NSWRR - Nebraska & Southwestern (N) Shelf

[Matt S]

I am starting a new topic here in the now more applicable small and micro forum as the footprint of my layout now disqualifies me for the previous forum. (Previous layout can be found here)

A little background, and the plan for this layout. Room is now a shared home office so I am using one wall as a shelf layout. Point to Point, 14' wide, 14-18" deep (havent decided yet). Midwestern, mid 90's BN (Anything late BN and no BNSF)



The plan so far. This is a pretty early on track plan. I have edited quite a bit so far but still see many things I am not completely happy with



I am open to ideas and suggestions, however I ask that you please read my reasoning here before tearing in to it. I can try to explain why I have done some things and not others.

The BN mainline is the lighter colored track down the middle of the plan. Starting at the left there is a diamond with another road. Above that is an interchange yard that, dispite the plan allowing for it, is the yard of the other road. It is meant to be semi hidden and will be used for staging. The turnout just to the right of the yard does not really exist. This area will double as a staging yard as well as a run around for trains to change direction.

This left half will be more "open" and not have industry but more of a rural open feel.

(The black veridical line in the center is the break between "modules". They will be semi permanently connected but be able to be disconnected in case the layout needs moved or repurposed into a larger layout later.

On the right side, bottom corner is a lumber facility. The track will hold center beams and the pavement/gravel area will be filled with lumber bundles.
Top side is a grain elevator.
The other track is a siding and will have signaling as such. Some of the reasoning behind the curve in the middle is to get better views of the signals and bridge. The one area that is not prototypical is the crossover right below the elevator between the siding and main. This is to make operations just a little easier and have a run around.

This right half will represent a town and have various roads, houses, buildings and such.

My thoughts so far... I am fairly happy with the trackwork. Considering the space, I think it is interesting and could be fun to operate. I am not totally sold on the highway. I added that as a filler between the creek and the rail to give the curve some purpose. I also dont like how the highway bridge would hide the rail bridge. I am tempted to shorten up the depth so I can have creek curved up next to the tracks right up front.

[Michael Whiteman]

I spend a lot of wasted time looking at shelf track plans and to me they all look pretty much alike. That is until I looked at your plan Matt. I am really impressed with what you've come up with here. At first the diamond area looked a bit "funky" but after reading your explanation it makes perfect sense seeing it is a different RR. As for the crossover on the main in front of the elevator, this would be totally prototypical. How else would a train traveling to the right run around a centerbeam and push it into the lumber yard? Besides you need an escape for the power after you head up the main. You've provided this on the other end with the interchange track. It is really obvious to me that you have spent a great deal of time in thought, and I WOULD NOT change one thing about the track arrangement.

The roads are a different subject though. I totally agree with your assessment regarding covering up a good shot of the RR bridge. This is just my opinion, and a possible solution Matt. First angle the main road across the tracks at about 60*. Then move the two red buildings forward opening up enough real estate to run a secondary country road behind them in front of the backdrop. Bring this road over both tracks just to the left of the first turnout and continue parallel to the main line and off the front edge. This will totally expose the RR bridge.

I like the idea you had about this curved section enabling you a straight shot at your future signals. There is more than enough operation in this plan to keep you interested for hours. I am so looking forward to following your progress. What a great job!

[Matt S]

Thanks for the feedback. I have read your suggestion about the road several times and I am not following, sorry. I am totally chalking it to up being early this morning and my head is just not processing yet. I am most definitely open to suggestions on the road situation. A couple thoughts I have had (and again not executed on the plan successfully yet). I would like the front (bottom) to be slightly lower or of some elevation difference. To me that draws you in to the scene more than just flat top meeting fascia at a square edge. That is one of the reasons for the creek and how it curves and takes more foreground room. I think a road could also be something in the foreground that draws you in. In an earlier version I had the road going almost the entire way across the foreground which was really just too much road so I angled it down on both ends. A road is not required by any means, just something I think may tie things together?

[Michael Whiteman]

"In an earlier version I had the road going almost the entire way across the foreground which was really just too much road". I agree, long straight roads can become boring to look at and they require a lot of vehicles to fill 'em up. That's why I thought a winding country road might be a better choice. I did my best to explain it Matt, but I'm sure this sketch will be more clear. Don't change the tracks, they're perfect.

[Matt S]

Ahh! Thanks Michael! That helps a lot! Here is yet another version. I changed it to a smaller gravel country road....so yes while it is longer at least it is smaller and would be easier to have tighter curves and be easier to "blend in" and make it do fun stuff.

Also in this version, I did incorporate one other idea from a suggestion on my blog. While I agree, I really liked this tracks, this small addition at the grain elevator for either fertilizer or a tank car would give one more small ops option.

I also added some color to help explain things. The white tracks are the main road. Yellow tracks represent the interchange road. And the red tracks do not exist. They are meant to be "hidden in plain sight" and provide some staging and ops functionality. I plan to hide them somewhat from photo angles with trees/hills or something.

[Michael Whiteman]

Running the country road parallel and that close to the backdrop MIGHT draw your eye onto the edge of the backdrop. Not a good thing. My suggestion: Paint the road on the foam before applying the ground cover until you discover the road alignment you feel looks the best.

