Getting Started

Welcome.  This is the beginning of my saga to create an Nn3 (1:160 scale, 3 foot gauge) micro layout.  Since I do a bit of traveling, I thought it might be cool to have something to take along to satisfy those modeling urges that inevitably pop up when I couldn't be further from my work bench.  Furthermore, this is a great opportunity to build something limited in a scale that I've only ever dabbled in.  While I could see myself building something much more expanded and permanent in the future, this is a nice experimental way to feel out Nn3 without committing too much.  I've seen some great Nn3 layouts over the years, but I've never been able to get one up and running myself.  Let's face it, Nn3 is a challenging scale with limited resources.  Let's just say that I'm not proving that Nn3 is viable to other model rails, I'm just proving it to myself.

But why Nn3?  Simple.  In the space I've defined (16" x 24"), I can pack a lot of action in.  Since we're in narrow gauge territory, we can forgive the tight curve radii and steep grades that would be hard to do in other scales/gauges.  Moreover, I can run the smattering of Nn3 rolling stock that I've accumulated over the years.  To boot, here's a great use for those Marklin Z turnouts and track that I shelved when Micro Trains brought their Z track out (Yes, I do also model in standard gauge Z).  Lastly, you can't deny that there is a certain "cool factor" associated with a minority scale.

So where to begin?  I like to begin layout planning with a theme in mind.  What is the purpose of the railroad?  What kind of industries does it serve?  Where does it exist geographically?  What period of time are we modeling?  This last question does not have to be answered immediately--but I like to have an idea before purchasing rolling stock and structure kits.  Again, the nice thing with narrow gauge is that what was used in 1899 might still have been used in 1959.  One has some flexibility in narrow gauge as opposed to standard gauge practice. 

The theme of this layout is mining in the Colorado Rockies.  I know...cliché.  It never gets old for me though.  I grew up in the 80's, and that equates to being influenced by guys like Malcolm Furlow and John Olson.  I started reading the NG&SL Gazette in the 90's.  Like I said, as a modeling subject, Colorado never loses its allure. 

The track plan I've devised is a rework of the first version of the infamous Gorre and Dephetid. The original looks like this:

Again, cliché--but bear with me, and I'll explain myself.  As a track plan for a conventional layout, it's got lots of visual interest, although a bit limited for operation.  But for a mining layout with steep grades and tight curve radii, it's perfect with just a little tweaking.  For starters, replace Dephetid station with a mine and substitute the cattle pen in the bottom left corner with an ore transfer dock to standard gauge.  Gorre station now becomes a scale for weighing ore.  The engine servicing facility stays as it is (although I'm omitting the turntable).  As the original design stands, I can't fit it into a 16" x 24" envelope.  However, with the use of a few curved turnouts in strategic locations, I can come pretty close.  Here's what my track plan looks like:

So what does operation look like?  Again, simple.  Operations are centered around mining, with supporting elements.  I imagine in addition to trainloads of ore, a flat or boxcar gets delivered to the mine carrying machinery, dynamite, timbers, or anything else you might need to keep business rolling.  In addition, I can envision an old combine that carries miners to work and back home twice daily. 

Operations begin with a train of loaded ore cars at the mine and a train of empties at the ore dock.  The engine pulls out of the single stall engine house and works its way down to the ore dock. It then pulls the empties back to the run around by the scale.  After positioning itself behind the empties, it then heads upgrade to the right on the diagram above.  After circling back around over the truss bridge, the train takes the right hand leg of the curved turnout and heads up and over the high line trestle and on to the mine.  At this point, the engineer spots the empties on the storage spur and then couples onto the loaded ore cars at the mine.  It then backs out and couples the empties onto the loaded cars and spots them under the mine tipple.  The train of loaded cars then travels back down the line, with the engine on the bottom (so that there is no possiblility of a "runaway").  The loaded cars are spotted at the scale for weighing while the engine is run around the train once more.  Once weighed, the loaded cars are spotted at the ore dock for "unloading" into a train of standard gauge hoppers, represented by a single hopper, permanently fixed under the ore dock. The engine is then free to run a supply train (or passenger train) up to the mine.  I can see mixing in a variety of functions in to keep things challenging.  It might even be cool to use a fast clock.

The sky is the limit here, even with such a small layout.  I'm really looking forward to working all of these possibilities out.  Next time we'll look at benchwork and land forms.  Till then...

CD