Construction

The Construction of My Layout

To build the layout I decided to break things down into sections or phases to work towards. Each phase will be built with some migration to the next planned, and I intend each to be setup to allow for continuous running. This way I can show off the layout to guests and have something to toy with when I need to relax.
Overall I expect there to be 5 or 6 phases in the construction. As of right now, I’m working on the construction of Phase 4.
Phase I - This was a pretty quick and simple design I came up with to quickly get back into N-Scale in 2004. It's approx. 6 ft x 13 ft., but is really mostly 3 ft x 13 ft with the two ends stretch to 4 ft on the left side and 6 ft on the right. I adapted the design from the August 2003 issue of Model Railroader. I flipped the design left to right and then adapted it to fit my ideals better. Subsequent to the initial build, the design needed to change a little as I integrated it into the larger layout. So as you look through the gallery, you can see that the staging was initially hidden and now exposed, the town redesigned and a revision to the line as it exits the town.
Phase II - This is an approx. 13 ft x 9 ft 'L' shaped addition. It is also where I encounter the first "utility" I had to get around. The main drain for the bathrooms in the house exit the basement wall right where Phase II and I needed to meet. Luckily the drain comes out from the wall approx. 5 inches at just the right height for the two phase's to meet. That lets me run two, closely spaced lines behind it.
Phase III - This is an approx. 12 ft x 13 ft upside down 'U' shape with one of the segments shared with Phase-2. This adds the second full town to the layout, and has a interchange with another, to be determined which, railroad. This interchange also has hidden staging for the other railroad. Under part of the phase is where the control systems for the layout are.
Phase IV - This is an approx. 15 ft x 16 ft 'U' shape with one of the segments shorter then the other, and with the longer side touching the edge of Phase-3. This phase adds another large town, and has an interchange with another, to be determined which, railroad, again with hidden staging. Initially I will setup a 2nd staging area here on the mainline to help spread out the trains from the staging in Phase I.