From a photographic standpoint I can see wanting to hide the small yard at the left end. From a real life standpoint I don't feel it to be a necessity. This yard could very well be the interchange yard with the BN mainline shown in gray. A fictitious short line RR would operate on their own tracks shown in brown and over the diamond. They could also have a joint trackage agreement to continue down the BN main and switch towns further to the right of the layout.

If you like both these ideas, you might consider creating a small section of dense trees in front of that yard that could be removable . Then you could switch back to an identical piece with grass and weeds when the mood strikes. Just a thought.

[Matt S]

I also thought about hiding spots of the road, even up to half, that goes along the back. So in spots you could see a small portion of the road with maybe a truck, then it goes back behind trees. That may break it up and not look so bad?

[Michael Whiteman]

That's a good idea

[Michael Whiteman]

You might find that you will have to move the turnout for the spur to the elevator a little farther to the left. This will allow you to have a straight piece of track. Curves, as you well know Matt, are sometimes a PITA to couple cars on and reaching to the back isn't helping.

A covered hopper with fertilizer, or even Cheerios, might well be spotted there but tank cars with anything petroleum I would think to be totally in violation of so many rules. Grain elevators explode all by themselves without any help. Now if it was one of those multi-dome cars full of wine, that might be OK.

If you build an auger and leave it on the pad there that would sell the scene. Here's a shot of one I scratchbuilt when I was modeling in N scale. It's just brass tubing with a couple of old tires and was pretty easy to solder together.

[dave1905]

The plan so far. This is a pretty early on track plan. I have edited quite a bit so far but still see many things I am not completely happy with



I am open to ideas and suggestions, however I ask that you please read my reasoning here before tearing in to it. I can try to explain why I have done some things and not others.

The BN mainline is the lighter colored track down the middle of the plan. Starting at the left there is a diamond with another road. Above that is an interchange yard that, dispite the plan allowing for it, is the yard of the other road. It is meant to be semi hidden and will be used for staging. The turnout just to the right of the yard does not really exist. This area will double as a staging yard as well as a run around for trains to change direction.

I am not quite sure what the operation is, is the operation supposed to be the shortline or the BN? How does the interchange work? If the switch to the right of the yard 'doesn't exist" then how would the BN interchange?

[Michael Whiteman]

Dave, I think Matt meant that the switch to the right would be hidden by the trees so it would not "visually" exist. Same idea with hiding the yard behind a tree line. Matt wants this layout primarily for photography.

[Matt S]

Again great idea Michael. I redid that turnout, actually flipped it which gave me more room. I am such a right (?) brain so all my tracks have to be parallel, same turnouts etc. lol I might be able to sneak in a partial building for fertilizer. If not, I love that augur I idea! So much of this area is going to change when it comes to actual scenery and what fits and looks good. Paper (or the computer) can only do so much. I think its time to get some track down and see what it really looks like!

[Michael Whiteman]

I think you're right Matt. It's time to start flopping some track on there. The spur into the lumber yard looks good......... just remember the forklift has to unload both sides or the car will tip over.

[Matt S]

Progress this past week or so. Half of the layout is built (frame/background), the second half should be completed in the next few days. I went more in to details on my blog, how I did the backdrop corners, etc. It is turning out just as I had hoped, I am excited to get some lights and wires installed...that is my happy place!

https://nswrr.com/let-there-be-a-shadow-box/

[Allen]

Nice!

[N Scale Brad]

Very nice Matt. Seeing it like this it now all makes sense to me. The 13 inches you have between deck and valance should be just right.

[Matt S]

A lot of progress the week so far, I actually have a lot of time to dedicate to this. Benchwork, backdrop and paint done. Starting on track work. So far these are all things I really enjoy....soon the scenery and hard stuff comes so I need to keep up the momentum.

https://nswrr.com/paint-and-lights/

[Russ C]

That led lighting strip is very effective. Coupled with the blue background makes a difference.

[Michael Whiteman]

Looks like your river has grown into a more serious endeavor than what was on your initial drawing. Looking forward to seeing how that will turn out. BTW, the new light strips are just perfect.

[Matt S]

Haha. My plan is to fill that with pink foam board and carve out the creek. I didnt know how deep or wide the banks were going to be so I gave myself plenty of room. Easier to have plenty of foam room now than try to cut it back out later.

[Matt S]

Photos of recent accomplishments. Track is complete and trains are on the layout to give some real feel of what to expect. https://nswrr.com/track-is-laid/



Now I am starting in on the electrical. Before I can drop feeder wires, I want to get all of the boards situated so I can get a clean wiring setup. Here are some photos of the board and my planning. The mounting board under the layout will fold up and tuck under so everything is contained within. More explanation in this video. https://nswrr.com/progress-video/

[Michael Whiteman]

It's nice to see your plan come to life in 3D. You've certainly got a lot done recently. That sure is a lot of electronics for something this size. Glad you understand it all Matt, it's magic to me.

[Matt S]

Is it overkill? Absolutely! It was overkill on my significantly larger last layout. But that is the area of this hobby that I enjoy most so I gravitate towards it like a fly to.... Anyway, my main mission is to make it look just a pretty as functional. When someone comes to visit the layout I want to be able to show off underneath just as much as on top!

[Paul S.]

Plus one for pretty plus functional, Matt.👍

Believe me, Michael, knows quite a lot about radios and such!