[Bigfoot21075]

WOW!!! Fantastic! it took me a year to get my track design down and to make sure I was not making a huge mistake with my scale. I do have some space envy . You have REALLY done an amazing job!

 

[Federico]

WOW!!! Fantastic! it took me a year to get my track design down and to make sure I was not making a huge mistake with my scale. I do have some space envy . You have REALLY done an amazing job!

Thanks!! This is my fourth version of the layout, in this one, I corrected many errors of my previous designs.

 

[MARKW61]

Hi

I am new to the group, just want to share a video of my N scale layout, I use only Kato Unitrack and the majority of my trains are Kato, with a few Atlas and Tomix.

A video is here

Comments and suggestions are welcome

That layout would make a real nice track view video if you have a small enough camera!
Very nice layout!

 

[MidwestMikeGT]

Wow, @Federico ! Beautiful and complex layout. I agree with all the other statements made here, especially how my layout now seems so blah! LOL! Love it!

 

[Federico]

All,
I moved to the US. My layout is back at home with plastic to protect everything. I stored all my locos and cars in their respective boxes.
Here is the last video I have of my layout.

Now I have the opportunity to create a new layout. My initial idea is to buy new track thinking of an extension when I return home. This makes the planning more difficult, everything I will buy needs to work for my new layout and also for the extension of my previous layout when I return home. I enjoy this challenge.
I also plan to bring my US and Canadian train to the US for the layout and step-by-step buy new American rolling stoke. I will post pictures of my new space and plans in my next post.

 

[Federico]

This is the new space I have for the layout.
It is also our guest room; therefore, I need the leave space for the bed.
Although my previous layout was DC, I joined the N’Crowd clubs that run only DCC trains. This motivated me to create this layout with mainly DCC lines and only one or two DC lines for the trains I have that can’t be converted to DCC.

 

[Fire21]

Wow, nice guest room, gives you lots of space.

If you need some trains for your new place, I have some early 50s trains I'd love to discuss selling to you. The Santa Fe PA-1s and PB-1 are DC, and the D&RG PA-1s are DCC. I have matching passenger sets for both. Also have a D&RG steamer and an Alco RS-2, both DCC. All are barely used. I just don't have room for a layout.

 

[Federico]

This is my Initial plan. The main level of the layout will have 4 different height levels connected by small inclines. The difference between level will be between 1 inc and 1.5 inches.

 

[Federico]

This is my first attempt at the main level. In the main table at the right of the image, I want to include a 6-line helix that will connect the main level with levels 2, 3, and 4. It will also have space for Kato Unitram city.
The second section at the top of the image will have two yards, these will have a small level difference (1.5 inches). It will also have space at the back for some bridges. The third part at the left of the image will be a yard in the middle of some mountains. It will also have space for the second stage of the project which is a second helix but going down to the -1 level.

 

[Federico]

Wow, nice guest room, gives you lots of space.

If you need some trains for your new place, I have some early 50s trains I'd love to discuss selling to you. The Santa Fe PA-1s and PB-1 are DC, and the D&RG PA-1s are DCC. I have matching passenger sets for both. Also have a D&RG steamer and an Alco RS-2, both DCC. All are barely used. I just don't have room for a layout.

Thanks for the offer. At the moment my focus is to buy the track I need for the layout. I will buy new locos and rolling stock later.

 

[Federico]

That layout would make a nice track view video if you have a small enough camera!
Very nice layout!

I want to get one. Tomix has some nice trains with a Camera included. However, these are very hard to find.

 

[DanielC]

I want to get one. Tomix has some nice trains with a Camera included. However, these are very hard to find.

I mounted a camera designed for eyeglasses. Unfortunately it can only take 30 second clips. But result looked pretty good.

 

[Federico]

Nice video. Could you share the camera you used and how you mounted in the loco?

 

[Federico]

After the design of the main level. I designed the second level. It will be the only elevated level with an independent line. At the top of the image, where I have 3 tracks together I will use Kato’s station platform extensions for the 3-track viaduct. The remaining will be a combination of bridges, mountains and Kato viaducts. I already purchased some Faller and Kato bridges.
The trains will go from the main level to the second level using the helix. It will have double height (10 cm). My idea is the use a combination of Kato and Faller supports to achieve this. It will be a challenge in some places and a bid expensive. I think it would take me a while to get everything I need for the second level and build it.

 

[DanielC]

Nice video. Could you share the camera you used and how you mounted in the loco?

Because it is being pushed, I used a short chassis from a caboose.

Camera used is called Pogocam. It has some limitations such as 30 second record length only. But it is very cheap. Mounted on a caboose chassis with a weight on the bottom to balance weight of camera on top.

View attachment 630657

 

[Federico]

The design of the third level is very simple. The fourth mainline will come from the main level using the helix and will go to the end of the layout and come back.
The interesting part of this level is the bridges. Here I plan to build a cable-stayed bridge like the one I have back at home or a suspension bridge.
I have never built a suspension bridge for my model railway layouts. The main challenge I see is how to connect the supporting cables to the main suspension cable. If someone has done something similar in the past, I would appreciate the feedback.

 

[DanielC]

View attachment 638129

After the design of the main level. I designed the second level. It will be the only elevated level with an independent line. At the top of the image, where I have 3 tracks together I will use Kato’s station platform extensions for the 3-track viaduct. The remaining will be a combination of bridges, mountains and Kato viaducts. I already purchased some Faller and Kato bridges.
The trains will go from the main level to the second level using the helix. It will have double height (10 cm). My idea is the use a combination of Kato and Faller supports to achieve this. It will be a challenge in some places and a bid expensive. I think it would take me a while to get everything I need for the second level and build it.

A 6cm height will take a helix with 0.5m radius for 2% grade. 10cm height helix will be even larger unless steeper grade will be used.

 

[Federico]

A 6cm height will take a helix with 0.5m radius for 2% grade. 10cm height helix will be even larger unless steeper grade will be used.

The helix will have many levels, 3 or 4 to get to the third level.
I did this before in my home layout

 

[DanielC]

The helix will have many levels, 3 or 4 to get to the third level.
I did this before in my home layout

I saw that before, very nice. It does look like more than 2% grade. 6cm is not enough to clear any derailment?

A company in Turkey is making a helix that is close to 2% grade using R447/R480 double track.

 

[Federico]

Yes, it is more than 2%. All my Kato trains can go up. A few locos from other brands cannot make it.