4 x 8 N scale Layout
Warning: The following track plan is an extremely puristic idea for hardcore trainspotters. Don’t check it out if you like complex train operations, fiddly shunting maneuvers, train stations with platforms or thousands of sidings. It could cause serious irritations!
Put 5 train sets on the tracks instead, each on its own oval, sit down, have a beer, do autopilot and watch long trains go by. That’s all!
Confused? Of course you are. 5 ovals are visually a boring affair. But look what can happen on a 4 x 8 board if the whole thing is spiced up a bit so that it doesn’t look stupidly geometric:
What is it all about? Let’s say, we’re in a metropolitan region near a large central station, where several rail lines fan out and then each go in their own direction. The scene takes place somewhere in the middle of nowhere, where drearyness and desolation reign. We see wasteland, graffitis, scrap stuff, run-down backyards, some little industry or a rusty oil drum. And as we have a busy multitrack main line, a signal box and an overhead catenary seem appropriate.
There is a total of 5 lines in front of this layout, 2 of which are merged into a 2-track main line. Some overpasses make for attractive views by staggering the railroad lines at different heights.
In the background, but still in front of the backdrop, runs a single track line over a bridge. Nevertheless, this 4×8 N scale layout is perfect for long trains, as only one oval has a gradient. So run shorter trains on this slope. All other ovals are without gradients.
Let’s take a look at the complete 4×8 ft. board:
On the right and left side of this N gauge layout road bridges cross the tracks. Town houses and backyard views should fit well here. On the upper side, behind the backdrop, there is enough place for a shadow station. If you own more than 5 model train sets just add some sidings there.
This 4 x 8 N scale layout features many concrete walls and structures. Should offer attractive tasks for model making, right?
Concept & operation
Actually this idea came to me when I was playing around with 5 dull ovals in my track-planning software. Why not go radically puristic? To turn that idea into a pretty model railroad layout, I moved ovals 1 & 4 a bit inwards and introduced a second height level. This created overpasses and a bridge:
Then I added 2 turnouts for a “junction point”. Note that this is fake! Of course, trains could pass this “junction point”, but basically this is not meant for operational traffic reasons. It’s only placed to visually enhance the track layout. The turnouts are the nice ones from KATO with a wide radius.
Building this 4 x 8 N gauge layout should not be a rocket science. Oval 1 runs on ground level 0, Ovals 2, 3 and 5 run on level 1. So just plug the tracks together, but ensure accessibility for oval 1, for example by planning some access hatches.
Only oval 4 has a slope from level 1 down to level 0 and vice versa.
Ovals 2 & 3 are intended as a 2-track mainline with directional traffic.
4 x 8 N scale layout (track plan KATO)
Facts 4 x 8 N gauge layout:
- Size: 4′ x 8′. This corresponds to 243.8 x 121.9 cm
- Tracks: KATO Unitrack (N gauge)
- Based on 5 ovals, only 2 turnouts
- Slight deviations are possible. Track planning software isn’t 100% accurate
- Some KATO straight tracks must be adjusted to size. More: KATO length modification (YouTube).
Tracklist 4′ x 8′ layout (Kato N scale)
Download this track-plan here:
Download PDF (private use only)
Why this 4 x 8 ft. N scale layout?
At first glance, the idea seems stupid. But let’s take a look at the benefits: