My First N-Scale Layout (roughly 7' x 2.5') Kato, DCC, Town Lighting

This was my Covid project. I knew absolutely nothing about building a model railroad when I started. It was a great challenge. Also, here is the link to my other video, where I solved the three-way light signal manual bypass for the Kato N-Scale light. • Kato N Scale 3-Color A...

[@vanvorst1999]

😎👍 Folded dogbone layouts are visually appealing over bland ovals.

[@pigjubby1]

The house on the hill, the tent and the baseball field are great details I think are great.

[@Brouge5418]

Fantastic! You have accomplished what a lot of us would like to do. Especially like the town. The hills, tunnels, greenery, etc…just great. Congrats.

[@curtbrandhorst2403]

When I was a little kid many decades ago, model railroading was all about the fanciful little scenes individual toy stores could dream up… that’s what I fell in love with. Then in the seventies everything went Prototypical… seems like the progression has been more expensive… mor technically challenging… more more more… Your layout takes me back to tge toy store window at Christmas. Thank you. The quality of your scene is excellent. If tgat was in my house I’d be sitting there imagining life in the town, maybe every night.

[@thomask4836]

Wow! You took me back to the early 70's. I had a similar layout except I had one more oval on the outside with wider radius track for a steam locomotive. My father bought me a hollow core door to put the layout on. It was a learning experience with wiring. In my Junior or Senior year, I packed the track and cars away and still have them. After I graduated High School I got a steady job in a factory for 5 years and went from electrical apprentice to industrial electrician. Then, off to a railroad for almost 40 years. I still have all of my N Gauge rolling stock, transformers, switches, buildings, and other things. One day at a hobby shop many decades ago, they were closing out Aurora N Gauge cars and locomotives for pennies. I bought it all and just stored it in boxes. I still have it. After watching several inspiring KZbin videos including yours, I am sooooo tempted to pick up a 4X8 sheet of plywood.

[@jmsifodyas1]

Love your story. You should totally go for it. I think it's awesome you still have all your original stuff.

[@PuFFerTV98368]

Hello Have you started building yet?

[@leokimvideo]

Looks like the sort of little town a Stephen King novel would be based on. The peopleless factor just ramps up the spooky value

[@dotconnector3889]

Very good point!

[@thememegamersyt8365]

Leokim your here?

[@larry2132]

Who the hell is steven king

[@dotconnector3889]

@@larry2132 ruler of the British Empire.

[@brentottoson6974]

If you want true Stephen King spooky, check out the town of Diablo next to Diablo Lake he mentioned.

[@Dancinbear1995]

It's personal to you and that's what's important, plus it looks Great! Love the house and camp site on the hill, the waterfalls and lake too! Well done!

[@SiTrixonian]

Thank you so much for this. You don't need to be self deprecating. The layout is really awesome and inspiring to me personally to get on with building my own n-guage layout (also DCC). You should be really proud of what you learnt and produced. Something special to enjoy and a family legacy to pass on. Well done!

[@randalmontgomery4595]

Superb! Hard to believe it was your very first one. Nothing could be improved on. You are a very talented craftsman and artist.

[@slamboy66]

My First N-Scale Layout back in early 90's was made on a hollow core door that you could run all of the wiring in the core with access holes cut underneath.

[@calebcushing3195]

I currently live in Kitsap county and I love how this really feels like the pnw.

[@davidsheriff8989]

Such a lot in such a small space....like the modelling, simple oval and figure 8 - fantastic

[@brucehaley9876]

As some one getting back into trains and N scale in the PNW it was really cool to see all you captured!!!!! Great job!!!!

[@skyden24195]

There is quite a bit I want to put into this comment, all positive, but I will make it as condensed as practical. When I was in my pre to mid-teens, I was into N-scale railroading. Throughout those years I acquired a lot of track, N-scale prefabricated or self-build buildings, a few locomotives, and numerous freight cars (in particular, a livestock car that I bought at a R.R. hobby shop in St. Louis Union Station and showcased on a KZbin 'short.') However, because my dad was USAF, I couldn't build an elaborate/fixed layout due to having to relocate at any given time. In recent years, though, my brother and I have been building an elaborate, fixed slot-car track which utilizes track from two "Carrera Go" sets. We went with the slot-car track just because of the dual player/competition aspect. The resulting layout includes a loop, wall climb, a few "knock-out" points and what-not, which is all a lot of fun to race on. Aside from the different track and vehicles used, similarly we've been creating an environment for the racetrack to exist. All the framing to hold the track steady and properly elevated has been done, and it runs great, but now we've had to remove the track as we begin to work on creating the landscape under and around the track. We're doing a southwest desert scheme as to being the areas we were born and have lived most during our adult lives, plus we love the wild west ghost town idea to put into our layout. I'll cut the comment off here. Hope it's understood that I typed all this to express my appreciation for the work put into the video featured N-scale RR scenic layout that was presented. Your layout really looks great. Also, nice library, a lot bigger/more content than mine. Finally, got to give props on your Star Wars helmets! I have my own extensive Star Wars collection, but no helmets..., however, I do have a Chewbacca, sound-equipped, plastic facemask. lol.

