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Post by Country Joe on Feb 12, 2024 16:31:32 GMT
I wasn’t going to create a thread about my new N scale layout since this is an O gauge specific forum but some members have asked me to share what I’m doing so here goes. I fully understand that most O gaugers have no interest in N so feel free to ignore this thread. I won’t be insulted. We sold our house and moved into the new one on November 14, 2023. In the old house I had a 10’9” x 20’4” train room, plenty big enough for an O gauge layout plus a small workbench. I have a much smaller train room in the new house. I could have fit a small O gauge layout in the room, 5x8, maybe even 6x8, but it wouldn’t have been a good use of the space and after having a much larger layout I knew I wouldn’t be happy with such a small one so I decided to go with N scale. N is much smaller than O but I’ve worked in N before so I knew what I was getting into. The new layout is an L shape, each leg being 24” wide with the ends widening to 28”. The left leg is 8’ long and the right leg is 8’8” long. This is the benchwork:  I’m not a fan of flex track in any scale for a host of reasons. I’ve used Kato Unitrack before and like it a lot so that’s what I’m using. My first idea was this double track up and over plan:  For train running and train watching it was pretty good. It was fun watching trains on the grades and passing over and under each other but there were operational shortcomings. The grades limited where industrial spurs could go. N scale rolling stock is very free rolling so spurs have to be located where part of a train is not on the grade. That’s difficult to do on a smaller layout. After running trains for a while I decided to remove the grade and redesign the layout.  I will add to this thread as I make progress as long as there’s interest. |
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Post by atsda on Feb 12, 2024 17:43:31 GMT
Thank you for the update. It is great to hear of your progress - keep it coming. I like your approach. No problem with N gauge trains iz trains. Alfred
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Post by josef on Feb 12, 2024 17:47:49 GMT
I see a lot of potential for switching and storage of rolling stock and engines. Also spurs for industries, town and countryside.
I love it and want to see your progress. Believe it or not, I seriously considered HO or N when I tore my old layout down. I enjoyed making up consist, dropping off at sites, etc. Maintaining nearly 30 switches was hectic and I just wanted to see trains run and sit back. My layout covers 75% and the closet I had turned in storage and make up sidings is now free for what it was meant to be, storage. I enjoy sitting back now and just watching trains run yet still have enough sidings for interesting switching which needs to be planned. I also left open for additional track in center.
My main consideration was scenery, and trackage to be installed around it, just like real railroads were done. The land and scenery was there first.
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Post by david1 on Feb 12, 2024 17:59:20 GMT
The whole point of model trains is to have fun and as long as your enjoying what your doing its all good. Please keep posting your progress. Trains are trains no matter the size.
I like what your doing so far so keep us posted.
Dave
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Post by healey36 on Feb 12, 2024 18:46:16 GMT
Thanks for the warning, lol. I have a few boxes of N-scale stuff saved from younger days, and I battle the urge to drag it all out and take up where I left off some three decades ago. I'll watch your progress with interest, but with an equal sense of fear.
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Post by Country Joe on Feb 12, 2024 18:57:09 GMT
Thanks guys, I’ll keep the updates coming as I make progress. Right now I’m running trains and doing some switching to see if I’m happy with how the layout operates. I will probably tweak the track a little and work on some scenery ideas before I’ll wire it permanently and start on scenery.
I agree, I like all trains regardless of scale. Real trains, toy trains, model trains, 2 rail, 3 rail, etc, doesn’t matter, I love all of them.
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Post by Country Joe on Feb 12, 2024 19:12:18 GMT
Thanks for the warning, lol. I have a few boxes of N-scale stuff saved from younger days, and I battle the urge to drag it all out and take up where I left off some three decades ago. I'll watch your progress with interest, but with an equal sense of fear. I don’t mean to tempt you, Healey, but if you scratch the N scale itch it doesn’t have to take up a lot of space. Before we decided to move I gave serious thought to building a small N scale layout on casters that I could store under the O layout.
