The absolute most spaghetti I can possibly get into a 4x8 N layout?

[Zack L-J]

Okay, I just want to finally start working on a proper layout instead of my 2x2 lame-out. I'm playing with SCARM and I'm trying to get just a ton of spaghett, so much winding and elevation change in it. I want trains that will bloody run for ages. So does anyone have any inspirational trackplans? Prototypical doesn't matter to me at all, but I would like at least one >15" radius mainline for big passenger trains, and then some twisties for shorter trains, and I wouldn't be opposed to a tram line or two, since I have some trams. Some area for a city is good, but I'm not really planning on doing much in the way of scenery. I'm using generic snap track, atlas and whatever else used junk I've managed to get my grubby little hands on.

Thanks y'all.

[Spades]

From Atlas' 9 n scale trackplans Gulf Summit Lines & Susquehanna Valley Railway

[brokemoto]

One thing that you want to do with a four-by-eight or larger is make sure that you can access every section of track.  My four-by-eight section of the pike is up against two walls, so I had to cut out the middle of it to allow for "popping up" so that I could access the track on the further points of that section.  this did not allow me to cram track into every little possible place.  In reality, I am better off for that, but, this is simply me.  For others, I do understand that they might be happier with track crammed into every possible space.

For this reason, be sure that there are "aisles" where you can get to the more remote parts of the pike.  Remember, there is a corollary of Murphy's Law that demands that the parts of the pike that are going to give you the most trouble are those that are the most difficult to access.  You did not know that Murphy was a model railroader, did you?  I do not care how well, carefully or professionally you can lay track.  If it is difficult for you to access that area, it is going to give headaches.  You can keep your wheels as clean as you will, if there is a difficult to access part of your pike, a pile of crud that the track cleaning car will not remove  is going to accumulate there and cause derailments, loss of contact or both.  You can affix a track eraser to the end of a dowel which will help somewhat.  Even then, if there is a turnout that is difficult to access, it is gurnteed to give you problems.  If nothing else, the moveable rails will collect dirt which will cause a loss of contact, improper alignment of the movable rails, derailments or all three.

You must be able to access everything easily if for no other reason than to clean it.  The Top Ten Enemies of all things N scale are:

1.  Dirt.
2.  Dirt.
3.  Dirt.
4.  Oxidation.
5.  Misaligned rail joints.
6.  Dirt.
7.  Poor electrical feeders.
8.  Dirt.
9.  Dirt.
10. Poor trackwork

Did I remember to mention "dirt"?

[Zack L-J]

Yeah, the layout will be pull-out-from-the-wall-able.

[John]

From Atlas' 9 n scale trackplans Gulf Summit Lines & Susquehanna Valley Railway

https://shop.atlasrr.com/p-44280-n-18-gulf-summit-lines-susquehanna-valley-railway.aspx

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=Gulf+Summit+Lines+%26+Susquehanna+Valley+Railway&atb=v344-1&iax=images&ia=images

[Zack L-J]

That's some good spaghetti right there.

[rickb773]

You could consider the track plan for my original layout:
DKS kindly replicated the plan picture for my article : "The 'Perfect' 4'x8' Trackplan" [joke] in the Sept/Oct 2012 issue of N Scale Magazine.





If you can't get a copy of the article, send me your email and I'll send you a pre-publication .pdf proof copy (pictures aren't as good).

A good addition would be a shelf yard attached to the bottom right.

[propmeup1]

Dad and I built the Atlas Gulf Summit layout in 1974 when U was 13. It was a lot of fun. We both did the wood work but I did all the track and wiring.    I would like to build it again but DCC this time around.

It was a fun layout at around 4 X just a tad over 6

[learmoia]

You could consider the track plan for my original layout:
DKS kindly replicated the plan picture for my article : "The 'Perfect' 4'x8' Trackplan" [joke] in the Sept/Oct 2012 issue of N Scale Magazine.

As far as spaghetti bowl layouts go.. that one looks tasty..

[basementcalling]

Almost any track plan from those Atlas books, N scale or HO built as N, would fit the deal.

Best results might be to build an HO sized 4x8 plan around the edges using N scale track, and then add a 2x4 or 3x6 N scale plan inside the loop of the HO roundy round.

Go for a baked bowl of spaghetti.

[nkalanaga]

Rick:  Your layout itself looks almost realistic for a "bottom of the holler" Appalachian junction town.  All I'd add is more buildings.  Mobody around here would waste that much open space!

[Virginia Atlantic]

If I were contemplating "maximum spaghetti" I might consider a layout based on this:

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

This is the WMATA Yard and Maintenance Facility in Alexandria VA, located just off the NS/CSX AF Interlocking (the thru tracks on the north end).

You could easily handwavium this to be a heavy rail railcar test or locomotive test and storage facility, rather than (as in this protoype) for lightrail.

You'd certainly need to do some selective compression, and even then might be better as a 4x8 instead of 4x6, but facilities such as this in the real world make excellent design inspirations for truly smaller, closed-loop, constant-running, but still very prototypical layouts.

You won't get more tracks in as small a space in the real world than this.

[chessie system fan]

Rick:  Your layout itself looks almost realistic for a "bottom of the holler" Appalachian junction town.  All I'd add is more buildings.  Mobody around here would waste that much open space!

Agreed.  It looks perfect for that setting.  Maybe add a creek through the middle with some company housing on either side.

What was the minimum radius?

[Spades]

/>
The Gulf Summit Lines & Susquehanna Valley Railway that someone built. Yes a river runs through it.

[atsf_arizona]

Go have a look at this track plan:  https://pbase.com/atsf_arizona/john_armstrong_carlsbad_eastportal_and_zenith

This is a multi-level, 4x8 footprint, John Armstrong N scale masterpiece, dating from the 1983 Kalmbach track planning book " 18 Tailor-Made Model Railroad Track Plans ".  Enjoy!

Givens' and Druthers:

* Medium-length freight (10-15 cars)
* Main line passenger (8-10 cars)
* Long freight ( > 20 cars possible)
* Commuter trains / traffic
* Local freight operations
* Hidden staging

Minimum radius mainline:  14.5"
Passing/layover radius:      13"
Branch/spurs:    11"