With only 2ft width...

If you want continuous running you are limited to under 12" radius curves. I believe N Scale (I'm an HO'er) has 9" radius curves, but they're going to be similar to 18" in HO - the absolute minimum.

So... run a vision block down the center. You've then got just under 1ft width per side - and two straight sections from which you can run sidings and/or spurs.

That's probably the best way to get the maximum switching possiblities with continous running - and you won't have to hide your train in a tunnel for half of it's run.

Pretty tight

9 and 3/4" radius is the smallest sectional N scale curve, but it really isn't desirable unless you are running short equipment.  You can go to the 11" radius and have an inch on either side which would be better for bigger equipment but still not ideal.  If it absolutely must be 24" and you couldn't squeeze another 2 or 3 inches per side (4-6 inches) in width, do some testing with your equipment to see what will work and what won't. 

Here's what I did in a 4'x8'

Here's what I did in a 4'x8' space on my first HO BC&SJ. 2'x6' in N should give you some extra room to play with in a similar plan. The twice around design on different levels resulted in quite a number of vignettes (mini-views) in a relatively small space.  But don't go trying to run modern (read LOOONG) equipment on the necessarily tight radius curves. Even if it works mechanically it will look a bit comical. If you stay with 1st generation diesels and 50' cars this won't be much of a problem. Good luck to you.

Cheers,

Charlie

Tight curves

I am running in ho scale but the issue of tight curves is still the same. On my new layout a slight oversight left me with having to put in a pretty tight curve. I did it with flex track to get it in the space I have, so I'm not real sure of what the radius is, but I have a few cars I am no longer able to run. Which isn't bad cause 95% of the cars I own are 50' or less. My advise is if your trains run great around a curve it's really not too tight. But it does limit what you can run.

here is one

here is a N layout that the great people here have helped me design utilizing a minimum of space.  2 feet 1 1/2 inches in width & just under 4 feet long.  I decided to model the mid 1950's which will, among other things, allow me to run very small equipment & not look silly.  My minimum raduis is 10" & I plan on running strictly 4 axle diesels, 40' boxcars, 2 bay hoppers, etc.  This will allow for a "bigger" train on a very small layout.

Jeremy T

It would be nice, even for N,

It would be nice, even for N, to give yourself a 30" width so that you can get 11 or 12" R and have room on either side. My layout designed for a similar space is described in my first blog entry . Do note that I built mine more for an eye to trying out a lot of different tecnhiques then for long term enjoyment. Its going to get salvaged and pitched when I get done with it. Someday. I would not go much larger then 11 or 12" because then you start to lose length as well as width..

My recommendation, like Jeff suggests, is to put a view divider down the middle. This turns your 6 foot space into a 12 foot shelf folded on itself. Then I would consider these options:

- To maximize modeling enjoyment scenic both sides with a different scene. Hide one end of the oval. This will make it look like a 12 foot long run going from one place to another. Ideal for learning construction techniques. Short term life span before the roundy roundy gets old.

- To maximize operation I would make one side 18" deep designed for interesting switching and operation. The other side I would have be a 6" wide staging yard. Your main location would be one stop along a line that extends east and west (or north/south) from the town with trains coming in both directions. The trains can just meet and pass, some may lay out cars for local industries. Tony Koester's operations book has a great example of this kind of track plan in the second chapter. Ideal for combining "real" operation of trains following a schedule. Allows one to show off a variety of cars and rolling stock. Provides an easy jumping off point for future expansion.

- To maximize switching do something like the first option but combine the two sides into one large industrial area. This is sort of like the Beer Line that Model Railroader is doing. You would need to have some kind of interchange track or perhaps a car float that brings cars to and from the layout. The enjoyment would be in building the industries served and in doing the switching. Ideal to provide lots of switching fun but at the expense of having a lot of trains staged to come on and off the layout. Cars will come and go but likely only one or two actual scheduled trains will exist. Also ideal for someone who wants to build a large industrial or city scene in a limited space. Easy to hide the back loop with buildings.

HTH.

Chris