Build an N Scale Switching Layout in a Wooden Case!

In this video I show how I built an N scale switching layout in a portable wooden case. A storage drawer holds the controller and cables as well as all the rolling stock. The next video in this series will cover the installation of removable structures and scenery panels that will allow the layout to be modified for different types of operating sessions.
Want to help support the channel? Buy me a cup of coffee!
www.buymeacoffee.com/stephens...
Track Plan: www.steves-trains.com/post/n-...
See blog version at www.steves-trains.com (blog coming soon)
CONTROLLERS:
Battery Powered Controllers that work great for N scale too: amzn.to/3umqFfa
Awesome DCC Starter System: amzn.to/3gZVbbp
TRAIN SETS:
N Scale Kato Amtrack Set: amzn.to/3iyCbBt
N Scale Kato Super Chief Set: amzn.to/3B4ISS7
Kato N Scale Track and Controller Set 1: amzn.to/3B61UHF
Kato N Scale Track and Controller Set 2: amzn.to/3Y5hflZ
More Kato Track Sets: amzn.to/3OYcZQJ
HO Scale Rail Chief Train Set: amzn.to/3OVJizQ
O Scale Lionel Polar Express Train Set: amzn.to/3EQLcNu
O Scale Lionel Hogwarts Express Train Set: amzn.to/3Y5hM7t
LAYOUT KIT:
HO Scale Grand Valley Kit: amzn.to/3uiPvN1 (my first adult railroad project)
Track set for Grand Valley Kit: amzn.to/3VPyzsS
Building set for Grand Valley Kit: amzn.to/3F1b8WQ
N Scale building set: amzn.to/3BsZMu3
TOOLS:
Bench top hot wire cutter: amzn.to/3Voq1tk
My Resin 3D Printer: amzn.to/3gT2PEH
My Filament 3D Printer (upgraded version): amzn.to/3Uroph6
Snap-off Blade Utility Knife: amzn.to/3OXM1cj
Cordless Dremel Set: amzn.to/3VO86Mm
My DeWalt cordless drill: amzn.to/3gW5i18
My Dewalt cordless saw (current version): amzn.to/3H73Jbo
My Dewalt cordless miter saw: amzn.to/3VNnzfL
VIDEO AND AUDIO GEAR:
Rode Wireless Mic: amzn.to/3KhNlCy
Shure MV88 Portable iOS Microphone (Great external microphone for iPhone): amzn.to/3LmWw67
Smartphone vlogging kit: amzn.to/3rTXyPf
Selfie Mirror to see phone screen when recording self with back cameras: amzn.to/3KiCgRU
Canon SL3 (nice basic DSLR): amzn.to/3kdBHy1
LED light panels: amzn.to/36NZBNy
Other Links:
NEC PowerCab: amzn.to/3acwox9
Digitrax DS74 Units: amzn.to/3M7KBbW
Pneumatic door lift stay: amzn.to/3x0AAb8
Toggle latches: amzn.to/3aiFt7P
Carry Handle: amzn.to/3GCsUAi
Drawer slides (Home Depot): thd.co/3M6XTpk
Drawer slides: amzn.to/3PYRjV4
Push Buttons: amzn.to/3M9eEQG
As an Amazon affiliate, I receive a commission on any products purchased through Amazon links.
Music: epidemicsound.com

[@Linda_Eskin]

Clever idea, beautifully executed. Maybe add two D rings on the front to allow for carrying with a shoulder strap, then the handle position and balance issue goes away, and make it easier to carry any distance.

[@silverfox5319]

Great switching layout Steve. Who says you must have a basement to enjoy model railroading? This is a good example of how anyone can have a lot of fun with an N scale switching layout. Thanks for sharing.

[@StevesTrains]

Thanks!

[@Trains-With-Shane]

After fooling around with a bunch of Atlas Code 80 track and remote turnouts I REALLY appreciate the ease of use of Kato Unitrack even more. What an excellent little build!

[@shawnpowell5876]

Great video and tutorial of this take along layout! You're one of the best when it comes to building tiny N scale layouts! I think it's so cool to be able to take it wherever you want to. In the upcoming episodes when you add structures and scenery this will turn out amazing! Thanks again for sharing your videos with us along with your time and effort!

