Steve - you are a crazy person! 8^D Before long you'll have to build a separate structure to house all of these railroads. I'll be watching for the updates!
Was excited to see a new layout plan, thrilled to hear you say similar to Pennsylvania hill towns. When we have the space someday I would love to recreate some of the beauty of nature with a rural early 20th century Appalachia.
@@StevesTrains If you have not heard of my hometown, you should look it up. Wyalusing, PA was home to a victorian era architect. His showcase of work is our main street. Unfortunately most of the original Lehigh Valley railroad is gone, but we now have a small switching operation for the fracking company.
Great video and tutorial of the new N scale layout you've designed! Can't wait to see the videos of constructing this! You have such a creative imagination of what you see it becoming! Cheers from Delmar,Delaware
Can't wait to see it come together. I have thought of separate lines also so some can run while others do something like switching. This is go to be awesome. GOD BLESS 🚂💖🚂💖🚂💖
Hi Steve, been watching your videos, so I decided to try my hand at a 1x6 yard setup. The stuff is kinda expensive, so slowly but surely, bought my first set of Kato tracks and bumpers. Also learned that #4 switches are best for a yard setup,lol.
Yeah, the #4s are a pain. There are videos online showing how to tweak them so they work better. I just gave up after my first try using them and didn’t bother. But I know people have done some simple modifications and made them super reliable.
Kato doesn’t make #5s, but the #6s are super reliable. I almost never have trouble with them. I wish the #4s were more consistent. You may have some that work fine and others that don’t. They have to be perfect since it is a sharper turn.
I should add that I haven’t bought a #4 for at least 7-8 years, if not longer. It is quite possible they work better now than they did ten years ago. I really can’t say.
@@StevesTrains so thanks for your thoughts on this, going to figure out what layout to do first, collect more tracks and decide on what switches to get. Oh and watch your videos.
Hi Steve, looks like it’s going to be a nice build. Can’t wait to see how it comes together. I may get a few ideas for a small layout for my grandson. I’ve been watching your videos for a while. I got a few ideas for my layout from your 3’ 5” x 5’ build . Thanks for sharing. Have a good day.
I really like this layout plan... but man I would do what you were saying and bump up the width to 2.5' in order to increase the radius. If just 6" more would make it so you could run 6 axle locos on the middle level that would be nice. I respect your desire to keep it small, and those 4' x 2' sheets at the hardware do make it very easy. Anyway I'm looking forward to watching it come together!
This is an awesome new plan, and I can't wait to see you build it. I live in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, so I very much appreciate the multi-level nature of the landscape and towns. Your layouts have a lot of visual interest, and the number of levels on this one is sure to be very appealing. Good luck with it!
@@yzScott hello! I grew up in Belle Mead, NJ. Used to get lots of great trains through there - freight including the Tropicana Train, and the former Reading Wall Street route with the RDCs.
What would actually help is if guys could actually look at their trains and see how far away they appear to be from you. An N scale train can't get closer to you than 100 metres away. You're observing the trains from a long distance away. It's NOT acceptable that you refuse to look at your own trains. The trains appear to be a long way away from you at all times. You're so high up to observe the trains that you've decided to observe as if you're God. Cause you play the role of God, your ego is massive. You get it wrong many times.
Those are some great plans. I’m actually in the process of working on a 12” x 18” n scale micro layout. It’s surprising what can fit in that amount of space.
Steve, you should watch "The Downfall of Unitrack" on David K. Smith's channel. I think you will appreciate the humor. I am looking forward to seeing your progress on this layout.
Seems pretty interesting, had you thought about maybe 2x5 feet where you put 1x2 section on the tram end then that half has a little more breathing room, probably wouldn't alter the foot print for you workbench too much. It would add more straight track in the middle. Like you said, it would add a little more complexity but you could run longer trains :)
Yeah, but it is like telescope aperture in my astronomy hobby…always want a little more. Four feet is comfortable to carry around. Going beyond that starts to get tricky to carry and maneuver. If it was staying in one spot I would make it as big as space allowed.
@@StevesTrains wheels and suitcase handles... Mines 1800x700 so 6x2'3" and on the backside it has small wheels on the front it has a suitcase handle, just rolls around
Yep, without question. I have an extra one and have thought about adding it. But I’m not sure I can electrically isolated the two loops or not with one. The main concern would be having one loop on DCC and one on DC if I had a situation where I wanted to do that.
I’ll be up that way for a weekend to visit my brother in law later this year so will see if I can squeeze in a bit of train watching. I’m sure there are some interesting places in that regard. I won’t be up there for too long so may not have any time, but we will see.
Didn’t want any grades on this one. I originally was planning on a 2x4 foot industrial switching layout, but then decided to add some tracks so I could have trains running while switching, and then added the tram line as another little feature. Hope to have it be pretty visually interesting and good for photo ops of rolling stock and things besides just doing some switching sessions.