[@justjoe942]

Stop being humble, you did a great job for all to see. If this is truly your first attempt at this type of thing, you nailed it. Thanks for posting.

[@YODAMAN5]

AWESOME. great job as a new comer to the hobby. Its an ENDLESS endevor. Looks good. Also nice man cave, you should show it off too.

[@garykendall1376]

I like your layout and your approach to building it. I started mine about six years ago, and for the last four years it has been sitting in the spare bedroom leaning against the wall. I have just recently been thinking about getting it going again. we have started with the same materials, and even the size. Mine is 3 x7 feet. The similarities are uncanny. So, now with my new glasses, so I can see better, it is time to get started. Thanks for showing your talents.

[@edwardgilhooley1499]

Wonderful accomplishment. You have created a work of art by anyone standard.

[@mikealexander4166]

Looks great!

[@mikalmos369]

I love this! Actually looks professional as well as full of personality, realism and love. A wonderful piece of kinetic art I'd think anybody could appreciate inheriting. Putting so much of yourself into it truly makes it an heirloom.

[@Doc.6466]

As a fellow PNW railroader I think you nailed the ambiance. Wonderful little layout, well done!

[@David_Musicpro]

GREAT WORK! Nice track plan for a seamless run on your N scale train layout. Everything looks great. I just might use your track plan idea for my second portable N scale layout. Keep up the great work. Thank you for sharing

[@uwlwsrpm]

Oh hey, Port Townsend! Love visiting the Lighthouse there and taking the ferry to Whidbey Island!

[@bohvers2237]

Looks Great well done. I am 65 and i also just started my First n scale. My Child dream, no Knowledge but KZbin is really helpfull. You inspired me to get it done! Probably will be my first and last project.

[@darthnexus9570]

I've watched a lot of train layout builds, yours is up there in my top 10, as you spoke about the building while we were watching... I now wanna go build a layout, yet not able too at the moment, so I watch videos like this...

[@motocrossedful]

I like it a lot, GREAT first build and like your references to your childhood and your current residential area.

[@DamienSullivan-hw4lq]

Outstanding . Congratulations on a superb setup . Would love to do something similar . Loved the night time scene at the end .👍

[@stevedj101]

Fantastic job, Just discovered your layout. Such detail and really looks awesome.

[@HamsterWheelGaming]

I can always respect the amazing craftmanship and attention to detail in one of these model builds, a job well done!

[@ghostz61987]

This randomly showed up on my recommendations. You did a phenomenal job. My grandfather had a collection prior to his passing. I liked your comment of passing it onto your grandchildren.

[@MARKLINMAN1]

The best thing you did was go with KATO Track for N SCALE, VERY VERY Reliable. Beautiful Job.

[@FloridamanFL]

I might prototype my n scale layout with this one, it's the perfect size, just enough track, turns, elevation, tunnels, lighting. This is everything a train modeler wants in a small package. I may build a game table with (4) glass panels on the top to view the trains while the top is on.

[@markraciborski4289]

Wow, looks like the train almost kisses that wall before entrance of that upper tunnel. Love that baseball field, nice touch, yeah, needing figures in town, very creepy without. Looks like a lot of work.

[@BoundANDDetermined88]

A great layout for the N-Scale trains. It came out amazing, and did not consume the entire room. O-Scale would be a load of fun, as well, but take up way more room and $$. Hoping to one day do the same with N-Scale trains and layout. Thanks for sharing.

[@Tim89]

I like the small compact railways with lots of details. You made that beautifully I want to try this myself in the future.

[@ipnz]

Am down sizing to N scale next yr with a plan very close to yours going to be a bit bigger and plan to do a yard where your shops are ,you have done a pretty neat job on this railroad so yeah plan to run 3 at a time with a loop running round the outside will double track the no 8 section of track in the centre just going DC on this 1 so hope to start early next yr see how it goes.

[@woodstoney]

For such a small layout you have given it some amazing depth and realism. I appreciate your hard work on this really nice project!

[@renebernier1504]

This is fantastic and really reflects the enjoyment you had developing the layout and contextualizing it to your area in the great state of Washington. Thanks for sharing!!!

[@earniemonroe5909]

Your waterfall is the best. Though it took a year and alot of trial and error and brainstorming, you did an excellent job. Thanks for sharing...

[@timf2279]

It's your world make it the way you want. Nice layout.

[@jameshallett5395]

I grew up in the PNW, Port Angeles and Bellingham. You nailed it! 13:21

[@LordZontar]

For a first project this turned out really well. It runs great and the whole display looks spectacular.

