Japanese HOn30

It's the coolest engine ever made, running in HOn30 scale! (If only it wasn't 45,000¥ [about $525USD])

Final Layout and Final Theme

The Yukon is out. Sorry everyone who wanted it. I just couldn't settle on another dark brown and dark green layout (like the last mini-diorama I did). My heart is set on the Southwest!

The name of the railroad was chosen as well. Presenting the...

As the name probably gives away, the railroad will be set in the Colorado/Nevada area, with a focus on the mining industry.

In addition to finalizing the layout, placenames have also been added: Arden Outpost, La Salle Mine, Applewood Canyon, Silver Cliff Bend, and San Pablo Creek.

The line's primary purpose is to provide service between Arden Outpost "A" and the La Salle Mine "B". Freight will be gold ore, supplies, and light passenger traffic (mine workers).

LNI R&R Theme?

In very strong contentions for the "theme" of LNI R&R is the area around Alaska and Canada's Yukon territory. A popular narrow gauge railroad (actually several) existed in this area, one of which is restored and running as a tourist line: White Pass & Yukon Route (wikipedia).

This would theme the layout around ore freight and passenger traffic. The palette of the theme would be darker greens and browns perhaps. I'm getting a lot of positive reaction to the idea of snow? Oh what am I getting myself into.

Here are some creative commons shots of the railroad and area:

Updated Layout

I've normally spent most of my time designing on the computer. I actually use Adobe Illustrator. It's not the ideal railroad designing program, but I know it well from work, and I've put in the time to design brushes and object sets that I can use to design railroads.

However, this layout is small enough that I've started using a Sharpee to accurately sketch it out. And you know what I noticed -- Designing in real life is totally different than on the computer. Actually, there were two things I noticed:

• It's a whole lot easier to get a sense of how close things are to each other when using a Sharpee pen as opposed to the computer
• The dimensions in real life never lie. On the computer, sometimes it looks like something will fit nice, but when you see it IRL it doesn't.

So having said that, I quit designing on the computer, and finished designing the layout using a Sharpee. Ah, technology. After my design was complete I sketched it out.

I present, the LNI R&R Layout (click for full size image):

LNI -- Initial thoughts

I've been putting together some plans for a very small micro-layout as a little side project, since I have neither the space, tools, or budget for a full on 7/8n2 layout.

What's been decided so far:

• 9mm gauge
• For scale, it will most likely be HO (1:87), though I'm toying with N, 1:150 or 1:160 (That DEKI-3 is just way too cool, but then again so is the Egger-Bahn railcar)
• I'm leaning towards a Southwestern US layout, which would make it HOn30, though I may end up going European, HOe.
• I'm about 85% sure I'm going to hand lay the track and turnouts (oh what am I getting myself into?) I've read code 70 is a better pick for first-timers, but code 55 would be easier to file I'm thinking.
• Being small and compact, I'll most likely end up doing freight, though I haven't yet decided on an industry or motive power yet. Roco makes somes really cool little mining tubs that I may go with if I can find a decent price.

Here's my rough sketch of the layout, sans height indications...

35" x 23", 7.5" radius curves (and some crazy 6" curves on the inner turnouts, that may be really pushing it).