Adventures in American N Scale
Former N Scale Layout – now demolished
I have been without a permanent home layout for several years. The good news is I have started construction of a new N scale layout set in Idaho USA, based loosely on the Yellowstone branch north of Pocatello, through Idaho Falls to Ashton in 1974 – or thereabouts. The design track plan, though now highly refined, borrows from a plan produced by Bob’s Track Plans. The base plan is CSX Indianapolis Sub in N Scale. My available space has numerous constraints I need to adapt to gain the maximum opportunity including:
- Three doors – one exterior and the main entrance to the room (a stacker slide), another is an internal access to my workshop (a cavity slider) and lastly as W/C in the corner of the room
- My modelling needs, including a desk, spray booth and essential storage.
The room measures 2.9m wide by 5.15m long (9’6″ by 16’11”).
Some of the goals I have for this layout include:
- Around the room, shelf-style layout set at eye-level – I’m only 162cm (5’4″)
- Modest gradients – 1.5 and 2.5 turn double-track helix with a 2.0% gradient on the outside track and 2.2% on the inside track
- High level of finish – overall appearance – befitting the expected quality of the modelling
- Code 55 track on scenicked sections (Code 80 elsewhere) and Peco large radius switches throughout
- Use of arduinos and lcd touchscreens to supplement JMRI and my NCE PowerPro system.
Concept and Design
Excerpt from Union Pacific RR System Map showing concept location
Layout design showing upper scenicked and lower staging decks. The scenicked level can be seen in the image below. Use the image ‘slider’ tool to reveal the staging layer.
Conceptual town locations
Construction gallery
Idaho Falls – Construction – Set for first cut
Set for first cut
Idaho Falls – Construction – Blank Canvas – Peninsular location
Blank Canvas – Peninsular location
Idaho Falls – Construction – Peninsular framing – Progress
Peninsular framing – Progress
Idaho Falls – Construction – Peninsular framing – Progress
Peninsular framing – Progress
Idaho Falls – Construction – Peninsular framing – Progress
Peninsular framing – Progress
Idaho Falls – Construction – Peninsular framing – Progress
Peninsular framing – Progress
Idaho Falls – Construction – Peninsular framing – Progress
Peninsular framing – Progress
Idaho Falls – Construction
Peninsular framing – complete
Idaho Falls – Construction – Peninsular framing – complete
Peninsular framing – complete
Idaho Falls – Construction – Peninsular framing – complete
Peninsular framing – complete
Idaho Falls – Construction – Peninsular framing – complete
Peninsular framing – complete
Idaho Falls – Construction – Peninsular framing – complete
Peninsular framing – complete
Idaho Falls – Construction – Peninsular framing – complete
Peninsular framing – complete
Idaho Falls – Construction – Peninsular framing – complete
Peninsular framing – complete
Idaho Falls – Construction – Peninsular framing – complete
Peninsular framing – complete
Idaho Falls – Construction – Peninsular framing – complete
Peninsular framing – complete
Idaho Falls – Construction – Peninsular – Lower Deck
Peninsular – Lower Deck
Idaho Falls – Construction – Peninsular – Lower Deck
Peninsular – Lower Deck
Idaho Falls – Construction – Peninsular – Lower Deck
Peninsular – Lower Deck
Idaho Falls – Construction – Peninsular Upper Deck – Test Fit
Cut peninsular Top deck and testing fitting
Idaho Falls – Construction – Peninsular Upper Deck – Test Fit
Cut peninsular Top deck and testing fitting
Idaho Falls – Construction – Peninsular Upper Deck – Test Fit
Cut peninsular Top deck and testing fitting
Idaho Falls – Construction – Peninsular roadbed/underlay
Idaho Falls – Construction – Peninsular roadbed/underlay
Idaho Falls – Construction – Peninsular roadbed/underlay
Idaho Falls – Construction – Peninsular roadbed/underlay
Idaho Falls – Construction – Peninsular roadbed/underlay
Idaho Falls – Construction – Peninsular surface mounted Peco solinoids
Idaho Falls – Construction – Peninsular surface mounted Peco solinoids
Idaho Falls – Construction – Peninsular surface mounted Peco solinoids
Idaho Falls – Construction – Completed track and wiring – peninsular staging
Idaho Falls – Construction – Helix turn 1
