Ideas for my upcoming layout
Introduction
This autumn I will have a room free for setting up a permanent model railroad. The room is 4 x 5 meters and along with the railroad I also have to make room for a working table and some storage. The space is a bit limited but big enough to make an interesting layout that can provide many hours of fun building and operation.
What brought me to model railroading was the technical aspect of the hobby, but the operational part is getting more and more interesting as times go on.
I have been thinking a lot of what kind of layout will suit me best and this is how I have been thinking:
1. Why do I want to build a layout?
I have always been interested in models. In the past I have been competing with RC-cars and I have also done quite a lot of RC-flying. I have a big interest in electronics and when I found out that I can combine all my interests in one hobby I was hooked.
2. What are my priorities regarding MRR.
What I like most is the technical aspect. I like to construct and build things. I also like electronics and automation, so my layout will definitely be computer controlled. Since almost a year ago I’m a member of a modular RR club. Through this club I have learnt to appreciate operating more and more, so the layout must also have interesting operating possibilities. What I like most in operating is yards and the puzzle that this can provide.
3. How will the layout be operated.
Most of the time I will probably build or operate alone, but occasionally I guess there will be a small group of people on this layout for operating sessions in the future.
From those answers I have come up with this layout idea:
It will be a double deck layout, with a hidden staging yard below the lower deck. The lower deck will represent a short section of a main line. It will be the outside of a town and it will contain a Harbor and a Yard next to the Harbor that also has machine facilities. There will also be a Passenger station and a branch line to a Steel Mill. On this deck it will be a lot of possibilities to have switching action and running trains in city environment.
The hidden yard below the lower deck will represent stations in East and West. This will be handeld by computer i guess.
The upper deck will be a branch line with a coal mine, an interchange and maybe a factory. Here it will also be some line in open nature for driving trains manually.
I’m aware that this plan will not provide the best operating possibilities, but it is the best compromise I can come up with for the moment. I have until autumn / winter to decide.
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Comments
Conceptual drawings:
What scale?
What era are you considering? What size of motive power and rolling stock?
Overall the concept seems good. It would appear you're designing for N-scale - anything larger and that helix will be a real problem.
Cheers,
Charlie
Editor, Model Railroad Hobbyist magazine
N-scale layout
You are perfectly right in your asumtion of N-scale. I forgot to write that. I have another blog where I will collect all postings for the future and there I have it in the header of the page.
The era will be 1950-1960, maybe 1965.
My goal for this layout is to be able to run at least 6 passenger cars and two locos in a train.
All lengths are in cm.
That will give the following maximum number of cars with two locos:
All lengths are in cm.
The conclution from this is that a minimum block-length of either 125 or 140 cm will be fine, depending of no of cars wanted .
Harbor take 1
I have been playing a bit with 3rd Planit yesterday and this morning, and I came up with this trackplan. It's the harbor area. Beside one turn that have a radius of 163 mm (6.5" ) the minimum radius is 204 mm (8"). I have to try this with my roling stock to see if it works.
You also need to see if your locomotibe will handle it
Those are tealy smal radii so you'll need to check and see if you locomotives will handle those curves, Don't forget to check to see if you couplers can handle them as well.
Irv
Yes, it's VERY small radii.
Yes, it's VERY small radii. It's the industrial area that have those. I will model street running and going between the houses in this area, that’s why I’m trying to do this. Thanks for the advice to check on the couplers as well!
Check your curve radii against our article
Check the curve radii you're planning against the curve radius guidelines in MRH Issue 1. You may be using a radius that is too small for your locos to negotiate - and the equipment you're hoping to use may not track or couple reliably.
I assume this is N scale?
Joe Fugate
Publisher, Model Railroad Hobbyist magazine
I love the turn right to go
I love the turn right to go left in the industrial area. Had one of those in my plans in the past, but it is hard for those of us who don't hand lay track to accomplish. Look forward to see it as you make progress!
Test of Industry track
Now I have tested the small radii of the industry track, and it worked better then I expected.
First I tested a KATO NW2 and that didn't work at all.
Test number two was a KAT RSC-2 and that barely made it.
Test nuber tree was a Atlas GP35 and that worked without a problem.
Tested radii - 163mm / 6,4"
On the next test with a radius of 204mm / 8" KATO RSC-2 workt without any problem but the NW2 still didn't work.
With a couple of local switchers for the industry it will be possible to use this kind of radii. I will do some more testing before I decide, but this was a very positive test!
Here is a film of the successful test.
The last two days I have
The last two days I have spent building a crossover. This was most for fun, but I will use it on my upcoming layout. Crossovers are so nice to look at so I just have to use that on the new layout. Here is a picture of the Crossover.