Layout Sketch

When I first published the last post the GIF of the layout worked... now it doesn't. So here's a JPEG copy instead:

Like I said... it's a bit wider and longer, allowing for gentler curves and inclines and not my design, see the post below for the link!

Also I did end up winning the cars on ebay. Got all 24 road numbers for about 60% off!

Pictures... Finally

Finally adding some pictures... had a crazy summer and didn't get much done on the layout. All of the track is now down minus a couple of spurs near the upper level where the coal mine is going to go (have to wait for Atlas to make new turnouts... apparently there was an issue with their factory in China)

First is the track plan:

This is a track plan from "Mike's Small Trackplans Page" (used with permission). I encourage you to check his site out if you're thinking about a small N scale layout (http://goo.gl/EToA5). I like them because he doesn't follow the typical "cram as much as you can into a small n scale layout" mentality. We stretched the length and width of the table to be slightly larger than door sized. We're going to put the passenger depot on what's shown as the bottom on the track plan with a connection to the road. As mentioned, main industry is going to be coal.

Did get the extra RDC I mentioned in my last post, haven't found the other SD70MAC however. The year is around 2003, so the two RDCs will be the Hurricane Turn train (http://goo.gl/GeXjq) and the SD70MACs will pull a cruisetour train and leave the GPs to pull the coal/freight trains.

 Next up is starting the scenery with the mountains and tunnels first.

Start of a new layout

I've been out of model railroading for about fourteen years. When I was 11 my family moved and that was the end of my dad's HO layout. Now we have some spare time and we have begun work on a smaller N scale layout. We decided on the track plan first (links to follow once I get permission from the author) and went from there. The original layout is on a 78x30 inch door. We extended it to 86x36 to ease the curves and inclines some and we had the wood and foam. The frame for the table is made out of 1x2s with a 1" sheet of foam on top. The wood is braced on top of a sturdy folding table (like you get from sam's club) and is easily transportable.

I'm starting this late so there are no "progress photos" from building the frame and laying the track. We used Atlas Code 80 on Woodland Scenics roadbed. It's super flexible and easy to work with and pretty sound deadening. We didn't want to mess with inclines on our own so we just went ahead and used the Woodland Scenics inclines and risers. Easy and flexible and worth every penny versus the stress of doing it on our own!

Speaking of stress and frustration... we ended up with a lot of flex track too short to use after repeatedly screwing it up! It's a lot harder to work with in N as opposed to HO. One great recommendation that I found that made it infinitely easier to work with was to never join two pieces of flex track on a curve, put a rigid piece in between (if I could remember where I read it I would give them credit!) and it makes it easier to work with and join. Also, after trial and error found a cutting system that works. I used a dremel and cut it down just a tad too long (so it doesn't have to be perfect) and used a grinding wheel to grind it down to the appropriate length.

Wiring is for DCC, with about 12 access points or so to try and maintain even power. Decided to model the Alaska Railroad and have acquired an SD70MAC, GP38, two GP40-2s, and an RDC. There are Trainworx coal porters available that I want to try and get a hold of, as well as another SD70 road number and RDC road number that I want. With Alaska you have to get it when it's comes up because there isn't a lot! I feel like I could paint boxcars on my own, but don't really want to try anything else due to the complexity.

Hopefully some pictures to come this weekend!