[@cva6238]

Looks great. I would like to add that running a transition era train like a GP-7 with 40' rolling stock would look awesome with the radius curves you have. Cheers, mate.

[@chriswilson9230]

Excellent layout. Gives me great inspiration that I can do a smaller layout like this.

[@sandranelson7124]

(This is Tom, not Sandra.) You did a FANTASTIC job, sir!!! ( don't sell yourself short ) The scenery is great!!! Thank you for posting a great layout, sir!!! Take care. See ya!!!

[@leeedsonetwo]

Excellent video and lay out ideas. Your layout looks fantastic. Especially like the small details like the tent and the Canoe. YOu said make it happen and that has inspired me to do a project like this based on my home town in Yorkshire, England.

[@monkeysa43]

What you’ve done there is fantastic. Mine is about three times bigger. I’ve been building it for 12 years now and it’s growing. It’s an ongoing thing. It’s never ending. You’ll find it addictive this video was posted one year ago from today. Good for you. It looks amazing you’re probably fine that you might want to make it bigger , I’m here in the UK model Railway is massive and enormous following millions of pounds are spent every year there’s a big model railway community keep going sir it looks well cool

[@mauricemosseri4959]

You did a phenomenal job. I am doing a similar layout for HO Scale. I grew up in Montreal Canada so my town will be little different. I am actually creating a ski hill in the tunnel area.

[@thomahammer9581]

You have patience. Something I lack. Looks great and love your personal, meaningful touches.

[@rickwienke4234]

That's a very nice layout. Love the track plan and scenery. I have a small 3 x 7 foot N scale layout. Keep up the good work. 👍🚂🚃🚃

[@johnlevey9935]

I have done something similar with scenery which could be Scotland or Canada. Just have to swap crossing gates for barriers to switch from one to the other and also use different buildings. A lot of my n gauge locos are Scottish with stag emblem for Inverness depot and Scottie dog for Glasgow. I also have rolling stock representing different eras of my life. I can cover any decade from 1960’s to about 2010. I spent my whole career as a Brewer (brewmaster) so have a brewery on my second layout complete with lawn bowling green. My daughter got married in Jasper so we stayed in Vancouver and took the train over the Rockies to get there. I bought the “Canadian” F40 and bud cars from Rapido last year. Fantastic memory. I have to use the Buds as static display as they don’t take switches and curves very well. Like you I have DCC so that I can run two trains on the same track ( useful with a figure of eight) in the same direction. Most of my North American locomotives are kato . I have some with sound, the SD40 from Inter Mountain is particularly good. I can’t do double stacks as my bridge is too low but Procor tanks with a Gevo 44 or an SD70 look really good. It’s nice when someone puts something from their own life into a layout. It means more. Sometimes you just look and don’t even need to run it to appreciate it.

[@Lee.Willcox]

Absolutely beautiful. Great that one day you will be able to pass it down. What a lovely thought.

[@MattOlpinski]

Beautiful layout + scenery, awesome work!

[@howardlervik4983]

I do like this very much. It may not be professional. But it shows what someone with a little talent and a limited budget can do. Very inspirational. Makes me want to try one again.

[@yambo59]

People really add realism and feel some towns people and a guy in the fishing boat really add reality people are a big part of scenery also many dont do this but most buildings never have every single window lit in real life - some lit and some unlit is more like the real thing - but im nit picking its a beautiful N guage layout it takes a lot of patience and perserverance to finish to this degree.

[@Roypb01]

Impressive. Most impressive. Obi-Wan has taught you well, young Skywalker... 😘

[@benkiger7992]

I grew up with my grandpa's layout my entire life and you've done a fine job!!

[@sailingschooners8668]

Colourful scenery...with added people, vehicles & advertising signs will come to life...

[@jamesyoung1127]

good golly miss molly you did a great job there. very very nicely done.

[@gsstacker]

Well done! You don't have to be a "pro" to enjoy model railroading and for a small layout, that is some superb detail! Nice job!!!

[@Sms68]

Lil woodland scenic Grand Valley Layout going on !!!! Nice

[@michelrivolta]

I could watch your train rolling for hours, beautiful layout, congrats....!!!!!!

[@alexwild1435]

I love this. Everything on the layout feels very personal and it has loads of personality. Very well executed too.

[@toomanyhobbies2011]

Very nice little layout. Thank you for sharing it with us.

[@elleryparsons2433]

When I got Involved in N Scale I was happy Then I Gotten My Wife Into it I went Bachmann She Went Kato All N All When we Get Done with Our Layouts we Will Be Happy.

[@steveandereggen3182]

Nice job on N scale layout, well done. I lived in Woodenville in the 1970's and went to Diablo Lake every chance I got during summer months. Stayed at resort (across the dam) or at campground across the lake. I had a Zodiak boat and when staying at campground would run boat over to the resort for dinner. They had a fantastic restaurant on the lake. I'm building a N scale layout now myself. Any way we can "chat"? Take care.

