PhilH
Western Thunderer
This is my first post on this forum, so something of a try-out to test the interest.
The story of this layout probably begins with the acquisition of an 0n3 scale loco. I had previously dabbled in American 0 Scale (standard gauge) for about 30 years, running stock on friend’s layouts or the local Gauge 0 Guild’s test track. However my US prototype interest has always been more inclined to the Colorado narrow gauge and I decided to buy just one 0n3 loco (thanks to Ebay), which was duly mounted on a short piece of track and set in a display case. That was to have been that, but then I bought another loco, then another......! An additional factor in constructing this layout was a desire to use DCC sound with all the lights, bells, whistles, etc, associated with American locomotives.
The recent past few years have been a particularly opportune time to start in 0n3 scale with the availability of reasonably priced die cast locos from Mountain Model Imports and ready to run rolling stock from San Juan Car Co and AMS. Also some of the Bachmann 0n30 locos are readily converted to 0n3.
The space available for the layout comprised a room measuring just under 13 feet x 12 feet, less the area of a chimney breast, and with a fairly large window and (of course) a door. Into this space it was proposed to fit an end to end layout running from a hidden staging (fiddle) yard via a through station, with passing loop, sidings and a loco shed, to a terminus which would be constructed with mixed narrow gauge and standard gauge track. The layout was also to incorporate a continuous run and the obligatory timber trestle. To date the benchwork, trackwork (not yet ballasted) and wiring have been completed, together with operating turntables at each end.
The track plan:
Starting from the lowest level there is a five road staging yard with turntable connecting the end of three tracks. From the staging yard the line climbs at a gradient of 1 in 25 and then levels out to emerge from the hidden track and cross a timber trestle in front of the window opening at a gradient of approx 1 in 60.
The through station and sidings are on the level, but at the end of the passing loop the line splits, one track descending at 1 in 60 to join the hidden line from the staging yard and form the continuous circuit and the other track climbing at 1 in 30 and joining a standard gauge line as mixed gauge track to the top level terminus. The standard gauge heads in the direction of the doorway and could be extended to a future staging yard outside the room. The minimum radius on the 0n3 is 42” and on the mixed gauge 48”
The basic idea for operating the layout is that trains run from end to end but with the option of extending the trip with a few turns round the continuous circuit in between.
The layout does pack rather a lot of track in a limited space in contrast to the spacious stretched out layouts of prototype D&RGW stations. Also the scope for scenery is somewhat limited.
The story of this layout probably begins with the acquisition of an 0n3 scale loco. I had previously dabbled in American 0 Scale (standard gauge) for about 30 years, running stock on friend’s layouts or the local Gauge 0 Guild’s test track. However my US prototype interest has always been more inclined to the Colorado narrow gauge and I decided to buy just one 0n3 loco (thanks to Ebay), which was duly mounted on a short piece of track and set in a display case. That was to have been that, but then I bought another loco, then another......! An additional factor in constructing this layout was a desire to use DCC sound with all the lights, bells, whistles, etc, associated with American locomotives.
The recent past few years have been a particularly opportune time to start in 0n3 scale with the availability of reasonably priced die cast locos from Mountain Model Imports and ready to run rolling stock from San Juan Car Co and AMS. Also some of the Bachmann 0n30 locos are readily converted to 0n3.
The space available for the layout comprised a room measuring just under 13 feet x 12 feet, less the area of a chimney breast, and with a fairly large window and (of course) a door. Into this space it was proposed to fit an end to end layout running from a hidden staging (fiddle) yard via a through station, with passing loop, sidings and a loco shed, to a terminus which would be constructed with mixed narrow gauge and standard gauge track. The layout was also to incorporate a continuous run and the obligatory timber trestle. To date the benchwork, trackwork (not yet ballasted) and wiring have been completed, together with operating turntables at each end.
The track plan:
Starting from the lowest level there is a five road staging yard with turntable connecting the end of three tracks. From the staging yard the line climbs at a gradient of 1 in 25 and then levels out to emerge from the hidden track and cross a timber trestle in front of the window opening at a gradient of approx 1 in 60.
The through station and sidings are on the level, but at the end of the passing loop the line splits, one track descending at 1 in 60 to join the hidden line from the staging yard and form the continuous circuit and the other track climbing at 1 in 30 and joining a standard gauge line as mixed gauge track to the top level terminus. The standard gauge heads in the direction of the doorway and could be extended to a future staging yard outside the room. The minimum radius on the 0n3 is 42” and on the mixed gauge 48”
The basic idea for operating the layout is that trains run from end to end but with the option of extending the trip with a few turns round the continuous circuit in between.
The layout does pack rather a lot of track in a limited space in contrast to the spacious stretched out layouts of prototype D&RGW stations. Also the scope for scenery is somewhat limited.
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