Pensacola N Scale Layout

Hey everybody,
I'm planning an N-scale layout in a 10X11 ft space to represent the Frisco's yard and port facilities in Pensacola, FL. I'm thinking of making it a point-to-point layout, maybe with a continuous run option. If any of you have any advice or ideas, I would really appreciate it. One problem that I'm running into is that there are several branch lines that come off of the main yard and I was wondering how best to model this on a layout.

Thanks,
John

 

John: I think you're onto an interesting layout design, and one that isn't too far from my master plan to model the Chaffee division point in the steam era days.

What era are you modelling? I'm not up to speed on my minimum operating radii for N-scale...I think it would be possible to model a continuous-run loop on an island with one half representing the Pensacola yard and the backside serving as mainline/branchline staging. However, if you're modelling the steam era, this may be too tight to squeeze in the curves necessary for continuous running and not have your cabs swing out ridiculously far.

I'm a point-to-point fan myself. On my own layout I plan on including the Chaffee yard as the "stage" and then use stub-ended staging on each end to represent the St. Louis/Hoxie Subdivision on the north and the Chaffee/Leachville subdivision on the south. I'm not familiar with Pensacola, but I'd guess that there wasn't much to the south! Still, perhaps a point-to-point layout would work with a visible yard/station leading north to branchlines and the mainline in a staging yard.

Then again, I suppose you could fuse the two and have a point-to-point focused layout, but with an option to run continuously. One of my former clubs (The Mexico Train Works in Mexico, MO) had a point-to-point layout with balloon loops for open houses, but this entails a LOT of space.

Personally, I'd be curious to hear if others are doing more
operations and prototype-specific modelling that focuses on a single terminal such as Chaffee or Pensacola.

Good luck and keep us up to date!

 

Pensacola N Scale Layout

 

Chris, thanks for the advice! This is a track plan for Pensacola in a 42”X84” N-Scale layout. This plan uses #6 turnouts and has a 12” minimum radius, which is suitable for diesels and small steam locomotives. The layout can be operated point-to-point with trains made up or broken down in the yard and running back and forth to the staging yard which represents Amory, MS and points north. The curve at the bottom of the layout can be used as an industrial spur or branch line for point-to-point operation and is the continuous run connection for display running. A branch line is included at the upper left. I am planning to use city buildings and a low ridge as a view block to hide the staging tracks.

This will be a diesel era layout, probably in the 70’s. I’m not planning to have any passenger service, except for an excursion train. I’m considering using Peco or Micro Engineering code 55 track for a more realistic appearance.

That’s about all for now. More to come!

 

Here's an update on my layout.

I am working on a 3 X 6 N-scale layout that is similar to the track plan I posted earlier, although I have simplified the design. The benchwork and most of the trackwork is complete with scenery in progress. This small layout will help me to test the waters so that I'll have a better idea of what I want when I build "the big one."

I got interested in Pensacola several years ago. I used to live in NW Florida and made many trips to Pensacola. Originally, I had planned to model the L&N's mainline when a friend suggested that the Frisco's line was more "modelable" because of the smaller yard. Well, I looked into it, and I was hooked! I have really enjoyed researching the line and planning. I will probably stick with Pensacola in the future, although I'll have to say that the Springfield to Birmingham line is looking good, too. I saw some pictures of the main line along the Spring River near Mammoth Spring, Ark. I was wondering if anyone out there was modeling that line and if so if they had tried to incorporate that scene into their layout. It would be a natural for N-Scale.

 

I built the layout that is described here - not long after the original posts were made. Here is a picture of how it turned out.

However, track problems and other issues lead to an early end for this layout.

I began thinking of another way to do a Pensacola theme in the same 3 x 6' space. Here is what I came up with.

The original plan focused on bringing in trains from "up north", and breaking them down in the yard, and then making up new trains to go back. The new plan focuses more on the industrial switching - taking small cuts of cars between the yard and the various industries. Watching the real railroad make those same moves is really what got me interested in modelling this area in the first place.

Most switching could be done without a runaround. A switcher could take cars from the yard then move clockwise around the layout to switch the Goulding Spur. Another job would switch the L&N interchange - just treating the right side of the loop as if it were a spur. A runaround and switchback move would be used to serve Newport Industries. These moves would be just like the prototype. I also added the Bayou Chico trestle for scenic interest, and a possible extension.

Of course, you could do more in a larger space, but I was pleased to find out how much of the "feel" of the Frisco you could get in a 3 x 6' layout.

John