[@kirkbailey1836]

At 6:00 you did something that my grandfather did when he worked with a saw like that. Thank you, you reminded me of him.

[@nfapiper1]

This inspires me to rebuild my HO switching layout into something like this.

[@gtc1961]

Just finished this one, made some minor changes like making the drawer a little wider, I painted the base of the layout dirt brown and everything inside the box above the track level a sky blue. Where the switch buttons are, I laid out thin white tape to reflect the layout diagram and installed the push button switches where the switches actually are. I also instilled a Roku battery operated transformer in the drawer so I could operate it without power if needed. To go along with that, I have both a DCC/sound locomotive and a classic Trix DC only locomotive in the drawer. The biggest change was that I made the entire thing out of lightweight plywood. They sell a plywood in my local Lowes called "Blond wood", it's very light, strong and has a nice finish on it. I look forward to using this with my grandson when he gets a little older.

[@StevesTrains]

Awesome! Yeah, plywood like the kind you used, or birch plywood would have been a lot lighter than the 1x pine I used. It isn’t hard to move around, but shaving off 10+ pounds would have made things easier in terms of carrying things.

[@edgein7892]

Nice bit of craftsmanship there. I've built a layout similar to that for a friend of mine only twice the length. Two modules with a sturdy board for a background which can be assembled into a box with the result being only a bit bigger than your layout.

[@charlesmcclure5994]

That looks like it was a great project can't wait to see what you do with it next

[@rickbennett5072]

Great tutorial on a switching layout. I too, am jealous of your superb craftsmanship. Look forward to more of your layout work.

[@Maurice00PA]

Really impressed and jealous of your woodworking skills.

[@yolo6741]

What a great idea for an N Scale switching Layout. The setup by step Video is really helpful to understand how you build it and I especially liked that you showed and recorded also the small mistakes that happened so others can avoid those pitfalls. Thank you for this Video which is a real great inspiration of an transportable track that I am looking for.

[@FBMRR]

Nice.... i have the NCE power cab. just need a wood working friend to build the case. Thanks for the tutorial.

[@edwardstd52]

Another brilliant idea, Steve! Keep'em coming!

[@TonisalpenmodellbahnN58]

Tolle Ideen fü wenig Platz. Handwerklich gut gemacht. Prima

[@davidorama6690]

Such a cool little layout.

[@DIYDigitalRailroad]

Thanks for the shoutout! How much do I owe you and do you accept payments in coffee? haha!

[@StevesTrains]

Nothing at all, but yes, I always accept payments in coffee!

[@donlawrence4676]

Looking forward to the rest of the series , saw and earlier video where you built this switching game layout and have always planed to someday build my own. Now with more detail on building it and more instructions I'm really looking forward to my own layout and getting inspired! keep them coming and keep up the great content and work.

[@mlkesimmons758]

Great idea. Like to build one to have another job for operating sessions or public events.

[@isaiahfurrow7414]

So awesome!!! Great video and presentation, as well as a great project! I hope to somewhat copy this project in the future.

[@PeterWaldraff]

Well done! Looking forward to the scenery. Like the magnetic scenery idea.

[@StevesTrains]

Thanks Peter!

[@Microbus]

Awesome as always!

[@lowcountryrailroad7701]

Very nice setup Steve. Thanks David @LCRR

[@petermenningen338]

Love the idea, now I'm thinking on how to incorporate with a T-track module. Looking at removable top.

[@SteveH-TN]

I discovered T-Trak a few years ago & have enjoyed building larger layouts with others at shows. However I also enjoyed for many years shelf switching layout in a closet on USAF base housing.

[@cameronsnider5769]

Looks great! I have something similar at home.

[@mattsynth]

Very nice.

[@dundasjunctionmodelr.r-jam8267]

Very interesting build , I am working on a N scale table project, this idea might be next, main layout is HO

[@RayBoebel]

Very cool Steve! New sub here!

