I am almost done with my Ho-scale layout so I figured I start looking for what I should do next. I will be building my next layout in my Train-room where I built my first layout (an ho-scale 4x8). I have been thinking about building my next layout in n-scale so I can have continuous running as well as more realism.

My train-room is 8x11, the doors on the sides cannot be blocked, here is a quick drawing I made:


I have been thinking of doing a coal-mining layout set in the Appalachians, time period will be 1970's-80's.

My Needs are a staging yard, an option for continuous running, and some switching.

I am thinking of building something similar to the Appalachian Central project layout that was done by Model Railroader a while back. http://mrr.trains.com/How%20To/Track%20P...ntral.aspx

Your thoughts?

hi Justin,
the Appalachian Central dates from 2000, quite some time ago.
Anyway you could build it as drawn, though aisle width will turn out to be just 24".
Depending on your wishes about aisle width, minimum radius, maximum grade and preferred shelf width lots of configurations are possible.
Even an around the room with peninsula is quite doable.
Wish you the best behind the drawing board.
Smile
Paul

Justin,The Appalachian Central is a dated N Scale layout and I would find a better design-this includes downsizing a HO layout to N Scale.

I would go with the Southern Ry around Appalachia,Va.

Thanks for the input guys, I found this track-plan, it is based on the Virginian, but it should fit any locale.

You can find the original plan here: http://mrr.trains.com/How%20To/Track%20P...n%20N.aspx

Justin;

If you're really considering modeling coal handling operations then you need to check out this web site: http://appalachianrailroadmodeling.com/ if you haven't already seen it.

I'm a little biased, but were I going to model that, I'd have to go with the L&N in Eastern Kentucky between Hazard and Ravenna. More colorful and large variety of motive power (RS-3's, C-420's, SD-40's, U30C's to name a few) and its rugged territory too. Plenty of tunnels, a couple of mine branches, fast load tipples and hill helpers required for loaded northbound trains at Jackson.

For a smaller model railroad size operation then it would have to be the Kentucky & Tennessee although at present you can't find N scale ALCo S-2's. Still a very interesting little railroad.

Any way, plenty of protoypes and ideas can be found on that web site.

That plan (Cunningham Gap) would marginally have worked if you had a room that was 11.5x11.5 feet or 13.5x8.5 feet - since you need to be able to access it from three sides and get around the peninsula. Too big for your 8 x 11 foot room.

Also - "Copyright Kalmbach Publishing Co" means "do not download image from Kalmbach's web site, upload it to a different web server, and publish on the net".

Stein

steinjr Wrote:Also - "Copyright Kalmbach Publishing Co" means "do not download image from Kalmbach's web site, upload it to a different web server, and publish on the net".

Oh, sorry, I though we had discussed that is someone else's layout thread and it was decided that it was okay since it was being used as reference, anyhow I removed it, it anybody want to see the original plan you can see it on the MRR website as long as you are a subscriber

Here is another N-scale plan I have been thinking of:


It is the Carolina Central, a Model Railroader project layout from awhile back, this is the first layout that got me thinking about n-scale. I think that is really neat that you could have continuous running, a staging yard, and some switching all on a 28"x80" door.

My version would be set on a Southern branchline in the South. I would make each of the staging tracks represent a different end of the branch-line, but they would change during the ops session. For example, staging track 1 could represent the end of the branchline at the beginning of the session but when the train returns to track 1 it would then represent the connection to the main-line. I imagine having two trains on the layout. One local that would switch the lumber yard, team track, and factory. and anther that would switch the interchange on the layout and the interchange at the end of the branch (in staging).

I have often thought about doing the Central on a 36" wide door. With the extra width the end loops could have a much larger radius to them.50' and 60' cars would look good and if pursuing an earlier era think how good 40' cars would look.

The Appalachian Central or Virginian layouts from Model Railroader would be great expanded to fit the room. The plans are solid as they are and the extra room will make construction and scenery much easier. It's all too often a temptation to fill a space full of trains, especially in N scale, but less is more when building a layout.

railohio Wrote:The Appalachian Central or Virginian layouts from Model Railroader would be great expanded to fit the room. The plans are solid as they are and the extra room will make construction and scenery much easier. It's all too often a temptation to fill a space full of trains, especially in N scale, but less is more when building a layout.

Indeed.. N Scale is small but,good LDE is still a must for a better designed layout-the Carolina Central is evidence of that type of planing..

Here is a variation of the Carolina Central using code 55 track:


I made some changes, such as using a 32" wide HCD instead of the 28" HCD on the original, the minimum radius is 11.25", turnouts are atlas code 55 #5 turnouts. I added a staging yard, and moved some of track in the industrial area.

Industries are:
1. Lumber Yard
2. Warehouse
3. Interchange
4. Feed Mill

Trains would start from the Southern Main-line(Removable Staging), head to the town of Hyde(Upper hidden staging track) go to the town of (Modelled Area), then head to the end of the line at Foothill Junction(Lower hidden staging track) and then head back down the line and into the staging yard .

Hi Justin,
do you have a reason to stay away from more ambitious plans?
IMHO you do not need the passing siding at the top anymore, when you have that staging yard extension.
Might be a matter of taste.
Have fun behind the drawing board.
Paul.

Hi Paul,

I am trying to stay away from more ambitious plans since I am on a small budget and I don't have much space.
I am also starting college in August so I won't have much time to work on the layout, I expect this layout to be a Summer Project.
My goal is to have track,wiring, and some scenery done by the time school starts.

I want to have the top staging since it provides destinations for the two other towns along the branch-line. The staging yard has two tracks representing the Mainline, and one track representing the L&N interchange at the end of the branch-line.

paulus_jas Wrote:Hi Justin,
do you have a reason to stay away from more ambitious plans?
IMHO you do not need the passing siding at the top anymore, when you have that staging yard extension.
Might be a matter of taste.
Have fun behind the drawing board.
Paul.

Paul,If I may..

One thing I have notice is less is best with N Scale when it comes to designing a HCD layout since the door is small piece of real estate and one needs to leave room for scenery and such.

All three of my past HCD layouts had a yard and engine service area on one side and a industrial area on the other side and had urban scenery instead of your normal layout scenery.

That top passing siding can be use to hold a train as another leaves the staging area-adds a tad more to HCD loop operation.