Raurimu

[bimble]

As I'm hoping to actually get some building done this summer I figured it would be a good time to start a layout thread in the hope I'll might even have some trains running by Christmas... With space in the shed for a layout of 3m x 0.7m (10' x 2 1/3' in old money) I took some inspiration from the Raurimu Spiral in New Zealand to fit a longer run than might otherwise fit on the baseboards.

 

 

 

It's going to be German N gauge, mostly because there is just something I love about German railways and the locomotives. And by setting it in the 1970s I can run steam, diesel and electric all at the same time! Not only that, looking through old photos and seeing 2-10-0 class 52's (such as the locos in the last photo) hauling 4 coach local passenger trains... it's almost like DB in the 70s just ran with Rule 1. I've even seen a photo of a Class 01, Pacific express loco, pulling double decker commuter stock tender first. As you do.

 

The thing is, we would quite like a layout that has a slight roundy hint to it, because sometimes it is nice to just watch trains run. But with a station, even in N, being at least a meter long, with then the station throat, then the hiding the returns to the fiddle yard... that doesn't leave a lot of space. At least on the flat.

 

So I'm going up!

 

A combination of a 4 1/2 loop helix, a 1 1/2 loop spiral (just when does a spiral become a helix??) and three complete traverses of the baseboards gives around 15m worth of running.

 

 

The two large baseboards will be scenic, where as the small board (with the helix) will be left open, because 1) it'll make access easier, 2) helices are pretty cool. The first two traverses are done at a constant gradient of 1:50, whereas the helix/spiral are up to 1:32 (unfortunately the are limited by baseboard size).

 

There has been a few tweaks in the station area, I have moved the rightmost points further right to increase the platform length. The pair of sidings going off towards the top are going to be to a hidden mine. So empty wagons will disappear and then later full ones come out.

 

 

And even though it's not for the layout I thought we need a photo of a train.

 

 

 

I've no idea how often I'll get to update this thread, but I'm hoping to get a lot of building done over the summer and maybe have trains running by Christmas. Or at least by a Christmas!

 

[Al.]

While I don't fully agree with all DutchMaster's comments, I will agree it does look a little cluttered. I'd consider loosing the blue line that crossed the layout top right to bottom left. However, unless you plan to model an actual location, which your obviously not, I'd say Rule 1 applies - it's your layout, model and run what you want.

 

Keep it up. I look forward to seeing the layout develop.

 

 

Al.

[justin1985]

This looks like a really promising project - I can't resist mountainous Germany scenery and railways! You clearly have some very impressive CAD skills to come up with that design too.

 

I would broadly agree with the main point of the comments above though - it does look a bit cluttered with so much track in the area. One of the great advantages of N gauge is the ability to show trains moving through the landscape in a way that is far more naturalistic than in larger scales. To my eye, that effect of landscape is slightly lost if too much track is crammed in. Less is more! I'd certainly agree with removing the blue line, and perhaps also the mine sidings. That would allow you to model some broader swathes of forest and hillside.

 

I look forward to seeing this develop!

 

Justin