[@SFCRambo60]

Hi Steve, enjoy your videos. I did some things that could help you and others. I wanted a place to store and protect my controls so I looked at the cost of the metal drawer guides or slides and ouch than buying wood and other hardware, so I went around to these Thrift Shops and at the Habitat for Hummandity Restore and found a 3 drawer vanity for 30 dollars. I bought it took it home and measured it and marked it and cut the vanity to a little taller than the drawers so I ended up with 3 drawers with 2 cuts. I mounted them under my layout with wood screws, cut holes for wires and have wire buses, cut a hole in the front for the stand off or remote controls, I numbered my wires and the terminal buses so if I have to pull the drawer out than it's easy to I rewire.

[@StevesTrains]

Nice!

[@Just_Watching2]

So Awesome Steve.. where do i buy one?? HAHAHA

[@craiglockridge8390]

Very nice i Saw you build this very nice layout i wish you could build me one like that in ho i would pay very nice for that well just a thought.

[@SteveH-TN]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and ideas for this Portable Switching Layout. NCE DCC Is definitely a great choice. I especially enjoyed learning that DIGITRAX DS74s work with NCE !

[@StevesTrains]

I didn’t know if they would but thought they might and was very glad they did!

[@johnschutt9187]

Wonderful. Thank you for the video. I'm working on an HO layout with my grandson who is six. It has two "roundy roudy) sections and his part of the layout is a door with two main lines running near one side. The open area for a switching area off of his main line is 17" x 75". I'm having a very difficult time trying to find a switching section to fit in this area. I don't really know what I'm looking for. Do you have a suggestion that might work for me? We're using Kato HO track. Thank you!

[@JakeSweeper]

That NCE Powercab kit looks to be near perfect for the self-mounted N-scale switching layout I've been wanting to make. I have a Digitrax Zephyr Express and a UT6 throttle that's actually pretty awesome, but I'm having a heckuva time trying to figure out where to put the base station so it's out of the way. I'll just keep the Zephyr for a future and bigger layout. :)

[@StevesTrains]

Yeah, the zephyr with a hand held throttle is great, but for a small layout the Power Cab is hard to beat. My first time using one of those units and I really like it.

[@SteveH-TN]

I also have both a Zephyr and second hand NCE Powercab. Each has it’s advantages.

[@ProScaleModels]

Hey man this is great - definitely want to try one. Also I know that you mentioned you had another spare power receiver thingy lol - but where could I get one from and what would the name be if I wanted to search for one? Thanks in advance.

[@StevesTrains]

I just pulled one from a Bachmann controller or something like that I think. I’m. It sure exactly what they are called but you could probably search for power jacks or something like that. Those plugs are of standard size. There are lots of sizes, but it is one of the common sizes that you find on a lot of items that have those round barrel power connectors.

[@JSUDStv]

Amazing video! What were your final dimensions for the drawer? I’d like to attempt to make a portable case like this soon.

[@StevesTrains]

I will have to check. I can tell you that I wish I made it larger! I would have liked to have been able to fit a few more pieces of rolling stock in there.

[@gwenandrix]

Is there a need for insulated joiners any where on this layout?

[@StevesTrains]

No, I didn’t use any, but you will cause a short and shut down the dcc system if you try to cross two turnouts connected on the frog side and one is thrown the wrong way. But even if you have insulated joiners that will still happen.

[@gwenandrix]

Thank you for the reply

[@PeterCesca]

Does anyone know if there is a dcc controller that can remotely control up to 8 turn outs? Or are the dcc controllers only for trains and only wired?

[@StevesTrains]

Most DCC controllers can control an unlimited amount of turnouts (except the simple ones like Bachmann's starter one that have limited functionality). The main issue is that you need a DCC decoder for each turnout, or something like a DS74 unit that can control 4 turnouts. Once you have the controllers hooked up to the DCC system, you just have to go to the address of the turnout, and then swap the direction. It is kind of janky though to do that when you are running a train, but doable. That is why I like using the push buttons or just manual ground throws.

[@fourbypete]

Ok, Thanks.

[@PeterCesca]

@@StevesTrains I just realised that KZbin has me posting under 2 names. fourbypete is my original name here and my phone has my actual name.