Layout Design

Why Do You Want to  Model?

If you want to have a 3′ x 3′ circle in N-scale, single block with a SD70MAC hauling 40′ box cars – do that! If you want a 1930′s logging line, do that too! Every modeller has a different intention for their layout. I hope with this article we give you ideas how to do what you want, not tell you what to build. Also, we won’t have all the answers, but I hope that with a little advice you can build something you enjoy. If you have questions you can contact us on the forums, the NMRA website, and your local hobby shop dealer can also be very helpful.

Operations

Whichever design you choose feel free to use “artistic license” to modify the layout from the prototype to work how you want or need it to work to fit, or be in your budget. Some general categories:

1. Out and back: The train leaves the terminal and proceeds around a line which ends up back at the terminal. The one terminal may be operated as if it were two different terminals, one at each end of the line. The scheme works best of the four for small spaces.
2. Division point: Trains proceed to staging in each direction out of the terminal. The terminal is a “division point yard” where all trains stop and crews are changed. This requires a reasonable mainline run on each side of the yard before going into staging. This scheme typically works best in large spaces, and is especially suited for railroads where mainline running is the operations goal.
3. Main terminal: One end of the terminal immediately plunges into staging, the other end connects to the mainline run portion of the layout before going into its own staging. This scheme works especially well for combination mainline run/switching oriented operators.
4. Branchline: The terminal is on a mainline “oval loop”, the other part of the oval is hidden staging for mainline trains. A branchline connects to the main at the terminal, and meanders off into the countryside servicing local industries. Mainline trains drop off and pickup cars for the branchline, left at the interchange terminal. Obviously a switching-oriented design.

Prototype

Are you recreating something that already existed in the real world? If yes, do some reasearch about it and places similiar to it to find out what you want to include in your layout. Pick the year or era you wish to model. Feel free to use the artistic license to modify the layout from the prototype.

Space

Space is something few of us have enough of. So after you’ve decided what you want to model, when you want to model, you need to come back to earth and ask ‘how can I model that in the space I have?’ The answer will likely require a change on scale or a serious refactoring of the  trackplan and objectives.

Cost

Like space, cost is another thing many modellers have trouble with. You’re going to need to scale back a few things or plan to not complete your layout for months or even years depending on your finances.

Scales

HO is considered the most popular with N being most popular for the teen age group.

As many modellers find, the different scale is all about trade offs. With smaller scales you can typically run longer trains but they also typically are harder to switch with. The cost for the detail in the smaller scales is also higher. However, the larger scales are also a lot of money because of the larger amount of materials.

• Space (Spare room? 2×2 or 16×40? Around the wall or one piece of plywood?)
• Operations (Switching, Branchline or Mainline?)
• Prototype (Are you re-creating something that exists?)
• Era (Year, 1900s? Current?)
• Cost (Pick a cost effective scale for the size of layout you’re hoping to build)

Modules

Also consider joining a local modular organization. Their are some benefits, such as costs are typically lower, you get your benchwork together quickly because other people in the group have done it the exact same way. Some downfalls include that some only setup at shows, your track has to enter and exit at a specific point. But for a lot of clubs the benefits outway the downfalls, especially when you’re new to the hobby.

Here are some additonal general guidelines:

• Don’t plan a layout to please or impress anyone but yourself.
• Read every track-planning book you can get your hands on, and carefully examine every published track plan you see, whether it’s for your scale or not. A town that occupies a tiny percentage of someone’s huge layout, may have the perfect track arrangement for the principal town on your smaller pike.
• Don’t cram in as much track as will fit. You’ll be happier in the long run if you omit some track to make room for scenery.
• Regarding aisles and access space, the consensus of opinion is that you’re better off with aisles that are too wide than too narrow. Most of us don’t get narrower as we age.
• Don’t make a switching puzzle out of every yard and industrial location, unless you (and your fellow operators) really like switching puzzles. The prototype doesn’t do it that way unless they absolutely have to.
• Don’t put any track out of easy reach. “Easy” means you can put all the cars of a derailed train back on the track without strain. If you need wide benchwork, make it lower to compensate.
• Don’t assume that your layout has to have a yard and/or an engine facility. Many layouts, especially small ones, don’t need them and could put the space to better use as industries or scenery.
• Scenery can be impressive without soaring mountains, deep tunnels, and towering timber trestles. A simple truss bridge over a creek can look great on a small layout with short trains.

Tools

Links

1. http://ldsig.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page - The Layout Design Special Interests Group
2. http://www.gatewaynmra.org/designops.htm - NMRA standards and tips on how to build a layout
3. http://www.naisp.net/mfischer/m_train5.htm - ideas of mistakes to avoid

R&JV Perspective: Track Planning

More track planning ideas from Steven Goehring

Note to the reader: R&JV stands for Rockhill & Juniata Valley, the name of a very small and compact N scale switching layout that I am constructing.  Each chapter in the Basics of Model Railroading series that applies to the R&JV will have a small section on how I approach that particular topic as I continue working on this layout.  If you are looking to build a model railroad either in a small space, using little money, or in a short time, pay attention to the R&JV Perspectives.

