New N-Scale Layout — Need suggestions / Advice


Firstly, thanks for having me — Let's jump right into this. I'm 38 and reignited my passion for the hobby when my new home has the space to do so. The lure of the hobby and my willingness to get started had me dive right in. I basically recreated the layout my dad built for me, just 3 times the size — with some extra bits here and there.
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Since these photos have been taken — my dad and I (when he visits from England) have installed a backdrop and automated all of the points. I can provide a photo, yet my staging area is located at the back. This is how I did it back in the day, yet I've been using an external monitor to see what's behind there and I get frustrated with a derailment. What I love doing is running long trains — while also having the ability to explore some industry.

This brings me to where I am now — I'm at a spot where I'm struggling to invest more time into the layout as I feel like I've out grown it. It's served its purpose and I'm so thankful I took the leap and just started building.

Now — I'm actually in a spot where I can think about the space a little more and in turn create something that 1 — I get to model and go for that realism. I do love modeling and I want to be able to create images similar to the second option. What I am missing, is a place to have my locos on display, to shunt/move — I love the idea of a port/industry to have everything located. The ability to have a single? Possibly a twin line running through the hills, a station + industries. What I do know is that I want something realistic — I've thought about it — and I'd rather have something functional, yet not see me able to have everything on display. Yet if I can find a way or have a large yard/port — I could most likely tick both of the boxes — while not hiding half my layout.

I have the space to do something much bigger — yet I am trying to be mindful of the wife's space and I don't want to push things too much :D

Below you'll see a quick mockup of the area I'm thinking of working with. The white space is several pipes that I don't want to mess with. Yet it could serve as a simple way to run a train through a mountain and out the other side. This is honestly the only place I want to have something away from reach. I could technically omit that part, but I think it will help to free up the space a little more. I also think that the section on the right / I currently used for a scenic loop — I could technically flip this and have the scenic approach on the left and keep the industry/yard on the right — as I do have the ability to go 11/12ft outwards. Technically this 12ft/11ft — I could do a 12/12 L pretty much.

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My dad will be visiting in September — and I'd love to get laying something when he's here, so my first step is to actually build a base for this thing. So, I'm not in a massive rush in regards to the design — but I would really appreciate anything feedback/suggestions.

Nothing is locked in at all — Although I do have plenty of Kato track and would love to stick to that.

Please share your thoughts/suggestions. Possibly you've got a similar space and are willing to share your space.

Doodle/concepts below for the staging area? Just a start.

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Welcome aboard!
Not being in a rush is a good thing for sure as is knowing what you’re aiming for.
Thats a nice size space for a layout, I'm mainly HO but started a small ( 30” X 120”) N scale layout with Kato track.
It's been on hold for a bit while I’m dealing with other things but is due for an update soon.
We’ll be watching!
 
I would use the area around the pipes as a industrial area. Suggest keeping that double tracked to keep the mainline open. Otherwise I would go single track with passing sidings and the occasional RIP siding. The real railroad is looking to keep costs down and the less track to maintain saves time and money.
 
Appreciate your input — Been looking at flipping things and possibly making the larger section on the right at the base a dock/shipping yard. While still keeping a single run high up in the cliff face — I will keep everyone updated!
 
It's as high/low as needed — still figuring things out — I would think visually 2/3 inches would be great. Guess it all depends on the configuration of the layout. I'm still planning and looking for advice.
 
2 inches is 26.8 scale feet. 3 inches is 40.2 scale feet. You just have to allow for a gentle transition between the two heights. Hopefully someone with better experience on this chimes in…my layout is flat.
 
Hey fellow modelers — I'm back and looking for some advice, suggestions, and ideas. Since I last posted, I've gotten approval from the wife for a specific space, and I'm also avoiding the actual boiler.

I'm planning to build the base for a two-level layout with my father as he's visiting for the next 4 weeks. I'm set on the sizing to some degree, and I'm working on exploring a layout that is fun to operate — which is where I'd love some ideas, suggestions. For an overall goal — I'd love the lower level to be industry/city — where I can show all of my rolling stock, with the upper level being rolling hills, for running long trains.

Below you'll see a couple of really brought outlines on a layout/track plan — what I want to do this time is take my time and not rush into anything. Though I need to maximize having my dad here so constructing the base/outline of my layout is important.

Lower Level will be at 40Inches. Industrial yard/city?.. I keep going between two track all the way around, but I like the idea of a complete loop, so a train could technically go all the way around and come back again. I also see an advantage of having the ability to run both levels as a loop. But right now I'm focusing on the basics and operational perspective. Last time I loved building my layout, but got stuck when operating. I want to make sure everything is within reach.
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The upper level will be 16 Inches above the lower. I like the idea of a possible industry up here and a small town/station. Still wide open, possibly elevating the back by two 3 inches to create some separation. Rivers? Passing loop somewhere.
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Please note that this is all rough — I'm also terrible when it comes to technical track layouts. That I why I love Kato, because I can plug/play to some degree. Go easy on me — and please, offer suggestions. I also ordered a KIT for the Helix to ensure that goes as smoothly as possible. I've also pulled this back a bit as I'd prefer to have a functional/fun-to-run layout, with space for scenery — than trying to cram too much in. I'm trying to model realism as much as possible.

Thanks!
 
