N Scale NYC Subway Station

[michaeloher99]

Hey all,

I’m building a layout and looking to model an underground dummy subway station to serve as a display case of sorts for two sets of Custom-made NYC Subway Cars in N Scale. The track would be non powered and it would not connect to any other tracks and the tracks would simply terminate at the ends of the station.

The problem is, I know nothing about modeling underground stations and greatly use some help in not only design but places to source NYC Subway Station Style Materials. I’m relatively new to the hobby and appreciate any and all assistance. I can provide a picture of the location on the benchwork where the tunnel would be however the forum will not let me add it directly to this post.

[michaeloher99]

Here was a Google Drive Link To The Photo.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Kf8xxUdOYKCwQpEmAAD-qFFdeRnrqSRo/view?usp=drivesdk

[wm3798]

I'd start with a shadow-box style diorama, maybe 4 feet long x about 12" deep.  Depends on if you want to put the platforms in front of or behind the rail cars.
I'd also suggest bringing enough power to the rails to light the cars.  I expect you're obviously going to light the station.
As for materials, you shouldn't be hard pressed to find reference photos with a modest Google search.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Midnight_Meat_Train_Stop_(51650804332).jpg#/media/File:Midnight_Meat_Train_Stop_(51650804332).jpg

Looks like some simple Evergreen styrene sheets in 1/8 tile or smaller should do the trick for the walls, and the rest could be fabbed out of stuff you have laying around the garage.  If you want to something more ornate like City Hall Station, you'll need to put a bit more thought into it.

Lee

[chessie system fan]

Welcome to the forum! I had to shorten your link to get it to work.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Kf8xxUdOYKCwQpEmAAD-qFFdeRnrqSRo/edit

There's a 25 post limit before you can post pictures (this keeps down on scammers).  There's a thread about it in the Administrative subforum. It doesn't take long to surpass 25 posts, though!

I'm afraid I'm far away from any subway systems, much less New York's, so I'm unaware of any prototype resources. But I can safely say that N scale North American subway models are very rare (maybe there was a brass NYC subway set, or a cast resin shell available at one time?) or non-existent, nor are there any building kits like what you want, so you'll have to scratch build what you need.

I'm curious how you plan to integrate the subway scene into your larger layout. Can you post some more photos?

[Brian M]

This is also something I have long thought about doing on my layout one day.  I agree with Lee, a shadowbox would be a good way to go and the lighting possibilities are too numerous to pass up.  Materials don't have to be complex or very unique, as quite a few NYC subway stations are rather bland.  You could also print out pictures appropriately scaled if you want something more decorative, like a station with the name displayed as a tile mosaic on the wall.

And if you haven't seen it, Doug of Fos Scale Models, recently built a subway for his HO layout.  It came out quite good, although he didn't model a station, just a section of tracks between stations.  Here's the link to his video:

https://youtu.be/WzL4O4Fb9Bw?si=tbLfaw0JlwjJZ_7f

-Brian.

[Roger Holmes]

One or two of these street level subway entrances would look great above you shadow box.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/393131149642?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=bJr93RGnQKq&sssrc=2047675&ssuid=h7Un3gVVQZW&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Oh man. I just saw a thing about doing this. Shoot, where was that?
This year's Great Model Railroads maybe? Maybe MRP?

I'll try and remember.

[OldEastRR]

Way back there was an article in MR of somebody's layout that included a subway, an operating one (small loop under the main layout). I think it was based on the Boston prototype, but the cars did run.

[u18b]

Years ago, I remember being at an N scale convention and the guy had an operating subway which you could see from one window below his module fascia.

The track was just a simple loop.  And it had one of those programmed circuits in it where the subway would arrive.   
Stop.   
and then after 10 seconds or so leave.   
and then would return again.

It was pretty cool.

[peteski]

Way back there was an article in MR of somebody's layout that included a subway, an operating one (small loop under the main layout). I think it was based on the Boston prototype, but the cars did run.

Does the last sentence imply that the real 1:1 Boston subway doesn't run?  If yes, then you are right on target.   Boston's subway system has been plagued with serious problems and shutdowns for several years. 

[robert3985]

Does the last sentence imply that the real 1:1 Boston subway doesn't run?  If yes, then you are right on target.   Boston's subway system has been plagued with serious problems and shutdowns for several years. 

Then John Allen on his Gorre & Daphetid got it right.  He built a subway station that could be seen on the fascia lower than his major city, and it had sound effects...announcements and crowd noises...but the subway never showed up!  It was non-operational and a joke on visitors who would wait and wait for the subway train to appear!!  LOL

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[Simon D.]

Unhelpfully there were NYC subway stations on Shapeways:  https://www.shapeways.com/shops/flat-fox-design-hub?section=NYC+Subway+Highline+N+scale&sort=


Anyone know who Tom Blode is?

[mark.hinds]

After looking at the link to the HO guy's representation, I wondered about the depth below ground.  So the Internet yielded this:  "The shallowest station is the 42nd Street Shuttle platform, which runs in a northwest–southeast direction under 42nd Street east of Broadway, and is 20 feet (6.1 m) below street level. The IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line station runs 40 feet (12 m) under Seventh Avenue."

FWIW

[aikorob]

if your benchwork is high enough, you could model Kyiv's metro ---- the tracks would just sit on the floor

[nkalanaga]

Aikorob:  Assuming you're not joking, my track is about 4 feet/12 cm above the floor.  That would be 640 feet/195 meters in N scale.  Is Kyiv's subway really that deep?