It's a nice little layout

I'll be looking forward to the next few? issues to see how this turns out. I do find it interesting that it seems like Dave did not plan everything down to the last detail.

I have found myself doing the same thing.

And Dave you aren't the only one with a desire to build something that you attempted when you were a kid. I am tempted to go down the same path with N scale.

Jack

Thanks, Jack

This has been quite an adventure.  My rough plan has been in my head since I was 16.  As usual, what works in your head doesn't always work in practice.  But that's actually kind of the fun of it.  What I've enjoyed about this layout is trying something to see if it works, and if it doesn't, try something else. 

In the end, there are a number of things that I'm not completely happy with, but they'll work and some day, maybe I'll change them.  For many years I was paralyzed from doing much because I wasn't sure if it would work and if I'd be happy with the result.  This layout has shown me that I need to just do things and see how they work and how I can improve it next time.  If it fails, do it again.  And what I'm learning here will be invaluable when I build a more permanent layout.

My hope is that these articles will help others like me just take a relatively small project and build it.  If you don't like the results, tweak it or try some other technique.  The stakes on this are pretty small.

Dave ...

Yes

I should have something to you in the next week, Joe.

Looking Forward to the Progress

Because I'm attempting something similar after being away from the hobby for 50 years, I'll be avidly following your adventures in building. In my case I'm building the Linn Westcott "HO Railroad That Grows" layout, but in N scale. This was the one my dad and I had started building so many years ago and it stuck with me as the one I wanted to build if I ever got back to the hobby. Now that I have, I find space considerations are a limiting factor so I've chosen to replicate it in N.

Although I plan to faithfully recreate the plan in stages as much as possible, I'm already thinking of requisitioning a small storage room to build a much larger one. Even so, I like the track design you have as it seems to give the right amount of curves, scenery, and switching that interests me. I also like the name, "Scenic & Relaxed" as that's how I view model railroading.

Thanks for a great article and looking forward to seeing your progress. Cheers,

Rich

Thanks, Rich

I hope you document your progress on this site, or at least update us periodically.  Its always nice to see people's progress on their layouts and the HO Railroad that Grows in N scale would be neat to see come to life.  I also considered that in N scale 30+ years ago, but the Scenic & Relaxed won out.  

Thank You Big Time

For many, many past years I've been looking for just this type of "N" scale layout. I hope you will keep us informed on your progress. Thank you.

Be well, stay save.

Sojourner

There will be more.  I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Is that plastic road bed

Is that plastic road bed sectional track? 

Real Model Railroaders do not use that plastic roadbed sectional track. 

Why did you not do this in HO? 

You know you can only enjoy realistic model railroading the proper way, only if you do it in HO.

This is a Joke...   

I was waiting

for a comment from you, Az.  I almost feel like this series is a throwback to Reverse Running in some way.

Dave

I was going to say something about the track plan book... but everyone that is a serious model railroader has some sort of realistic track plan to follow...

Reverse Running has been shifted into Neutral Gear for some time now.