I'm back with a new N-scale Door plan

[ScrewySqrl]

I like all the action with the plan... You have a little "off the layout" stuff with the interchange.

But that upper area, the alignment of the purple line... it just looks too 3-rail-ish to me, and not how it would come off looking in the real world.

What do you mean?  It's just the run around for the industries.

[MichaelWinicki]

I would lay the purple track so it had true parallel track spacing with the main.

I would also start place the left switch (if possible) that splits the purple track from the main, more to the right, even if you had too introduce a curved turnout in there, if for no other reason than to give the top part of the layout a more irregular look and not so symmetric.

[ScrewySqrl]

Well, I have started some level of construction,

got the yard laid out and the first part of the right hand curve section.  Photos to follow soon!

[ScrewySqrl]

an overall view of what I got done.

the atlas bridge piers are temporary, only until I get the trestle complete

a visit by a track inspector

Catzilla is everwhere!

a view of the yard spurs:


Need to straighten that just a bit.  haven't applied power yet.

and a view of the yard lead and the curve

[OldEastRR]

Do you want the station positioned so it blocks the platforms and the train stopped there? if not you should run the track on the yard side of the station and flip the station around.

And are those first-generation Atlas turnouts? Plastic frogs and not the most reliable switches ever made, just so you know.

[ScrewySqrl]

Do you want the station positioned so it blocks the platforms and the train stopped there? if not you should run the track on the yard side of the station and flip the station around.

And are those first-generation Atlas turnouts? Plastic frogs and not the most reliable switches ever made, just so you know.

The station will be mostly platforms, so the train wlll be visible through it.  And it forms a partial view block to separate the yard from the rest of the track.  And yes, those are orginal Atlas turnouts.  Not the best (though apparently more reliable than Kato's #4s) ,and the swtch machines are ugly. but they're easy to manually operate and inexpensive!  (half the cost of powered)

[Bsklarski]

Ease the curves up on the main by the passenger station by putting it on the bottom of the station. Plus you can see your train while its stopped, ect.

[eric220]

it forms a partial view block to separate the yard from the rest of the track.

Really I think that's another good reason to flip the station and track arrangement.  It makes much more sense for the tracks to be grouped together (perhaps with a fence between the platform track and the closest yard track) and the parking lot side of the station to be against the road.  That arrangement would also put the tracks (and presumably fence) between the publicly accessible station and the employee-only areas of the yard and switch tower.  Finally, I'm not sure which station kit you're planning on using, but generally the trackside face of the station is the more interesting one, so it would be nice to face that toward the outside of the layout.

Just some thoughts.

[OldEastRR]

Railroads also tend to keep all their tracks in the same ROW, as much as possible. This makes maintenance, restricted access, safety concerns easier to deal with. In your version, the passengers have to cross tracks, get close to the yard area, and wind up getting on/off trains by being in the middle of the trackage. Very dangerous. The railroads put stations between the main road or drive leading to the station and the track partly to prevent passengers from wandering into the path of some moving train.
This is just prototype practice. You can set up your layout any way you want. However, I've found it's best to have a logical or real-life reason for every feature. You may appreciate it as you advance in modeling skills.

[highway70]

I agree with the others who say to reverse the station and the track so the station entrance is on the street.   While there may be a prototype for your arrangement somewhere, I cannot think of any. Unless you are modeling a specific unusual prototype location, it is better to model the common practice.  I did a Google search for Railroad Station images and did not find even one example where the station entrance did not face the street.

[robert3985]

So, you're laying your track directly on your extruded polystyrene base?...no cork? 

I'd recommend using Midwest Cork Products N-scale Cork Roadbed under your track for at least a couple of reasons: (1) It deadens noise, (2) It looks a helluva lot more prototypical, raising the tracks up above the surrounding terrain for drainage, (3) It allows your sidings & industrial trackage to easily be lower than your mainline trackage...also looking more prototypical, and (4) it allows you to SAND (using a flat sanding block) the surface you're laying your track on...which makes it more reliable and better running.

The cork roadbed also allows you to get wiring to your rails in a more unobtrusive manner than just laying it on plywood or extruded polystyrene, and...you can sand in a bit of superelevation if you want on your mainlines, also making them appear more prototypical.

If you're not interested in anything prototypical, points (1) and (4) alone are very important reasons to use it.

if you're just blocking your track together before laying down the cork, then remember to sand the surface of your glued-down cork before gluing down your track.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[ScrewySqrl]

With everyone telling me to turn the staion around, I am doing so!


here's the modified track plan to turn the station around:


on the positive side: the station now faces the street, and there is plenty of room for a parking lot, the hotel moving over looks better too. It alaso makes the track somewhat asymmetrical.

But, as I feared, it practically eliminates parking space for the yard employees. 


As for laying track direct on foam? no, I'm not doing that. I'm just placing and joining the track.  once everything is placed and properly joined together, then I'll add the roadbed.  I have 3 rolls of Woodland Scenics foam roadbed to glue down once track is finalized.

[OldEastRR]

But, as I feared, it practically eliminates parking space for the yard employees.

Well, are you more interested in modeling railroads or parking lots? Whichever is more important should get the most amount of space on the layout.
If you need to know where a RR employees parking lot is, say it's off the front of the layout, on the opposite side of the yard from the station.
BTW, a passenger hotel near the station is pretty prototypical. And you might include a RR workers hotel, a kinda rundown place right next to the bail bonds store but within easy walking distance of the yard.

[sizemore]

I would remove the 5" straights you have by the orange arrows, that will open the red curves up allowing for better turning radius for passenger cars. It will allow you to move the mainlines in red and purple out gaining about 5/6" inches of space inside the layout as well as smooth the transition S you have, which will make passenger cars look better while in the curves. It will also allow you to lengthen the yard by 5 inches too, by moving the yellow switches apart to meet the red switches. Since real estate for parking is a must, I moved the switch tower and yard office to the yard lead allowing your switchmen to see down the main, while still seeing all of the yard throat and still have a place to park.

I know you wanted a trestle but it would look out of place at almost water level only a few inches away from the furniture warehouse and chemical plant. You might opt for a retaining wall or rocky embankment considering its right next to what would amount a ship servicing pier. I also allowed flipped the fuel company building to the outside allowing the siding to follow the main (after you open up the radius).

Humbly Submitted,
The S.

[basementcalling]

Or even something like this.

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You get multiple passing sidings that lap, so they can be one long siding, or two shorter ones. I would also consider adding a run around on your industrial track at top, or your switcher will have to circle the loop to service the facing point turnouts.