Small Layout

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Hi, I’m relatively new to the scene of N-Gauge. I’ve dabbled here and there, buying a few things, but now I’m getting my hands dirty so to speak. My kids started asking about my little trains, and I couldn’t leave it any longer.

I obtained a cork bulletin board from one of my relatives. The face is very thin cork, and it was lifting and had a few torn spots. It took a bit of finagling, but I was able to utilize all my track except a few turns.

This layout is an exercise in learning. I have done a lot of Automotive modeling including numerous Dioramas, so I think I have an idea on landscaping, granted it will be on a much grander scale so to speak. Here is some of my handiwork:

Including a Shadow Box for a Uncle who is a retired CN Engineer utilizing a Christmas Ornament set:

I have done a bunch of reading, and I think the best advice I’ve found is to start on something small and complete it. That way you know your strengths and what is going to slow you down. I’m still trying to decide on a prototype, but because my kids want to be involved, I will be open minded. In fact I already have requests for a beach, a drag

2

hi plymouth71

Well it looks like you already have some of the skills you are going to need.

I am not real sure about the base you have used I have the feeling it won’t be substantial enough for the job.

Choosing a prototype is a very much personal choice and could be as basic as like the color or more personal like happy childhood memories or any number of other reasons.

Most model railroaders have a space X feet By Z feet to work with.

Then choose what must go on the layout

for example

passenger depot, Airfield, drag strip, cheese factory, freight depot, small freight yard single or double main line etc.

Then a list of what would be nice but not essential.

Once the lists are sorted then finalized a track plan is drawn to suit the available space remember you have to be able to reach things.

Making the bench work to suit the plan is next and then getting the track down and wired. and trains running.

By this point its probably a good idea to have already decided on traditional DC or DCC control system.

Now work can proceed any which way it likes.

It is a very good idea for the Kids to be involved, but if they want a drag strip or whatever then they should help to create it as this gives them a sense of ownership and they are more likely to look after the set up.

In fact every where they can help with or without supervision as is appropriate for the task they should.

They will want to play with the trains as well so perhaps let them each choose a locomotive that they like thats not to expensive and thats the one they have to look after and care for appropriate to age so they can play trains.

planing is important so you get a good result…

As to making it your own that usually comes from the choices you make and that building kit you decided would look better with this modification so you did the mod.

I am sure others will have better ideas or can put ideas better than

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Plymouth 1:

John has done a nice job of covering the considerations for starting your railroad. I would add the the most important thing to consider is what you want your railroad to do. It shouldn’t be “I want a airport with a railroad around it” but rather the railroad goes from x to y and delivers z to w and q to r etc and there is an airport on the layout. In other words the railroad has to have a logical purpose for operating in order to hold your interest and not be something that you play with occasionally.

Joe

4

Small layouts can be great. You can have a lot of fun with just a small layout.

I have a very small HO scale 3.5 feet by 5.1 feet which is small for HO. It consists of two interconnected ovals with a 4 spur yard and a 2 spur engine servicing facility inside the inner oval.

You say you “managed to use all your track”…I didn’t know you had to! You have a very good plan for what you have…I DO hope there is a backing on the note board and not just the thin cork! I also hope that the cork is glued firmly to the backer board as it si likely to peel away and bubble and warp your tracks.

Since you have model building experience, you will do fine at scenicking your layout with buildings. Now to find what goes where.

It DOES look like the bumper on the far top spur MIGHT give you problems with RR cars rounding the curve there dragging against it. Also…what is that black/brownish thing on the right hand side in the middle of the curve?

Now you say is is an exercise in learning…what do you need to learn., and what books will you need to help you learn? There are tow “shop” buttons above in the gray and black tool bars on the site here that will lead you to books on any subject regarding MRRIng.

If you need anything, don’t be afraid to ask here as well!

Hope you enjoy MRRing as much as the cars!

[8-|]

5

Looks a lot like my first little HO railroad back in 1959. You may never have as much fun on your own in model railroading as this first adventure of learning and doing, regardless of the size of any future effort. It looks just great to me and N scale gives you a lot more effective MR’ing for a given space. If you have a future in this, it will involve homing in on a million details, but for now, welcome to MR and enjoy, this, your first effort at a formal layout.

Richard

6

An airport, beach or drag strip would be considered “scenery.” On the other hand, a factory, oil dealer or packing plant would be an “industry.” When looking at a railroad, which ones are “rail-served” and will generate interest for train operation?

That’s not to say you can’t have both, but we are all constrained for space, so choices have to be made. An airport or drag strip can be suggested by modeling just a small corner, and leaving the rest either “in the aisle” or painted on a backdrop that doesn’t take up space.

A beach by a small lake is something that is good for filling in the center of track loops. Adding a lake made from clear resin like Envirotex or other materials is a great bit of scenery, and not that hard to do.

7

I was thinking along the same lines with my first N Scale layout in '68.

The layout looks nice as is.

I will add one doesn’t need to run passenger trains but,the station could be convert to maintenace of way(MOW) or perhaps a yard office…If you decide to model a short line then the station can be the railroad’s general offices.

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Quote" You say you “managed to use all your track”…I didn’t know you had to! You have a very good plan for what you have…"
By galaxy 10-14-2012 4:31 PM

Thanks, What I meant to say or the point I wanted to get across was that I wanted to get as much track on the layout as possible without being too busy. This is for my kids to play with while I work on a more permanent layout.

Quote"It DOES look like the bumper on the far top spur MIGHT give you problems with RR cars rounding the curve there dragging against it."
By galaxy 10-14-2012 4:31 PM

The bumper is actually far enough away not to interfere, the other item is a crossing.

Thanks everyone for your input. This is just an exercise in my learning curve. I will be planning a larger layout, and I have already begun my studies…