I'm Back with a Layout!

[fullsteam88]

Hello all,

First off, I wanted to let everyone know I am back on here. Granted, when I was with you back in September I didn't spend a whole lot of time here, but oh well. I have been spending a majority of time over with the folks at Nscale.org (GREAT nscale site by the way, folks there have been helpful it getting me off the ground).

I am getting ready to start track laying sometime this week hopefully. My layout is attached so everyone can get a feel for it. It is going to be a 3'x8' N Scale layout. I am basing it off of Erie Railroad operations (fairly loosely due to my space) but I am okay with that. Thought I would poke my head in and let everyone know I am back and hanging around, doing some reading and hopefully spending some more time on here.

Fullsteam88

 

[UP2CSX]

Interesting layout but it looks like mostly a roundhouse and yard with some mainline track that services some industrial spurs. You really have almost no room for scenery beyond a few industries and even they will be jammed between other trackage. what is your vision of your railroad? If it's maximum track and operations, then you have a good layout. If not, you may want to see if you can eliminate some track and open up space for scenery.

 

[nmaniac]

Scenery? nooooooooo you can do lots right there Jim all heavy stuff weld shop, backshops RIP tracks, team tracks misc building pack that baby with warehouses and them some more save the trees for the other scale LOL Jim can you feel the loveeeeeeeee LOLOL all in good fun Looks like I may have to set up the "Switcher" to show Jim what I mean

 

[fullsteam88]

This portion of the layout is mainly meant to be industry and yard operations. I have plans (a ways down the road) that will incorporate another 3'x8' table in an L shape that will have more scenery. For now I wanted to be able to run switches, classify, etc.

This layout is going to be somewhat cramped, and I know that. It is going to be yard and engine operations on the left. Then the right with the spurs are all going to be servicing Marion Power Shovel Co. buildings with raw goods and hauling finished product off. It is made to closely resemble Erie operations around Marion, OH (even though they didn't have a turntable there...but I had to use it for space)

Fullsteam88

 

[TaeOH]

Looks interesting. May keep you happy switching while you plan the rest of the Mainline. Also may be too packed to manage.

I have been thinking about doing something like this...or possibly a variation of the Carolina Central just to get start with a permanent layout now. The temp track I have been setting up has been fun, but now that I am fiddling with DCC, I find it quite a bit limiting. My problem is that I really want to run passenger trains and they require a much bigger layout to get real satisfaction. So I think I might as well begin with the shelf layout all the way around my room.

I would probably go to nscale.org more if their web design was not so overdone. That is one unfriendly site.

 

[68 Camaro]

You could stretch it out into a "L" or "U" shaped switching layout, about 1.5 feet deep, that would give you more running distance. I hope you don't get bored with it before its done.

Larry

 

[UP2CSX]

Larry, I know, trees just don't look as good in that "tiny" scale.

Fullsteam, why do you need a turntable and roundhouse? I know they look neat but it's taking up nearly half your layout. The smaller the layout, the more the turntable and roundhouse get to be the dominant theme. If you got rid of the turntable and roundhouse, you could have a much larger and better laid out yard with some room left for a few buildings and even some green things. You could replace the roundhouse and turntable with a two stall engine house and a wye to turn your engines and gain back a lot of real estate.