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Post by healey36 on Feb 12, 2024 19:52:14 GMT
Thanks for the warning, lol. I have a few boxes of N-scale stuff saved from younger days, and I battle the urge to drag it all out and take up where I left off some three decades ago. I'll watch your progress with interest, but with an equal sense of fear. I don’t mean to tempt you, Healey, but if you scratch the N scale itch it doesn’t have to take up a lot of space. Before we decided to move I gave serious thought to building a small N scale layout on casters that I could store under the O layout. Awhile back, I bought a pile of new sectional Kato UniTrack specifically to address "The Itch". I figured I could use a bit of that on the dining room table to take the edge off. Then I vowed not to do that until I'd knocked the O-gauge project pile down substantially. The project pile is bigger now than then, so I haven't gotten to it (the N-scale) yet. I have, however, bought a few new-to-me N-scale freight cars when I find them with the old Rapido-style couplers. It's a slippery slope...
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Post by Country Joe on Feb 12, 2024 20:01:57 GMT
I don’t mean to tempt you, Healey, but if you scratch the N scale itch it doesn’t have to take up a lot of space. Before we decided to move I gave serious thought to building a small N scale layout on casters that I could store under the O layout. Awhile back, I bought a pile of new sectional Kato UniTrack specifically to address "The Itch". I figured I could use a bit of that on the dining room table to take the edge off. Then I vowed not to do that until I'd knocked the O-gauge project pile down substantially. The project pile is bigger now than then, so I haven't gotten to it (the N-scale) yet. I have, however, bought a few new-to-me N-scale freight cars when I find them with the old Rapido-style couplers. It's a slippery slope... It truly is a slippery slope but since it’s trains the slide down can be lots of fun. 😃
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Post by josef on Feb 12, 2024 20:39:04 GMT
Its good that your running trains and switching. It's a step forward rather then lay tracks and later find problems in how it looks and how you will operate the layout. Your also moving along faster in a shorter time then some layout builders move.
There was a guy, since moved, for 10 years his layout in the garage (HO) moved at a snail pace and he called me weekly to see his progress, which was hardly noticeable. He built many structures from kits which took weeks and progress again he had to show us.
When he put house up for sale, he still hadn't run any trains on his layout.
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Post by Adam on Feb 12, 2024 20:40:58 GMT
The layout is looking good. On the computer, it is hard to judge scale. You could have said that this is 2 rail O and I would have bought it.
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Post by harborbelt70 on Feb 12, 2024 20:51:08 GMT
The whole point of model trains is to have fun and as long as your enjoying what your doing its all good. Please keep posting your progress. Trains are trains no matter the size. I like what your doing so far so keep us posted. Dave
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Post by eddieg on Feb 12, 2024 21:29:12 GMT
I few years ago I built a large N scale layout using all Kato track and switches & transformers. Kato is the only way to go. I picked Kato because they make a GG1 and double crossover.
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Post by Country Joe on Feb 13, 2024 15:35:56 GMT
Its good that your running trains and switching. It's a step forward rather then lay tracks and later find problems in how it looks and how you will operate the layout. Your also moving along faster in a shorter time then some layout builders move. There was a guy, since moved, for 10 years his layout in the garage (HO) moved at a snail pace and he called me weekly to see his progress, which was hardly noticeable. He built many structures from kits which took weeks and progress again he had to show us. When he put house up for sale, he still hadn't run any trains on his layout. I’ve learned from experience that a track plan that looks good on paper doesn’t always work for me when built. It doesn’t matter if it’s a plan I drew or one I found in a magazine, online or some other source. I find that running trains helps me find the flaws and in the end makes a better layout for me. I have known guys like your neighbor who take forever to get to the point of running trains. Spiking rails to ties, scratch building switches, etc takes a long time. I guess that is how some guys enjoy the hobby but it doesn’t work for me. Once I get the track plan settled and trains running I can take my time building scenery, structures and adding details.
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Post by healey36 on Feb 13, 2024 18:41:19 GMT
Yes, sometimes folks get caught up in it and never reach the point of running the trains; The Old Man was like that. We built a decent sized around-the-room HO layout with him when my brothers and I were teenagers, but he insisted on most-scenic before doing the under table wiring or laying the last of the track. By the time we got to that, he'd lost interest. I always lay the track first...that way you can run the trains as you do follow-on-tasks. Keeps the interest level up. With no intent to hi-jack this thread, here's the last bit of N-scale I purchased, just a couple years ago. An Aurora F-unit (dummy) found at a local antique shop for five bucks. Of course now I'll need to find a powered unit...  I was more interested in the box, if I'm honest...a real nostalgia trip. I remember when Aurora's Postage Stamp Trains were introduced state-side...they blew me away. |
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