N Scale Layout Help

This website has really good instructions and information:

https://www.steves-trains.com/

And so does this one:

https://www.krafttrains.com/

John

@Craftech posted:

This website has really good instructions and information:

https://www.steves-trains.com/

And so does this one:

https://www.krafttrains.com/

John

Thanks John, I’ll check it out.

I've built several N-scale layouts over the years and love the 2' depth one can achieve in that scale.  I don't have any words of wisdom other than to wish you encouragement.  A lot can be done in 2x4.  Even just a loop with a passing siding and a few industry sidings can make for a very effective layout. 

This is old track plan and is larger than 2x4 obviously.  Like most of my layouts it only got to the benchwork and some track stage.  I was able to get away with two tracks because the largest equipment was an 85' scale passenger car but having some opportunities to run mainline trains and some operations or even just display of some cars on sidings makes for an interesting layout.

@GazooRC posted:

...
I don’t have room to do a double track section though because the big boy requires 11” curves. A full curve takes up the whole side of the table.
...

Have you actually run the Big Boy on the 11" curves?  Just because it "will run" doesn't mean it will work smoothly or that you'll like how it looks.

I don't have a Big Boy, but based on what I have - largest loco is a Berkshire - it seems like there will be a lot of overhang with that radius.  Suggest setting up the oval and running it to see if the overhang is acceptable to you.

One option for making a shallow layout look larger is to add a partition down the middle to block the view of the far side of the layout.

Figure 8 is fun on a tinplate layout, but I'm not a big fan of it for scale trains.