Helix Turn 1
Idaho Falls – Construction – Helix turn 1
Helix Turn 1
Idaho Falls – Construction – Helix turn 1, showing suspended section above desk
Idaho Falls – Construction – Helix turn 1, showing suspended section above desk
Idaho Falls – Construction – Helix, Turn 1
Idaho Falls – Construction – Helix Construction, 7mm ply and 0.5mm aluminum. Contact adhesive
Helix Construction, 7mm ply and 0.5mm aluminum. Contact adhesive
Idaho Falls – Construction – Helix Construction, 7mm ply and 0.5mm aluminum. Contact adhesive
Helix Construction, 7mm ply and 0.5mm aluminum. Contact adhesive
Idaho Falls – Construction – Completed 1.5/2.5 turn helix 1.8-2.0% gradient – suspended section
Helix complete
Idaho Falls – Construction – Completed 1.5/2.5 turn helix 1.8-2.0% gradient – suspended section
Helix complete, suspended section
Idaho Falls – Construction – Completed 1.5/2.5 turn helix 1.8-2.0% gradient
Helix Complete
Idaho Falls – Construction – Start of scenicked deck, looking along peninsular
Start of scenicked deck
Idaho Falls – Construction – Start of scenicked deck, looking across peninsular
Start of scenicked deck
Idaho Falls – Construction – Start of scenicked deck, looking along peninsular
Start of scenicked deck
Idaho Falls – Construction – Start of scenicked deck, looking along peninsular
Start of scenicked deck
Idaho Falls – Construction – Start of scenicked deck, looking along peninsular
Start of scenicked deck
Idaho Falls – Construction – Upper Deck Framing
Idaho Falls – Construction – Upper Deck Framing
Framing complete on upper deck
Idaho Falls – Construction – Upper Deck Framing
Framing complete on upper deck
Idaho Falls – Construction – Upper Deck Framing
Framing complete on upper deck
Idaho Falls – Construction – Upper Deck Framing
Framing complete on upper deck
Idaho Falls – Construction – Upper Deck Framing
Framing complete on upper deck
Idaho Falls – Construction – Upper Deck Framing
Idaho Falls – Construction – Upper Deck Framing
Upper deck framing support
Idaho Falls – Construction – Upper Deck Framing
Upper deck framing support
Idaho Falls – Construction – Upper Deck Framing
Framing complete on upper deck
Idaho Falls – Construction – Upper Deck
Ply laid, backdrop testing
Idaho Falls – Construction – Upper Deck
Idaho Falls – Construction – Upper Deck
Ply laid, backdrop testing
Idaho Falls – Construction – Upper Deck
Helix to upper deck transition
Idaho Falls – Construction – Upper Deck
Helix to upper deck transition
Idaho Falls – Construction – Upper Deck
Ply laid, backdrop testing
Idaho Falls – Construction – Upper Deck
Ply laid, backdrop testing
Idaho Falls – Construction – Upper Deck
Track Laid St Anthony
Idaho Falls – Construction – Upper Deck
Track Laid St Anthony
Idaho Falls – Construction – Upper Deck
Track Laid St Anthony
Idaho Falls – Construction – Upper Deck
Track Laid St Anthony
Idaho Falls – Construction -Helix
Completed Helix before covering with Upper Deck
Idaho Falls – Construction – Upper Deck
Thornton Framing
Idaho Falls – Construction – Upper Deck
Snake River Bridge Cantilever
Idaho Falls – Construction – Upper Deck
Snake River Bridge Cantilever
Idaho Falls – Construction – Upper Deck
Snake River Cantilever – Idaho Falls Yard Framing
Idaho Falls – Construction – Upper Deck
Snake River Bridge Canitlever – Idaho Fall Yard Framing
Idaho Falls – Construction – Upper Deck
Idaho Fall Framing
Idaho Falls – Construction – Upper Deck
Idaho Falls Yard Framing
Idaho Falls – Construction – Upper Deck
Idaho Falls Framing
Idaho Falls – Construction – Upper Deck
Idaho Falls Framing
Idaho Falls – Construction – Upper Deck
Rexburgh (over Helix)
Idaho Falls – Construction – Upper Deck
Idaho Fall – Deck
Shaping the Backdrop
Shaping the Backdrop
Shaping the Backdrop
Shaping the Backdrop
Shaping the Backdrop
Shaping the Backdrop
Rexburg
Rexburg
Rexburg above Helix
Rexburg above Helix
Rexburg
Rexburg
Rexburg-Thornton
Rexburg-Thornton
Snake River – 2.6m unsupported
Snake River – 2.6m unsupported
Snake River Nod-under/Lift-out – 2.6m unsupported
Snake River Nod-under/Lift-out – 2.6m unsupported
Nod-under/Lift-out
Nod-under/Lift-out
Nod-under/Lift-out
Nod-under/Lift-out
Nod-under/Lift-out
Nod-under/Lift-out
Snake River Nod-under/Lift-out – 2.6m unsupported
Snake River Nod-under/Lift-out – 2.6m unsupported