Grade to upper level spur installed.

 I have installed the upper level against the back wall. This will have track and buildings for the spur. It's 1" pink foam board + 2 layers of foam core board, so it's just shy of 1.5" above the main level. I needed the 2 foam core layers to get the height for a vehicle underpass.

This is the grade going up to meet the bridge. It's just over a 2% grade, but half of it is on a curve so it'll take a bit more pulling power than a regular 2%. Instead of foam risers I wanted to try something different. I didnt glue the pink board to the base where I knew the track would be going up the grade. I cut down into the pink board at an angle on both sides so I could lift out from the high end of the grade, then just skewered and glued it into place. 

It's sturdy and has a very smooth transition from the base level where it starts at the curve, all the way to the high point where it meets the bridge. 

The upper spur bridge and the main line bridge. The mainline bridge is a bit low, but I hesitated on cutting out the particle board base as I didn't want to weaken the area. 

A view of the two bridges. The storage silos are on the upper spur and the mainline runs on the lower level past buildings and crosses at a road that goes under the second spur bridge.

The spur bridge in place with some buildings.

I carved some rock faces from pink foam. I may use them, but while they are passable for my miniature wargaming, I'm not sure I like them for the model railroad. I have other options as far as carved plaster, plaster molds, etc. 

I installed a switch control for the single mainline switch. It goes to a small siding, mainly for staging a locomotive. The switch powers the frog, and I left it as a hand throw since it is on the edge, and in the middle of the layout. The majority of the switches will be on the upper level and will be pushrod activated. 

I made a mockup of a Baldwin Westinghouse switcher from plans I found online. I would still like to have a go at making at least one traction line loco for the spur. 

Track and structure planning

 Some track planning and building placement photos as I work my way thru deciding the how the layout will be set up. You can see the chair I use in the layout area, and I can swivel it around without bumping any of the benchwork.

More shots of various placements. There will be a lower level that will be the main run thru the scene, over the drop down, and into the two track staging area. I plan on a raised upper level that will have most of the switching areas and industries. I'm envisioning the upper level as the beginning of long industrial spur.  

I have seen pictures of the Baldwin Westinghouse switchers on Iowa Traction line and really like them. I'm thinking the upper level could have traction lines in addition to small diesel switchers.

I've added the upper level along the back of the layout. It's a layer of 1" pink board with a topping of 1/4" foam core board with the paper covering removed. I've also decided to use the foam core board to raise the track as opposed to cork. We'll see how that works out. 

My KCS GP 40 -2 on the mainline with the background buildings on the upper level. 

Expansion 3.0!! From switching to full loop layout.

 So the electrician came and went - dedicated sump power, upstairs outlet rewired, and importantly, an outlet wired into the train room, and an overhead light wired from the existing overhead light. I now have 2 overheads so the corner is nicely lit. Can have up to 100 watts each but currently using 60 and I don't think I'll need my LED strips to light the layout. 

Base coat on the background board and some 1" pink board laid out. The new light is on and lights the corner well.

I finished installing the staging shelf on the right and thought "Gee, that would be great if I could a full circle layout". 

Even though my last layout was a dogleg loop I had a second line that ran across the doorway with a planned drop down track. ( Never functioned). 

Since I decided to do it for this layout I didn't leave it till the last. Either it works or it doesn't, right away. So took a pause from track planning and installed a drop down piece, (far right). It's mounted with cabinet hinges, and folds down to the left. It will be all curved track and powered from the staging shelf side. 

Its sturdy, although with the age of the house and seasonal temp changes I anticipate it may need so adjustments, so it can be adjusted by screws up and down, and right left. 

Some old buildings up against the background. The DPM buildings are kit bashed, and the tall tanks and white building are scratch, but uncompleted. 

Working on some building positioning.

The engine in the picture is an SP highspeed non powered loco. Great for the planning stage because it gives a sense of scale and distance + I can drop it, get paint on it, stack stuff on it, etc. In the last picture I have apparently included my finger tip in the picture to give a sense of scale. LOL.

The layout expands!

 I laid out some track and buildings to get an idea of what could be run on a shelf layout and decided I might get bored with what I could fit on the space. I went ahead and cleaned out the remainder of the room for an additional four feet of length making the layout 12 ft total length. 

Since the far support leg was still at a joint I left it vertical although I would have liked to angle it. 

Now there is space to add a bridge over a small river without all the features being jammed together. The last four feet added went to the corner of the room, and with only 1 lightbulb in the room, its pretty dim there. I will need a way to get some light for the end of the room.

Before adding the hardboard backdrop I added an L to the end of the room so I could curve the board and added a brace to the opposite wall. I did some measuring and the back of my chair ( at the lowest setting) will clear the bracing, so I am planning on making a tight double track staging area on the opposite wall. 

Some electrical work needs to be done on the house, (dedicated sump power and upstairs wall socket replaced) so I have decided to add a light at the end of this room coming off the existing bulb, and there is already a box for an outlet at the far end so I will have a grounded outlet installed. 

This should provide better light in the corner and more evenly light the room and with the outlet I can power the transformers.

The start of my N scale layout.

 I started this layout in mid February of 2021. It's in an upstairs storage area that houses my paint station. I have a 10 x 11 finished room in the basement that I was debating starting up in, but this area is closer to resources like the computer and its where I spend most of my time anyway. The plan was to have a switching layout since the space available is about 12'x4'.

I left some stored items at the end of the room as I initially decided to use the existing shelf for the layout. The particle board shelf is about 2 ft from the start of the ceiling slant which is a good space for a scenic backdrop and the shelf was sturdy. From previous layouts I know that I tend to sit more than stand when working or running trains so the shelf height was ok. The room is only 4' wide so I moved the center support leg to an angle to provide more turn around room for the chair. I left the other one vertical as it was tied into a cross support piece. 

 I've never done just a switching layout, and was hoping it would hold my interest as I've always had some type of loop layout and enjoy watching trains on a consistent run thru a layout.

I had supplies from my old layout - buildings, some track and tools, so I started some initial planning with buildings and track. I tried a track planning software, but it really didn't work out, and this is how I have usually done my layouts in the past. In some of the pictures you can see the extension cord on the wall above the layout. I only have a single light in the room so I have to use an adapter to run a desk light . I still had the old LED light strips from my old layout so that is a possibility for lighting the layout. Right now its dark at the end of the room.

SPECS - 

I'll be using Atlas code 55 with #5 and #7 turnouts. This will be a DC layout with cabs and I have 2 Tech II transformers. One is a single throttle and one is a double throttle.

ROOM SIZE -

15'x4'

LAYOUT SIZE - 

8'x1'