is this a reasonable layout?
i found it on a site with a bunch of different layouts.
its a 1.5 by 4 foot N scale shelf layout, i liked it because the mainline loop allows for continuous running, with room for spurs and scenery.
the thing i was thinking was is this a plausible track plan? those curves look tight, and i dont have the experience to tell if the layout’s going to work.
Looks OK to me, but how the devil do you get a train from the mainline to go onto the track in the middle? It doesn’t connect to the main at any point.
[#ditto] There are really two track plans here. One with a loop, and another that just goes back and forth on the inside of the loop.
It is generally considered boring to have long stretches of straight track parallel with the edge of the board.
Reasonable for what? Is is a basic oval with a few industrial spurs. To switch facing spurs a locomotive will have to circle the entire loop to get to the other side. A run around track would help. What are you trying to simulate?
I assume that you are just getting started since you want to have some continuous running, spurs and scenery in a small layout.
This layout will not serve your purposes very well. The oval with a 2 track yard and a single siding offers limited switching possibilities. The center track with 2 spurs on one end and 3 on the other has no run around. Unless you use two engines, you are limited to rearranging the cars at each end. Also, you cannot move cars to and from the
oval.
I would suggest you look for a layout with a run around or passing siding track and several spurs all connected to each other. If you want to run 2 trains at once you’ll need 2 passing tracks.
The curves are tight. 1.5 ft means 6.5" radius curves. For N scale you want to try for 9" and 12" would be better. You don’t say how much space is available, but I would try for at least 2x4 ft. if you can manage more, 2.5 x 6 ft would be a good starter layout in N scale.
Good luck.
Paul
Please keep in mind i am new to model railroading and have very little experience with operation
i guess i could do 2 ft. that was my main concern. it seemed like those curves were awful tight. i really want to start with something like a 4x8 but i just dont have that kind of room, hence the shelf. 2x6 would be the max, and thats pushing it.
i didnt even notice that. the description does say it is a seperate line that runs thru the middle of the layout, weird. i wonder if i could connect it all up somehow (flex track?) would that help on the ‘no runaround’ problem on that center line?
i was also thinking on those long straightaways, using flex instead of sectional to give it a more…flowing look.
i will be using 2 engines, a mainline engine probably a GP40 or something, and a mp15 for switching. (once again, if that is reasonable; i want to find out as much as i can before i start going out and buing stuff)
Hi Greg,
You look like you could use a hand.
Lets see if I can be of any assistance.
First, the enthusiasm is great! But if you don’t get a bit of knowledge I’m afraid you’re going to become frustrated quick. I think you know that though, and that’s why you’re asking questions. That’s great, and you picked a great place to do that!
The thing you really need is some knowledge, and that will help you narrow things down a lot as to what you really want and can actually do. Try out this site ( http://www.vetmed.auburn.edu/~smithbf/BFSpages/LDSIGprimer/TOC.html ) and read a few articles. I learned a lot on that site. Also, get a copy of “Track Planning For Realistic Operation”, by John Armstrong. I don’t care what it costs, it’ll probably be one of the best investments you’ll ever make in this hobby. This is not a one time read book. You’ll use it over and over. Matter of fact, the binding on mine is wearing out and the pages are falling all over the place. Maybe I’ll get a new copy too!
Anyways, the layout you posted needs some help, but it can be made usable. Members of this forum help design plans all the time, but we need for you to determine the design goals in order to be successful. In order to determine those goals, you need the knowledge, that way it can be something you’re happy with for a long time and you’ll know how to operate it and get the most out of it.
Now for you, have you cocidered a plan that doesn’t include continuous running? There can be lots to do on one of these plans, and they can be VERY compact.
Look, lets get some creative juices flowing, huh?
This is the track plans area of my website ( http://s83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Track%20Plans/ ). On it you’ll find lots of plans and some links at the top of the page for more plans, many of them too big for you, but thats OK. Look at the pieces of the plan that make up the whole though. Look how they work together
time for a total revision.
ill figure out something new…Philip, those links really helped. i think a point to point layout would be best for the space i have, which i measured out to be, at the most, 2ft by 6ft. a point to point would be the best i think because i could model an industry of some sort, have a "raw materials’ end, where the train could pick up materials to be processed, and then take them to the opposite end of the line to be processed at a plant/mill/whatever.
now, there probably would be various spurs on each end to accomodate loading/unloading, etc, but would it be logical to have a small rail yard mid-line?
this is a rough sketch to illustrate my idea
now this isnt exact, just something to show what im talking about.
is that gonna be plausible?
