Hi all. I've been lurking for a while, but I am ready to start building a layout and would like some suggestions (you all haven't heard that before, right?)
I've been out of trains for 25 years. Used to have HO, but the current house doesn't have room. But, my 11 year old really wants to build a layout with me. An N gauge door layout will fit just fine. So, these are her (yes, her) givens and druthers:
1. Must be able to run two trains at once
2. Size will be 36x80, we already have the door.
3. Gotta have a bridge and a tunnel and a reasonable long mainline run.
4. Absolutely don't care about eras, road names, etc. If it's pretty, it goes on the layout. If a Santa Fe engine pulls Southern passenger cars, so be it.
5. This one's mine - I like engines, so I wanted to be able to keep several on the layout and switch them out often.
6. Good first time learning experience for building scenery, wiring, etc.
7. Running trains is more important than realistic switching, although some switching should be available.
8. Must allow for some long passenger cars and steam locos, at least on the outside loop.
I looked all over the place for decent track plans, and basically took one we both liked from http://www.naisp.net/mfischer/m_train2.htm and modded it to allow a second mainline and for Kato Unitrak instead of Atlas because I already have a bunch of Unitrak. Except for one loop, I was able to design a min radius of 12.375 inches or larger.
The only area that concerns me is the highlighted 11" radius loop around the yard that also has a 3.4 degree incline. How bad is this? Any ideas on how to mod the layout to avoid it? I figured I needed 1.75" of height to clear, is that enough or too much? The opposite grade is 2%.
Of course, any ideas on other parts of the layour would also be appreciated. Thanks in advance for any help.
If the picture doesn't load, here's the link:
http://www.nscale.net/index.php?module=photoshare&func=displayimage&iid=4955&viewkey=
Mike
I've been out of trains for 25 years. Used to have HO, but the current house doesn't have room. But, my 11 year old really wants to build a layout with me. An N gauge door layout will fit just fine. So, these are her (yes, her) givens and druthers:
1. Must be able to run two trains at once
2. Size will be 36x80, we already have the door.
3. Gotta have a bridge and a tunnel and a reasonable long mainline run.
4. Absolutely don't care about eras, road names, etc. If it's pretty, it goes on the layout. If a Santa Fe engine pulls Southern passenger cars, so be it.
5. This one's mine - I like engines, so I wanted to be able to keep several on the layout and switch them out often.
6. Good first time learning experience for building scenery, wiring, etc.
7. Running trains is more important than realistic switching, although some switching should be available.
8. Must allow for some long passenger cars and steam locos, at least on the outside loop.
I looked all over the place for decent track plans, and basically took one we both liked from http://www.naisp.net/mfischer/m_train2.htm and modded it to allow a second mainline and for Kato Unitrak instead of Atlas because I already have a bunch of Unitrak. Except for one loop, I was able to design a min radius of 12.375 inches or larger.
The only area that concerns me is the highlighted 11" radius loop around the yard that also has a 3.4 degree incline. How bad is this? Any ideas on how to mod the layout to avoid it? I figured I needed 1.75" of height to clear, is that enough or too much? The opposite grade is 2%.
Of course, any ideas on other parts of the layour would also be appreciated. Thanks in advance for any help.
If the picture doesn't load, here's the link:
http://www.nscale.net/index.php?module=photoshare&func=displayimage&iid=4955&viewkey=
Mike
lol