Hello Steve you inspired me with the double loop layout. I have one question. What is the minimum hieght between levels for proper clearance. I do have some double stack cars. I have built my table 41 3/4 inch x 6 ft. Now I have a beautiful foam board table. Trying to figure out a track plan. With 2 maybe 3 levels
Depends on if you are using the Kato track or other roadbed that elevates the rails and how far down any bridges hang from the upper level. Bridges can vary a lot. I like to have about 2.5” between rail too and bridge bottom, but you can get away with 2”. Just measure the height of your tallest rolling stock and then figure out how far below track level any bridge hangs and then add at least a quarter inch to get your minimum separation.
Yes Steve but you've forgotten that an N gauge train is 100 metres away from you when it's at 1 metre away from you. You have these layouts that have 1 tree located in between you and the train. You must scale 100 metres of landscape in between you and your closest viewing location of the train. You're not allowed to view the trains at closer range than 1 metre or 3 .3 feet. You're modelling trains that are 100 to 500 metres away from you.
Great video! New to your channel. If you don't mind, can you tell me which CAD software are you using to do your layout? I don't see it listed in your video description.
Steve - you are a crazy person! 8^D Before long you'll have to build a separate structure to house all of these railroads. I'll be watching for the updates!
Looking forward to following your progress in 2023.
Was excited to see a new layout plan, thrilled to hear you say similar to Pennsylvania hill towns. When we have the space someday I would love to recreate some of the beauty of nature with a rural early 20th century Appalachia.
I went to school at Penn State so I have some affinity for the look of towns in PA.
@@StevesTrains If you have not heard of my hometown, you should look it up. Wyalusing, PA was home to a victorian era architect. His showcase of work is our main street. Unfortunately most of the original Lehigh Valley railroad is gone, but we now have a small switching operation for the fracking company.
A golden retriever named pony boy? The groan that brought out hurt my soul.
Each of the dogs in the litter he was part of were named after different characters from the outsiders.
Looking forward to this Steve. Always have an appreciation for MR's revolving around a city.
Looking forwarded to watching and learning from this build.
Looks exciting
Great video and tutorial of the new N scale layout you've designed! Can't wait to see the videos of constructing this! You have such a creative imagination of what you see it becoming! Cheers from Delmar,Delaware
Hey brother! Hope to see ya at the show !!okc
Can't wait to see it come together. I have thought of separate lines also so some can run while others do something like switching. This is go to be awesome.
GOD BLESS 🚂💖🚂💖🚂💖
Your builds are amazing. Thanks
Wow, such a great idea! Looking forward to this series!
Good luck! I look forward to seeing the progress!
Wow…ambitious layout plan…looking forward to seeing it developed
Looking forward to another amazing Steves trains build. You do amazing things in a small area. Stay well.
This sounds like a ton of fun! I'm lookin forward to watching the progress!
This is exciting. Looking forward to it.
Hi Steve, been watching your videos, so I decided to try my hand at a 1x6 yard setup. The stuff is kinda expensive, so slowly but surely, bought my first set of Kato tracks and bumpers. Also learned that #4 switches are best for a yard setup,lol.
Yeah, the #4s are a pain. There are videos online showing how to tweak them so they work better. I just gave up after my first try using them and didn’t bother. But I know people have done some simple modifications and made them super reliable.
@@StevesTrains that doesn’t sound good, especially since I am just starting to collect tracks. Should I gong to a #5or#6?.?
Kato doesn’t make #5s, but the #6s are super reliable. I almost never have trouble with them. I wish the #4s were more consistent. You may have some that work fine and others that don’t. They have to be perfect since it is a sharper turn.
I should add that I haven’t bought a #4 for at least 7-8 years, if not longer. It is quite possible they work better now than they did ten years ago. I really can’t say.
@@StevesTrains so thanks for your thoughts on this, going to figure out what layout to do first, collect more tracks and decide on what switches to get. Oh and watch your videos.
Hi Steve, looks like it’s going to be a nice build. Can’t wait to see how it comes together. I may get a few ideas for a small layout for my grandson. I’ve been watching your videos for a while. I got a few ideas for my layout from your 3’ 5” x 5’ build . Thanks for sharing. Have a good day.
I really like this layout plan... but man I would do what you were saying and bump up the width to 2.5' in order to increase the radius. If just 6" more would make it so you could run 6 axle locos on the middle level that would be nice. I respect your desire to keep it small, and those 4' x 2' sheets at the hardware do make it very easy. Anyway I'm looking forward to watching it come together!
This is a very interesting layout on a small space. I look forward to following the build and may build right along side of you. Thanks
Thanks Steve! Interested to see you do dc and dcc, something we would like to incorporate into our layout. We are electrically challenged! 😃
always good to start with a plan, and as you go small little tweaks.
