Ben’s been back in touch – he’s been having fun with his N scale switching layout:
“Hi Alastair,
Thanks again for earlier featuring my 6×12 N Scale layout set in Wyoming with locales based on the best-selling series of novels by author C.J. Box.
We retired to life on Lake Lanier GA in 2019 and was fascinated by the dense foliage in the state. I also began to see more and more articles about switching layouts.
When a family member was remodeling a home office I was offered a 2×4 table, which became the foundation of my switching layout.
My main goals and objects were:
1. Use as much spare track, buildings etc that I had lying around.
2. Experiment using photos incorporated in backdrops. Lots of photos!
3. Locale inspired by the real-life Jaemor Farms north of Gainesville GA.
4. Despite the 2×4 size, there are several scenes that give you an “Infinity and beyond” view including the farm itself, a “tunnel to nowhere” , a highway overpass and the Chattahoochee River.
Work began with experimenting track sections I had on hand. Ditto for the buildings which include the Jaemor Store, a local newspaper, finer and gas station along with an engine house. I “opened” the doors of the barn as one example then adding a picture of a barn interior from behind the doors.
Time setting is the fall, which makes for colorful scenery including the above referenced dense foliage so common to this part of the world.
The one departure from cost-saving was for the first time using DCC, starting with a Digitrax Power Supply and my first DCC engine. More will be added to the fleet. These early pics are DC engines used to test track and operating potential.
So far it’s been a lot of fun, a new learning experience and overall a model railroad “Science experiment”
We sure have a fun hobby and hope you can share my latest effort with your readers.
Brian
Gainesville GA”
A big thanks to Ben for sharing his N scale switching layout – a great way to have some fun and use up spare track.
That’s all for today folks.
Please do keep ’em coming though. It’s so quiet I may even put feet up for a few days.
And if today is the day you get started on your layout just like Ben, the Beginner’s Guide is here.
Remember, it’s the start that stops most people. Don’t let that be you.
Best
Al
PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.
PPS More HO scale train layouts here if that’s your thing.
Need buildings for your layout? Have a look at the Silly Discount bundle.
Inspiring. As a kid my father and I built HO and S gauge layouts after he started me with an O27 gauge Lionel. Now I live in FL and just don’t have the room. A nice 2×4 N gauge layout might just do the trick.
Well I must say for only being 2’x4’ you’ve packed a lot in and made many of your pictures look like the layout is much larger than it is. It looks great!
I recommend you get that insulation covered. Soonest. That’s a dusty environment!
Oh, and, the layout looks really nice. Good job!
Interesting track plan! And yes, you’ve packed a lot into that 2×4 space!
Interesting layout. Those pumpkins are HUGE! Reminds me of a line in the Christopher Guest movie “A Mighty Wind” when one viewing a model train layout says “I’d love to see it in the fall”. And here you have it!
Wow! A great mini layout and an inglenook puzzle multiplied many times.
Andrew in Oz
This has to be one of the best small layouts I have ever seen. Really nice. Keep having fun, Chris
well done!
That is awesome!!! May I visit? I’m over in Cumming, GA & getting ready to start something N Scale soon. Very impressed!!!
Does the Great Pumpkin visit your patch in the fall?
Nice layout. I love the details
excellent
Beautiful. Well packed, but not overloaded.
Good inspiration. While my plan is based on HO, the use of fall colors can be a good framing for the typical monochrome locomotive fleet. I am as far south of Atlanta as Gainesville is north.
It is a real tribute to your ingenuity how much you comfortably could pack into this modestly sized layout. Small is powerful. Thanks for showing us how to do it. Rob
Outstanding detail!!!
Your scenery, backdrop perspective, overall design are all wonderful! That plastic roadbed, snap together track really lets it down. Cork or synthetic roadbed and quality flex track, ballasted with weeds and whatnot worked in is so much nicer!
Very nice switching layout with plenty of nice scenery, well done Ben !!!!!
very good. i like the pumpkins, are those the ones they use in the worlds biggest contest. scale wise they could be.
Awesome layout Brian. Superb camouflage of the track and road to “Infinity and beyond”
Andrew in Oz