N Scale Layout

A decision was made to dismantle the club’s old transportable N Scale layout Maple Deutsche and build a new N Scale layout in it’s place in March 2011. For more on the club’s old N Scale layouts, see Old N Scale Layouts.

(l to r) Roger Winfield, Garry West, John Kinson and Rowan Benson during assembly of the new layout base framework.

A decision was made that the layout would not be portable, the last layout having been moved twice in ten years and thus it could be wider longer and more sturdy. Timber was cut to size at home by Garry and assembled at the club.

The timber framework for the club’s new N Scale layout showing the huge size of the undertaking

April 2013 saw completion of track laying and the first trains running.

The layout is of a European prototype with a double track main line which climbs up the length of the layout and then returns to the base level through a helix at one end to be covered by a mountain and a separate high speed line which loops under the main line at each end.

N Scale in 2013. High speed line on light-coloured concrete sleepered track at the lowest level, double track main line above that and passenger terminus and future freight yard above that.
West end showing the double-track helix which is how the main lines get back down to the main level at this end of the layout. A large mountain is to be built over the helix at this end of the layout with an alpine branch line snaking all the way up it.
Later in 2013: German ICE train running on the high speed line. The main lines are at the same height as the camera and the support structures for the steep-gradient alpine branch line have appeared at the back against the wall.

June 2014 saw the scenery beginning to take shape and the installation of the electronics to run it all.

Scenery constructed using carboard ribs, fly wire and plaster of Paris impregnated bandages.
The electronics drawer containing a mix of DC controllers, DCC boosters and CTI Train-Brain automation modules.

The main line is wired to enable the running of DC or DCC locos with walkabout control using the club’s NCE System, HO decoders are wired into each track so that with the moving of a switch their output in DC is sent to the track to enable DC locos to be controlled. All sections are monitored by computer (CTI Train-Brain) for current draw to allow block detection and the running of multiple trains on each track.

October 2014 saw good progress being made on the scenery in the centre section

November 2016 progress on the mountain, construction is plaster over fly wire and made use of latex rock moulds.

At the same time Roger was busy building kits and creating the Town and Railway station at the other end

October 2017 saw completion of the Mountain at the far end. This mountain contains the double main line helix.

The mountain incorporates a winding narrow alpine line from the branch line station at the base of the mountain to the medieval village (complete with castle) higher up.