I just have a couple of comments, as a Unitrack nscaler who also likes to sometimes just watch trains run...
1. Have you considered allowing trains to remain on one level and still run full loops of the layout without changing [vis the helix] levels? This will probably require a reversing section on each level.
2. You are going to have some potential issues on the upper level with all of your "S" curves without straight sections in the middle of the ess. I count 5 such on the upper.
Good luck. Ron
 
Hey Freescopesdad! — Appreciate your response. I've certainly expanded my vision and agree with you in that having the ability to do a full loop on each level will open things up! I'm currently constructing the frame now with my dad – and since the area I'm working in isn't going to change — we've been getting things done. (see below)

Then for the S curves — do you have any further recommendations on this — I love winding tracks, hence the really rough track plan. But from your comment, should I be at least adding a straight between each curve section? Appreciate the feedback.

My main goal is also to be flexible in my approach — especially since I'm using unitrack. I'm not rushing into any modeling until I'm happy with my layout from a running standpoint.
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I have the space to do something much bigger — yet I am trying to be mindful of the wife's space and I don't want to push things too much :D

That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard 🤣🤣🤣.
Just kidding :D

I'm just seeing this thread for the first time. I'm looking forward to following along and welcome to the group!!!
 
1. What I love doing is running long trains — while also having the ability to explore some industry.
1 — I get to model and go for that realism.
a place to have my locos on display, to shunt/move
— I love the idea of a port/industry to have everything located.
The ability to have a ... line running through the hills,
a station + industries.
I'd rather have something functional, yet not see me able to have everything on display. Yet if I can find a way or have a large yard/port — I could most likely tick both of the boxes — while not hiding half my layout.
There is a lot to unpack here. A few questions:
  • Are you liking the operational part of a port or the look of it?
  • When you say shunt, are you talking about breaking and making up trains in a yard? I would call this drilling the yard.
  • How many locos do you have to "display"? Are you actually wanting a locomotive service facility? I assume from the pictures this is all diesel.
  • I think I need some more description of what you mean by "functional", other than I realize you don't just want a moving display case, or just mindless circles of track.
From your list above is there a priority? I see a couple of #1s, but assigning numbers to each one might help drive a design you will be happy with.

The latest design you posted doesn't seem to check off a lot of these boxes. It seems a large yard, helix, and the scenery part. I am not trying to be critical but the yard design is not very realistic or functional. It is more of a staging yard rather than a shunting (classification) yard. Was that the intent? If so my comment is out of line. As an aside, personally, I hate yards on a curve. Of course with the N-scale truck mounted couplers that is a lot less an issue than in the larger scales.
 
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Hey All — great questions Iron Horseman! Right now my initial goal was to get the two levels built, understanding that the part that can't change is the helix location. And since my dad is visiting again, it's been important to me to keep moving as much as possible, as you can imagine this time for me is pretty special — so we've been moving ahead (I say we, my dad has hahaha) and have been adapting things and right now have successfully got things running. With a continuous loop top/bottom — while being able to run a train from the top, around the bottom, back up the helix and back again. The track plan is changing here and there, yet since I'm using KATO, I'm happy to get some of the framework in, to understand the space I have to work with — from there I'm hoping to figure out more of the running logistics. My big passion is the scenery, yet I really want to hold on doing anything on that front until I've been able to actually wrap my head around the operational aspects of the layout. Your question on the overall operations/shunting, is honestly not set in stone and it's a passion I'm rekindling. My previous layout made me realize how much I simply enjoy running trains — and my initial hope here/thoughts is that I have the ability to run long trains, from a couple of locations, say a port? depot — run them from that, around the layout then back into the depot again. I'm trying to be mindful of space — I do want the lower level to look busy — I'd like it to be a place to stage at the back, hold trains, then the front — from a visual stand point — I'd love that container yard/port or whatever just look fantastic from a modeling stand point.

I love your observations on "realistic or functional. It is more of a staging yard rather than a shunting (classification) yard." this is honestly one of those questions where I'm not really sure. My last layout was two sided, with my yard hidden behind the mountain — which I liked having the illusion of my locos coming in one side, then leaving the other. But it got boring quickly — and, I really wanted to see my stock. From an overall function standpoint — I'd love some samples/examples of what a fun/shunting yard would be. I like the idea of moving loads / possibly having a industry on the top level, where I can bring it down to the lower. As you can see, I'm still noodling and really want to play and run some trains and see where some of the pain points arise.

Couple of images: Papa & Oscar helping build the frame + Layout.
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Hey All — thought I'd give you an update. Along with some images — my dad left yesterday, so I'm a little sad, but I've been left with an amazing layout to play with and start to figure out the nuances. Being honest, this got way further ahead than I'd planned during my parents 6 week visit, though here we are. As you can see both levels are set and the helix is functioning. My thought process is the lower level is going to be an intermodal yard, along with a city for the terminus station to stop at. Then the second level I want to be scenic – though have an industry/town to be able to operate trips from the lower level, up and back down again — while also doing trips/runs of whatever cargo I figure out. Anyways — I'm not in a rush to start ballasting or work on scenery. My goal is to enjoy operating the layout and find areas where I don't like things and figure out alternatives and different approaches.



(Dad watching the heritage passenger train travel through the hills to the town above the helix)
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(Looking down, town on top left of helix? — run through hills, possible large mountain/scene to the right)
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(Lower level, you can see the loop from the back line coming in from the bottom left — thinking about having that area possibly for the engine shed, or a continuation of the intermodal yard and a port/boat scene)
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Going to spend some time playing with this and figuring out things! But, I'm feeling pretty good!
 



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