How fun! I My current layout is 58x32" when I get ready to change it, I could adapt this for that same space .... lots to think about it.🤔
This is an awesome new plan, and I can't wait to see you build it. I live in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, so I very much appreciate the multi-level nature of the landscape and towns. Your layouts have a lot of visual interest, and the number of levels on this one is sure to be very appealing. Good luck with it!
Greetings from Sparta, NJ.
@@yzScott hello! I grew up in Belle Mead, NJ. Used to get lots of great trains through there - freight including the Tropicana Train, and the former Reading Wall Street route with the RDCs.
What would actually help is if guys could actually look at their trains and see how far away they appear to be from you.
An N scale train can't get closer to you than 100 metres away.
You're observing the trains from a long distance away.
It's NOT acceptable that you refuse to look at your own trains.
The trains appear to be a long way away from you at all times.
You're so high up to observe the trains that you've decided to observe as if you're God.
Cause you play the role of God, your ego is massive.
You get it wrong many times.
@@Gma7788 Take your meds.
Those are some great plans. I’m actually in the process of working on a 12” x 18” n scale micro layout. It’s surprising what can fit in that amount of space.
Steve, you should watch "The Downfall of Unitrack" on David K. Smith's channel. I think you will appreciate the humor.
I am looking forward to seeing your progress on this layout.
Seems pretty interesting, had you thought about maybe 2x5 feet where you put 1x2 section on the tram end then that half has a little more breathing room, probably wouldn't alter the foot print for you workbench too much. It would add more straight track in the middle. Like you said, it would add a little more complexity but you could run longer trains :)
Yeah, but it is like telescope aperture in my astronomy hobby…always want a little more. Four feet is comfortable to carry around. Going beyond that starts to get tricky to carry and maneuver. If it was staying in one spot I would make it as big as space allowed.
@@StevesTrains wheels and suitcase handles... Mines 1800x700 so 6x2'3" and on the backside it has small wheels on the front it has a suitcase handle, just rolls around
Oh dang. That is a good idea! Wheels, fold out legs, handle, that would be sweet. I am 100% going to do that on a project.
Nice. Wondered if a double crossover could be used on lower level?
Yep, without question. I have an extra one and have thought about adding it. But I’m not sure I can electrically isolated the two loops or not with one. The main concern would be having one loop on DCC and one on DC if I had a situation where I wanted to do that.
This could be set in Seattle with the BNSF tunnel there
I’ll be up that way for a weekend to visit my brother in law later this year so will see if I can squeeze in a bit of train watching. I’m sure there are some interesting places in that regard. I won’t be up there for too long so may not have any time, but we will see.
Interesting. So none of the levels will connect with each other? Just three distinct levels all separate? Nice concept!
Didn’t want any grades on this one. I originally was planning on a 2x4 foot industrial switching layout, but then decided to add some tracks so I could have trains running while switching, and then added the tram line as another little feature. Hope to have it be pretty visually interesting and good for photo ops of rolling stock and things besides just doing some switching sessions.
Hello Steve you inspired me with the double loop layout. I have one question. What is the minimum hieght between levels for proper clearance. I do have some double stack cars. I have built my table 41 3/4 inch x 6 ft. Now I have a beautiful foam board table. Trying to figure out a track plan. With 2 maybe 3 levels
Depends on if you are using the Kato track or other roadbed that elevates the rails and how far down any bridges hang from the upper level. Bridges can vary a lot. I like to have about 2.5” between rail too and bridge bottom, but you can get away with 2”. Just measure the height of your tallest rolling stock and then figure out how far below track level any bridge hangs and then add at least a quarter inch to get your minimum separation.
Yes Steve but you've forgotten that an N gauge train is 100 metres away from you when it's at 1 metre away from you.
You have these layouts that have 1 tree located in between you and the train.
You must scale 100 metres of landscape in between you and your closest viewing location of the train.
You're not allowed to view the trains at closer range than 1 metre or 3 .3 feet.
You're modelling trains that are 100 to 500 metres away from you.
Very inspiring :) I really like your micro layout videos. What program do you use for layout planning?
I use AnyRail only because I already know how to use it. I’ll have to learn some other programs eventually
Great video! New to your channel. If you don't mind, can you tell me which CAD software are you using to do your layout? I don't see it listed in your video description.
I use AnyRail. By the way, the video on how I built the benchwork for this new layout comes out this Tuesday at 6 am CT.
Huh, David K. Smith had a few layout concepts like this. Sadly only partially built.
Did a search and found the website with all the layouts, plans, blogs, etc. lots of interesting designs there for sure.
What software are you using to create those track plans, if I might ask?
I’m using AnyRail because that is what I’ve always used and know it well, but there are lots of options out there to consider.