MODEL RAILWAYS

[MacNetron]

Certainly looks like a nice setup. Can you measure it out in ft. so as I can compare to the space I have (To see if I could do something similar if I had the time?)

# 1 yard = 0.9144 meter
# 1 foot = 0.3048 meter
# 1 inch = 25.4 millimeter

For "fast" calculation I use 3 feet is 1 meter and then round up/down quite heavily.
2.5 meter is 2x 1 meter and 1x .5 meter = 6 feet (round down) + 2 feet (round up) = 8 feet.
2.5 meter / 0.3048 = 8.2021 feet.

maw... not bad...

that makes it 8x3 feet

[Purno]

This is how my N scale model railway looked like As Far As I Remember, it took +/- 1.5 * 1 metres...

[Born Acorn]

I got myself one of these at Christmas. I already posted it in the Christmas pressies thread but its better in here.

[Raichase]

that makes it 8x3 feet

Thanks mate! Takes up more room than I have though, so there goes that idea .

[Colonel32]

progress so far:
spraypainted with matt black, minor datails. Waiting for decals...

[Jim-San]

Well I've gotten a N scale train set, also bought some more track to double its size, also found a nice place to buy them for people in Southern UK.
Southampton Model Centre

I've also gotten a turntable just cause I've always wanted one since I watched thomas the tank engine
Anyway now I got to design a track system on a 3*6ft area (the bottom bunk on my bed, ideal spot really ), only problem is I dunno what to do, only Idea I got atm is to do a dual layered track in a city for surface trains and a underground that leads into the country, would be using Steam engines as well so I dunno.
Have been using the Hornby Track Design 2 program as well after some scale working out, quite a nice design I got but still not what I wanted

I'll post images when I get the extra Track.

[fantux]

I have an H0-scale model railway with a dozen or so engines and more waggons than I can count (owned by my dad, my sister (!) and me, thus the amount. No pictures as we don't have the room to put it up anywhere right now ). An the one thing I noticed during the years: If you want to build a model railway so you can play with it, you do not want circles - those are the absolute killer. Trains can just go round and round for hours looking nice for a couple of minutes - and that's it.
If you want to play you basically need two parts: An End-of-Line station where you have to change Engines, reorganise a train, eg. and a track going for as long as you have room. Either with a turn at the end so that the Train comes back the same way it went or even a second station at the other end.

Now, before you start moaning that there is no room: with N-scale you should have no problems creating a layout that runs around the shelves of your room
'bit more of a problem with H0-scale though...

To all the people that postet pictures of their model railroad: after not having seen my own mr for quite some time, those almost made me cry

[Jim-San]

I've now worked out a track system I can do (possiblly), I also gave a reason for my track to exsit, theres a coal mine next to a village and a power station next to the town, simple, plus theres a fiddle yard next to the mine along with the turntable to turn steam engines around, and theres 3 loops (1 double suface loop and a single underground) in the town to keep it busy.
Once I've made a proper design in HVR2 it kinda looks....well best not to say, but it'll look better once done, plus theres tons of space for scenery (the white space on the image) anyway, I must be off to design in full.

BTW the circle at the bottom near the mine is the turntable.

<edit>
First track design, thats why its got loops, my better design has to wait till my sister moves outta the attic so I can take it over

[MacNetron]

I presume the lower tracks on the right are "in the mountain" (ie. hidden)?

That turntable looks somewhat "forgotten". Isn't there a place where it can be used to full potential? (replacing that switch a bit up for instance)

EDIT: OH! Or do you use it to turn the loco's around?

@fantux: if I had N, I "might" agree with you. But with 2.5 by 1 meter and H0, I MUST use circles.

On the other hand... if you elevate a complete station...
<mac goes to thinking mode...>

@colonel32: looks awesome!

[Jim-San]

I use the Turntable to turn the locos around yes, but on my HVR2 I had to only have 2 tracks leading upto it. The lower tracks on the right are on the lower baseboard, not under a mountain and not hidden as its gonna be like an underground system going into the countryside with a hill thats got the coal in, but the ones on the left are somewhat hidden because theres a second baseboard 2.5 inchs above it for the upper track thats gonna be a town setting.

I know it really looks confusing but once I've uploaded the HVR2 design that shows which track is being raised and what bits aren't it'll be abit clearer.

[Archonix]

I'd suggest putting the turntable in place of the three switches to save those tight curves on to it. You'll still be able to run two trains on to the tracks and use the third as an escape line for both engines, but you'll save on having to lay down those rather pointless points. Just my opinion, of course...

[Jim-San]

good idea, but on the final design they were removed due to lack of space and bad designing

I might just redo the whole thing again, but make it abit simpler.

Just wondering, how much track length would I need to make a N scale track go up by 2.5 inches and be quite safe for the train.

[Archonix]

I'd guess about 20 inches.

[Jim-San]

hmmm.... thats gonna make my designing more harder then, unless i make some space just for going up and down, thou I have been thinking of making the Upper track seperate from the Lower track, it would solve all the design problems

[BobDendry]

I've decided to go to N Scale. I've got myself an 81 class. and some steel coil flat wagons

[MacNetron]

[...]
Just wondering, how much track length would I need to make a N scale track go up by 2.5 inches and be quite safe for the train.

The official Fleischmann design book says maximum 4% grade. That means 1 meter (100 cm) for 4 cm height.
Needless to say I've bended that rule. About 7 cm height on +/- 1 meter. (H0 though, but that shouldn't make lots difference.

[Geo Ghost]

i always modled at HO/OO. mainly because it seems a fitting and attractive size. although making a proper layout has been somthing i want to do, i probably wont get round to it, mainly because of space and schoolwork.
i have lovly little engines though, loads of them.
like the Flying Scotsman (4472) doble tender edition (picture below) and its coaches (no pic)
i got my first 1 ages ago, like when i was 5, The Queen Mary, now im 15, and it still works, barley!!!
i got loads of models, rare, collectable, or which ever.
i had a layout once. just a simple oval with a turntable and plenty of sidings. really good for shunting and the like

[BobDendry]

There's a Model Railway IRC channel out there somewhere. I think it could be #ModelRailways
Its on the quakenet server

[Geo Ghost]

is that a TV channel?

[Raichase]

IRC channelr

It's a chat type thing.