars will be sorted for local delivery there as well as a short job created to deliver supplies to the logging camp.
–loaded logging cars, originating at the camp in the middle of the left section, get pulled into Sequim / Port Angeles and processed (if I put the wood mill there) or pulled into Port Townsend to be processed then shipped, with some wood going down to Olympia & Portland via the SP&S, and a little getting shipped via carfloat over to Seattle / Vancouver.
–ore cars (from hidden staging or from dock) go to Irondale Iron works, get processed, then come back to docks for shipping (the siding at front of dock has the crane on rails for metal loading / unloading) or add to train back down peninsula. An occasional car of processed metal needs to go to the blacksmith’s shop up at Sequim / Port Angeles, and to the Logging Camp.
–Passenger service from Port Townsend, through Irondale to Sequim / Port Angeles, through Logging Camp town down through penninsula (tunnel / hidden staging) then back up peninsula (far side of middle section) into Port Townsend.
I suggest obtaining a track planning program (some are free) and laying this out where you can use real size track templates. I have reservations as to how this plan would lay out with actual track pieces. Particularly in respects to switches, cross overs, and passing sidings. Not knocking the plan, just think you need to see how it lays out with real pieces. When I planned my 1st layout on paper, then when to lay it out I found what I thought I had drawn fairly accuratly was in reality very off, I have been using Autocadd ever since to plan my last 2 track plans plus several others for friends and enemies. Whats drawn end up 99% dead accurate to what gets layed out in real peices. Its a real time and sanity saver.
I find alot of the logging layouts had the grades around a 2% high end, maybe a little over. 2% grade would be .5 inch verticle increase over a 25 inch distance. Now here’s a neat trick, I had my Atlas Trainmain GP9 pull three 40 foot and a single 50 foot box car up an elevation that rose about 2 inches in 48 inch length. That’s about a 4.2% grade. It barely made it up, but it had no problems with just teh 40 footers. Then I set it up for a 1́2 inch rise over 48 inches, a 1.04% grade, and it made it to the top with 4 40 foot boxs, a 50 foot box, PS2 covered hopper, and a trio of 10 000 gallon beer can tank cars. It started to slip a little at the top but it made it. I also learned from this NOT to put an grade change directly after the curve. Only half the cars where through the 45 degree 11R curve and the engine stalled. My n scale stuff is for sale for the right price by the by. And just for prosperities sake I will try to inform. Grade change is grade change. It’s not like you have to scale a grade change down to HO or N or whatever. Prototype world a 1% grade is a 1 foot rise over a 100 foot distance. 1% grade is also a 1 inch rise over a 100 inch distance, or rather a 1/4 inch rise every 25 inches. 3/8 inch rise over 25 inches is 1.5%, 1/2 inch rise over 25 inches is 2% grade, and 9/16 inch rise over 25 inches is 2.25% grade. I think the biggest I’ve seen in any scale was like 2.3 or 2.4, and it was on an HO scale logging scenery. But they do make those beautiful Shay’s in N scale, they cost the same as a decent used car.
Unfotunately it won’t fit as drawn, a common problem for hand-drawn plans without the use of proper templates… You’ve not allowed sufficient space for turnouts, especially around curves.
Thought I left enough space for Peco #4 (4") in some places & Atlas custom (4"3/4) in others. I see a couple places where I could use wyes (into engine service yard) or curved turnouts (top left into logging camp).
But I understand the importance of space (especially for turnouts), & working on the xtrakcad plans. Thanks for the reminders!
–Mark