 Atlas Right Track Freeware

The Rockhill & Juniata Valley started out as a simple wish, namely, my wish for a compact and portable model railroad that would not be boring to operate.  I tried several ideas involving a folding briefcase, but problems with track elevation prevented those layouts from working right.  Determined to create a serviceable yet small railroad, I started creating dozens of track plans with the intention to select and build just one of them.

The program I used is called Right Track Software, available free from Atlas Model Railroad Co’s website at http://www.atlasrr.com/.   Look for RTS 7.0 Download under the Layouts tab.  RTS is very easy to learn and makes layout planning remarkable simple.  You use simple tools like Place, Connect, Disconnect, Flip Direction, and  Rotate to create a track layout with Atlas’ various lines of model railroad track.  (No other companies of track are supported by the Atlas RTS download.)  There are no 3D viewing options or chances to try operating trains on the layout plan; RTS is a simple and straightforward Computer Assisted Design (CAD) program.

I started the R&JV’s track plan by building off of the breifcase layouts.  I tried layouts with continuous circles of track, switching puzzle layouts, and a few theme-based ideas, like trolley lines or even steel mills.  None seemed to work within a reasonable space, but with each layout plan, I learned something new: ways to make compact passing sidings, the best way to fit railroad customers into a minimal space, and how to make trolley lines work with sharp curves and short running distances.  Layout sizes ranged from 4 feet by 3 feet all the way to 12 inches by 30 inches, and various mixes of mainlines, switching districts, and commuter companies showed up in each one.

Birth of the R&JV

I was on my sixth 14″ x 30″ plan when I finally felt ready to build the layout for real.  Plan six featured just a trolley line and a short switching district of a larger railroad.  Its main design features were a trailer train loading yard, an interchange and crossing between the freight and trolley companies, and industries evenly spaced throughout the layout, both on the mainline and the trolley tracks.  The trolley railroad could operate independently, with trolleys running continuously while freight trains switched industries around the layout.  This would allow continuous running, but not compress the mainline railroad and restrict which locomotives I would be able to run on it.  The biggest benefit to the design I chose was the ability to extend the tracks beyond the scenery using sections of Kato Unitrak.  This would allow me to adapt the staging space as needed or even set up the mainline to run continuously also.

{mospagebreak title=Texada Island: Layout Design}

Texada Island: Layout Design

from Dane Watson

Alright, so my plan is to make a small layout, small enough to fit in my room, but to be complete in a very short time period. I found this image over at (http://www.naisp.net/mfischer/m_train2.htm#true_2x4) and I thought – that has the basics of what I want, except its missing a few things and has some thing that is not important to me. It’s missing a barge, which I want to use like an on-scene staging yard. I’ll pretend the barge comes in with new cars and takes away old cars. It has a continuous run, which is not important to me.

Here are the basics of my layout plan.

• N-scale in a 3′ x 5′ space
• 1980-90s era limestone line based on the west coast of British Columbia Canada.

My industries are basically a barge and limestone operation but logging, and texada general supplies are possiblities.

To be cost effective, I’ll buy one small switching locomotive.

• For traffic, the line will need 2-3 idler flat cars for the barge, covered hoppers, box cars, and 2-3 tank cars for fuel sources.

My basic track plan is a barge at the water, a siding (so the locomotive can move around the cars for the barge) and siding for the idler flats. Up the hill will be the limestone mine, consisting of another siding and few spurs for the miscellaneous cars and logging cars. I want to limit the number of turnouts because of cost but at the same time have optimal switching environment.

I won’t be using a DCC system due to cost. Although I don’t need many blocks; since I’m only running a single locomotive. I still will make a few blocks for demonstration purposes for this article’s electrical section.

• In addition, I would like to have a loop for continous running or to give the false sense of distance being covered — even if the train will pass through the same scenery.

I then looked at the Possem Valley, also N-scale, layout over at http://simonet.club.fr/Poss_us.htm – it covered all the fundaments, but wrong industry.

 So let’s talk about what I was thinking. First, I want to keep costs down. I want height change. I want to have a simple point to point, I never want to have switching leads that are too short that its annoying but I don’t mind a challenge. I wanted a short line connected by barge – which will double as a “staging yard” and my main industry. I converted all sements to flex track which doesn’t really make sense for a small industrial railroad but it does for my pocket book and I want to show the challenges of the layout. I will implement blocks for both sidings even tho I don’t need them for my usage.

When I was thinking about the track plan I realized that I’ll need a stub track on the lower level, hopefully at the ‘east’/right end of the layout facing south west becuase I’ll need a track to put the barge idler flats into and also have a run-around track. Another option might be to leave the idlers on the barge lead…

For some background on the area check out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texada_Island

What problems do you notice with my plan?