That would work.
Another idea might be a switchback design. Some mines used this type of design to get raw materials from the pit up to the top where it could be processed. All it really is, is a see-saw type of back and forth movement that gains a little altitude each step of the way. In 6 feet of length you won’t gain much, but it might work. A logging operation that uses a switchback would probably offer more variety in operation though.
Another idea might be a Port scene. Lots of traffic of all different kinds and lots of switching. Later, you could incorporate it into a larger plan.
could you elaborate on that port scene? that sounds interesting.
I also recommend Track Planning For Realistic Operation.
You need to give us more info. What era, prototype and locale?
Sure!
Ports see lots of action. Thing going onto boats, things comming off of boats. Those things come from and go to other places, and a RR is a great way to get them there.
How you might model something like this is to study some real ports and then selectively compress them to fit your space. For example, you need a loading and unloading track, right? Thats a given. You also need an area to sort some cars and have empties waiting and loads ready to leave. So now we’re up to a minimum of three tracks, four would be better. Remember, we’re talking bare minimums here. You can always add to that. You’re also going to need some space to model the dock itself, to set the scene you know. Now you could add some businesses along the back, maybe modelled as flats. (warehouses, cold storage, fisheries, liquid storage, etc.) Some of this will be determined by location and era. You wouldn’t model a container car facility set in the 1930’s, right?
The beauty of a port scene is it generates all kinds of traffic. Anything can come or go from a port.
Here’s a port I designed for my own layout. It’s set in 1930’s Maine, so it’s a rather small facility.
Click to enlarge
I’ve got passengers, any kind of freight, a car ferry, and I plan to include a fishery. Also, it’s the end of the line for my shortline RR, so there’s a small area for breaking down and making up trains.
You might want to go a little different route, but you get the idea. And later, you can incorporate this into a larger layout.
Here’s an 8 x 1 1/2 foot N scale modern dock.
Again, you’ll probably need something slightly different from this, but this might get your creative juices flowing, you know
If you can make the land grab for 2X6, something like this HO plan (18-24 inches X 12 feet) might fit.
http://home.earthlink.net/~mrsvc/gallery/id23.html
Ports are a great choice for a small switching layout, since there were plenty of real port areas that were pretty tight.
The basic idea with all of these shelf plans is to have a run-around connected to spurs in both directions, with perhaps a small yard. One of my designs for a 1X6 (with a short car float addition on one end) based on the Alameda Belt Line was published in Model Railroad Planning 2005.
This layout was designed to fold to fit on a 12"X36" shelf. The two industries at lower left are intended to be interchangeable for some variety.
Hopefully these will provide some ideas.
Regards,
Byron
Dang, those are good plans, Byron. I especially like the one on the link to your page.
They beat my plans by a country mile! [:D]
Thanks guys, you are too kind!
I forgot to include my own little switching layout, which I designed around some PECO C80 medium radius and curved turnout components I had laying around. This is 18"X72" and is loosely based on real areas in San Jose once served by the Western Pacific.
I wrote about this in more detail in the Layout Design SIG’s Layout Design Jounal LDJ #29, January 2004
Here’s a photo with the PowerPoint-on-foamcore mock-ups that are as far along as I am with structure builidng. It’s fun to operate, though.
The current forum software won’t expand a “portrait” image, so here’s the direct link:
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/pic_frm_leads2.jpg
Regards,
Byron
well…if you dont mind byron, i think ill use a compressed, modified for N scale, and personalized version of that 2x8 layout you have there, i like that dock/loading track, maybe add another track below that loading track, and put another intermodal crane over the new one, maybe move the fueling area over to the top left tracks, etc…
that is if you dont mind.
im already laying it out in RTS…
also, does anyone know any company that makes 1:160 scale boats (like cargo and transport ships, i was thinking about building one up and lopping off the bow section to put in the bay, like it was pulling in…
assuming i am not infringing on any personal copyrights or anything, ill post a pic of the track plan when i get a general idea of where stuff is gonna go.
you guys are an insparation.
KK, you’re welcome to use any of these plans as the basis for your own. Good luck and have fun!
Try Sylvan Scale Models; http://www.isp.on.ca/Sylvan/default2.htm
Nice links in this thread . Byron those plans are pretty nice too.[:)]
