New Layout - Looking for Ideas!

[Hydra427]

Hello Everyone, I have been thinking about starting a model railroad and am looking for some layout ideas. I have attached a small layout of what I am looking for. I would love any ideas that you can give me and possible track plans. I am going to be modeling in N-scale and look forward to hearing any suggestions you may have. The grids on the drawing are 12" square. I have listed some elements in the middle that I am looking to incorporate into the layout.

Thanks in advance, John

[otiscnj]

John,

Can you provide any more info about why you're interested in getting into building a model railroad?

FWIW, I couldn't get your attachment to open up.

[Hydra427]

otiscnj, Thanks for the reply, I tried opening the attachment by double clicking it at work and was able to open it with no problems. I will check when I get back home as well.

As to why I want to get back into MRR. When I was a kid my neighbor & I constructed a nice size HO layout at his house. Many days were spent building models and laying track. When I look back on this I almost laugh at how nieve we were. I have always been building models since I was a kid. Many of my interests come from model building. Now that I have a steady job I can afford some of the things that are needed to make a nice layout. I have always been fascinated by the craft and have years of Model Railroader magazines built up around my house.

I am not as interested in the actual operation of the train as I am seeing them run. This might change as the years go by but for now I am more into the running of the trains and the scenery that surrounds them.

John

[railfan]

You should be able to do alot with that size platform in N scale. Looks good.



Mike

[cuyama]

Here's a similar idea for an N scale layout in a smaller space.



You should have plenty of room. As others have noted, your thoughts on era, theme, locale, etc. will help guide your design efforts. If you haven't read it, John Armstrong's Track Planning for Realistic Operation is a tremendous resource for doing your own design.

Best of luck.

[joed2323]

You may think you just want to see your trains run laps but you will eventually become board with this.
I highly suggest you atleast have one industry to switch at besides of running laps. You could run a few laps then stop at whatever industry to drop off empties and pick up loaded cars, head back out to do some more laps.

[Hydra427]

joed2323, I can agree with you, I would probably get bored running trains in circles. I just would like to have a couple of long runs. I plan on having a nice yard and turntable along with some sort of coal mine to keep my mind occupied with moving cars and loads.

[LoudMusic]

What's on the bottom edge of that image? It looks like you'd need a walkway there. Is it possible to move the layout into that space "along the wall" and have a peninsula for the reversing loop? You might end up with more layout space and less walkway with that arrangement, which could provide additional track options.

As for layout design, if you're interested in long running trains I'd consider working in varied elevation on a single deck. Some stuff at table level in the front and some more stuff 'up in the mountains' along the back. That way it can move through the same area of the layout multiple times and have the sensation that it's going somewhere. Also, elevation helps make it all look bigger

[Iron Horseman]

Originally Posted by Hydra427

I have listed some elements in the middle that I am looking to incorporate into the layout.

Those elements are at the most basic level. I would suggest getting a bunch of layout books from the library and examine all the track plans. Start picking out larger elements that you see and like from them. After assembling a list of those elements then start working them together into your layout.

For example in the May 1970 issue of MR there was a track plan for the Cumberland & Susquehanna that had two towns in it that really captured my imagination. I have incorporated elements of those two towns into many of the layouts I have designed since then. In fact, that might be an excellent layout to look into for ideas for an Allegheny flavored layout.

1. With that much space in N-scale there are many possibilities, so don't jump in on the first good idea that comes along. Get many good ideas and consider before choosing and starting to build.

2. Since you want to have a "rail fan" type layout, I would suggest making two levels for lots of train viewing, but also inclusion of many operational features for use as your model railroading appetite matures and just watching trains orbit becomes boring.

3. The Allegheny Mountains! 1960! Why go freelance? My heavens I would suggest just backing up two or three years and model the N&W. They ran their last steam locomotive in March 1960. My second suggestion would be to "model" the V&O. Freelance work takes so much research, thinking, and planning just to get a 1/2 way reasonable back story. Researching a Prototype is much easier. Were I starting totally from scratch, right now, I would model the N&W Radford Division & the Abingdon Branch.

4. Leave lots of room to park trains out of site (commonly called a hidden yard or "staging"). That way instead of watching a single or two trains circulate they can stop and a different train be brought out without having to manually take one off and put the other on. I.E. Instead of watching coal train, coal train, coal train as it loops, Watch coal train, Pocahontas, mixed freight, express reefer, coal train...

[joed2323]

You can get alot more track for even longer mainline runs if you go up, as in atleast a helix to get up to the second level.

It has to be set at the right height for both levels or you loose the effect and it doesnt look right. Some people even hate anything more then one level. Its personal preference really.

I wanted to add a second deck to my layout, but my main level is set at a height of about 50 inches, and if i went higher i would be looking at around 65-70 inches, yeah thats pretty tall, basically head level, not many people think thats cool. I built my layout height and didnt think i would want to go higher but things change. So figure out before hand what you want out of your layout. In my case i can just build outward since my layout is in a corner of my basement

So before you start building the height of your layout, figure out if you only want one level, if so i like to look at my layout no lower then chest level, i personaly do not like the helicopter view of some layouts, but thats my preference, everyone has there own likes.