What to buy....

[vt_railroad_guy]

Here's a couple pictures of what we have so far.





Track layout is not settled on as of yet.

VTRG

[Ken G Price]

The GP15 looks good on the tracks as it does not over power the rail cars.
The smallest road switchers I use are Atlas GP38's and Atlas MP15's for the yard.

One of these days though at least one GP15 will make it on to the layout tracks.

[VonRyan]

Here's a couple pictures of what we have so far.





Track layout is not settled on as of yet.

VTRG

Certainly a better start of a layout than i had, and still have in the case of my HCD layout... with some carefully place switches and perhaps some customization with c55 flex (plus maybe even a turnout or two) and you'll have a good layout with some decent switching opportunities.
I'd suggest a heavily wooded corner if you don't do a center backdrop/scenic-divider that way it gives the eyes a bit of fooling that it is just a loop with central industries. Or you could shift the track more to one side on the width, you could add an interchange track to justify the use of all kinds of cars. 

-Cody F.

[vt_railroad_guy]

Certainly a better start of a layout than i had, and still have in the case of my HCD layout... with some carefully place switches and perhaps some customization with c55 flex (plus maybe even a turnout or two) and you'll have a good layout with some decent switching opportunities.
I'd suggest a heavily wooded corner if you don't do a center backdrop/scenic-divider that way it gives the eyes a bit of fooling that it is just a loop with central industries. Or you could shift the track more to one side on the width, you could add an interchange track to justify the use of all kinds of cars. 

-Cody F.

I was thinking a forested ridge running down the center ending in a tunnel on one of the curves.  Then I could have a town on one side and a couple industries on the other.  My daughter requested a mountain and a tunnel, so I need to work them in somehow.

VTRG

[packers#1]

I was thinking a forested ridge running down the center ending in a tunnel on one of the curves.  Then I could have a town on one side and a couple industries on the other.  My daughter requested a mountain and a tunnel, so I need to work them in somehow.

VTRG

sounds like a plan to me, and then the turnouts you have now could be a switchback to a mine...of course, how many conrail lines had switchbacks to mines?

[VonRyan]

Now if only there were female N scale modelers closer to my age  ....
but at that point it is debatable whether or not i'd ever get any modelling done a'tall...

-Cody F.

[Bsklarski]

What are the chances of getting that track a little further in from the edges?

[vt_railroad_guy]

What are the chances of getting that track a little further in from the edges?

There is no way to make the radius any tighter with the track that I have, but I am going to be laying 1/2" foam on top and plan to extend the surface by about an inch and a half both ways.  That will give me just about an inch and a half between the track and edge of layout all the way around.  One of my main goals is to see what I can accomplish with atlas true track on this layout, since that's what the starter set came with.  I am very familiar with the limitations of this, but I know I can make it work.

VTRG

[VonRyan]

From the looks of it, i'd say that'd help the scene not be framed by the track, but is not totally necessary. However i'd go for since the more room the merrier 

-Cody F.

[vt_railroad_guy]

It's done.  i now have GP15-1 #1656 on the way! 

[Ed Kapuscinski]

As for that station. I'd highly recommend boarding up half the windows and making the other half an MOW office.

It's the CR way...

[vt_railroad_guy]

As for that station. I'd highly recommend boarding up half the windows and making the other half an MOW office.

It's the CR way...

I'm not sure my daughter would let me get away with that one, Ed.  She likes the station and would pick up on any change to it in a heartbeat!  Eventually that eye for detail will serve her well, I'm sure.

[davefoxx]

Yeah, let's remember that this is VTRG's daughter's layout, so we can probably ease up on the rivet counting.  Like Dr. Vollmer did on the layout he built with his son, they didn't necessarily worry about scale fidelity and just had fun.  He's using the layout to spend time with his son, and it's teaching the youngster how to model.  You can do the same with your daughter as she grows.  You can always make changes down the road as she matures and wants improvements, assuming, hopefully, that she stays interested in this hobby.  The choice of Atlas True Track is probably a good one for your daughter's layout for its durability (similarly, Dave V. used Kato Unitrack).

My only recommendation is that you now have two locomotives.  Since that gives you the opportunity to run two trains, why not add a double ended passing siding?  Oh, guess you'll need another caboose, too.   

Hope this helps,
DFF

[vt_railroad_guy]

Ahhhh, her playmate has arrived.



They really look good together pulling a 7 or 8 car train.  I'm very happy I went with another GP15-1.

VTRG

[Guilford Guy]

Awesome. Matched GP15s look awesome when running together.