newby N-scale track on 841mm x 1189 (33"x47")

[takev]

Hi there,

I'm a newby, I have done some finescale modelling the last years and wanted to do real diaramas.

When I was very young I had a fleischmann starters kit, which always failed, I think my mother took it back to the store three times. I hope I have better luck this time, altough I don't buy the starters kit this time.

Now, my house is really small, as I live in Amsterdam, so I have to build something that doesn't use up much space. So I deviced a module setup of ISO-A1 paper size, which
you can stack for storage.

I've made a design
using two of these modules and which can
be extended with further modules on the right
joining the two main line tracks. The line in the
middle is where the two modules meet. I've been carfull not to put any turnouts on this line.

The maximum grade is 3.1% which is made before the "town" station. The sharp bent before the "iron ore mine" station is on a grade of 2.5% and has a radius of 19cm (7.4"). These two stations will be met only with short cars.

The "steel mill" station will be used by train with long 60' cars. The smallest radius it will meet is 28cm (11").

I guess I will start by making the loop.
Then add the stations in the middle, and finaly the big station on the bottom, which will need to be fed by the other modules on the right.

As you see, I am going to make a large flowing industry, iron ore -> steel -> factory -> distribution center -> cities, etc. Altough that will take a long time (luckely), room and money.

So what do you thing? Did I get the grades and radius right? Is it too cluttered? Any sugestions?

[jon-monon]

Welcome to the-gauge! One of the neat things about the-gauge is we make friends all over the world!

I like the plan. You are packing a lot of action into a small space. It offers continouse running (a loop) and point to point operations are possible. Weather it is too cluttered or two tracky, IMHO depends on your usage and personnal preferance. Are you more into modeling, scenerey and appearnce, or more into operations? I like the modeling aspect, so it might be a little tracky for my tastes. Then again, I am a little spoiled with a large area to work with, so if I were more restricted on layout size, I might rethink it. I say go with what you feel is best. When you start laying it out, buildings and track tend to grow and the real estate shrinks, so you do want to leave yourself some extra room.

You could run a short length of Z scale track into the mine and make some push carts or a dummy mine loco and a couple of small ore cars

Love to see it as it progresses!

[jkristia]

Welcome to The Gauge.

It's an interesting plan with a lot of track packed into a small space. I do see one problem in the plan, and that is in the lower right corner. You won't be able to get any cars out of the 2 lower tracks, even if the crossover is a double switch, the right side track of the switch will only hold the locomotive without cars. Maybe you could somehow change the red track coming out of the tunnel to a turnout and then connect the track to there.

Enjoy.

[Xaniel]

Hello, and welcome to the gauge!!! You'll find a lot of good advices and friends here.

About your track plan, really cool. I havce the same problem. I live in Portugal and space is a problem, So I have a 2' by 4' layout. I think you could do something about that plan in the bottom, unless you are thinkng about future expansion. If not, you'll have difficulties putting some cars in those tracks.

That's my opinion.

[takev]

Hello everyone,

Thanks for the advice.

The Z-gauge for the mine is inspired, I was
just thinking about a lift shaft in the ground.

And indeed, the bottom two tracks are impossible to get to, so they are layed last, when I start with a new module (i.e. future expansion) I am thinking of extending the "town" station then too.

I just orderd the wood for the frame I guess I will post pictures of the progress I'll make in this thread, or should I post that in an new thread in the N/Z forum.

[takev]

Hi,

I changed the design a bit, making it
a bit more interesting.

I made a bit of extra room for the scenery.
I removed a track from the city station
and made the bottom two tracks accessable

The high track isn't accessable until I get
new modules.

Most of the track is now on the same level, except for the track running to the iron ore mine and the town. You also see I made the outline of the hill in two levels, possibly these levels are carved out by the mining operation, this will give it more history.

jon-monon, I added a small Nn3 track
next to the iron ore mine station.

[screwysquirrel]

A couple possible problems in the new plan

If you're using sectional track, that long S-curve could cause derailments, You need to include a straight as long as your longest car before reversing direction (generally a 4 or 5" straight is adequate). Even with Flex Track the abrupt change can be tricky.

I would also just remove the turnout on the lowermost right. In its current position, you can't use it for ANYTHING anyway, except maybe a miniscule Loco (like a hand truck) so you might as well save the money and just add it when you expand the railroad.


Also, SERIOUSLY consider adding Re-Railers. They are almost a necessity in N scale. I'd put them in the 'city' yard tracks, and possibly one in the town and another on the 'back stretch' of the main oval

[takev]

Hello screwysquirrel,

Ah, the S-curve, yes, I will and a piece
of straight say 10cm or so in there, ofcource, xtrkcat (the program I use) doesn't allow me more then 50 tracks, as I haven't bought it yet.

I will only buy the track as I go, I'll start with the oval.

re-railers, haven't heard of it yet, I guess if a train is partly derailed, it will put it back on the track?

[screwysquirrel]

A rerailer is a unit of track designed to help place cars and locos on the track successfully. You roll a car back and forth across it and the grooves of the rerailer force the car on the track


Here's a picture of the Atlas N-scale Rerailer:

[takev]

Ah, I see

it looks like a crossing, I need crossings anyway so the passengers can cross the station, etc.

I only need to point them in concrete grey.

[screwysquirrel]

the 'look like a crossing' is intentional

[takev]

It is?

[screwysquirrel]

yes. They are necessary, so they made them look like road crossings

[takev]

Ok, I went back to the drawing board,
I added a streight piece in the large S-bend, although now the grade is 4%, as the total length is shorter.

I changed the station so all the tracks are accessable, even without extra modules.

[jkristia]

I like it. The only thing I think I would change is the double slip switch. I would put a turnout there instead and then extend the bottom track to the right for a small engine facility. Of course I know that that would mean replacing it back to the switch once you are ready for the extension. Oh well, just my thoughts.