[@elleryparsons2433]

It Looks So Good you will Build Larger Later in Life. You are Gonna Be Proud you Did it.

[@jcsalerno8263]

This is truly magical for your first excursion into N Guage RailRoading.

[@prodigaljess]

I would be really proud of that for a first layout. Excellent work!

[@robertgreeson8867]

Outstanding. Give yourself a Pat on the back. I plan to do an N scale one day and from your commentary, I can tell you think like me. Enjoy and the Star Wars helmets to the right were fun to see as well.

[@ghuk1]

Thats an absolutely fantastic layout. For me the best part is the lighting especially in the town......really makes such a difference 👏👏

[@joehayes4949]

Very nice job. Everything looks real to me.Great work.

[@domrad90]

The trains with lit engines on the siding track are very nicely done. You rarely see that in a model and it adds so much visual interest without making it all look too spaghetti-ish. Great job.

[@TrenUluxo]

I love that little campsite by the river

[@axelfoley1406]

With a name like Sifodyas, I think I knew you were gonna be a SW nut! Which is awesome! And what a fantastic model!

[@mistered1397]

You did a great job. Every video will help others along the way in this hobby.

[@vantrogh]

Looks awesome. You should be proud of your work, effort, and creativity. You created a "perfect" train model with elements from your childhood, favourite places, and the ideal "world" that you want to live in. Thanks for sharing with us...🚞😀

[@iankirk9781]

A great layout , I am sure you will have a lot of fun with it Really nice to see All the best from the UK

[@tonyhammer3588]

You DEFINITELY have mad skills, sir. It’s one the best I have ever seen. Are you sure you aren’t a pro at this already? Looks like a pro did it.

[@edward886]

Fantastic! The personal touches are impressive and the scenery very well done. The town and the lighting look awesome. You did a great job and should be very proud of the results. 👍

[@jeromyh8096]

Looks absolutely fantastic. I really enjoyed your whole video.

[@ptaupe]

Really pleasing layout and scenery. Nice job!

[@mw69711]

LOL your only layout we all have said that.. Looks very good..

[@TeamPavlik]

This is not a hobby I have ever tried, but I stumbled across your video out of curiosity. I enjoy looking at your layout. I like the track elevation in-cooperated into the mountain. There is something I like about the lit up town with no cars/people also. You seemed to make the most out of the small area you had to work with. You may want to consider making (if you haven’t already) a video on how you made the different bushes in detail, i’m sure people are always looking for a cheaper alternative to a hobby store. Nice work, looks like it was fun.

[@dlsimes]

Very nice layout! What a great first time project!

[@gregorydawson3414]

Wow, really impressive and inspiring. Love the hone-town feel.

[@friendlypiranha774]

Congratulations, that is a really lovely layout you have built there. Enjoy it.

[@lrosas8088]

I have a similar set that was someone else's COVID project and I just bought it from them for 2000. I probably stole it considering the hours they spent on it. It also has a split circuit for just the trains and another 1 4 all of the lights on the town. I thoroughly enjoyed your video. The one component that everyone seems to leave out is what do you do with all the wires. What is the best way to manage repairs down the road which we can't see yet but they are critical and important.

[@wranglerboi]

Since you asked, lichen is pronounced lie-kin and Kato is pronounced kay-toe. Beyond that, thanks for a great video and for sharing it. For many years (since I was about 7 when I got my first O-gauge Lionel train--and I'm now 11 times older than that) I've wanted to have such a layout as this. I'm finally to the point (timewise and financially) that I can create one. I just placed a hefty order from Woodland Scenics for their 6 x 3 N-scale layout kit that includes all the bits and pieces (Styrofoam, paints, paper patterns, etc., and step-by-step guide) for making the base form for a really nice but compact layout and then building a unique patch of Americana on it. Also included in that kit are trees and bushes as well as the tunnel and bridge pieces to make a double-8 track plan while still allowing room for a lake and nearby recreation area, town, road crossings, and whatever else I may come up with. I also ordered the Atlas Track kit that includes all the needed Atlas track and switches on which my famous California Zephyr (a 6-car Kato set complete with observation car and Pullman sleeper car is waiting patiently for inauguration day) will travel on it's nearly coast to coast run. I love the idea of having a baseball field (used to take my kids to summer games) as well as a few houses on the hillside (a common sight, as you mentioned, in the Seattle area). And, yes, I will have people in my town. I'm not interested in overseeing a ghost town (notwithstanding the possibility of a Stephen King horror story taking place there ) but want friendly people who will welcome visitors from around the world.

[@C21L01]

Sounds like if you’ve brought the N Scale layout, that’s Scenic Ridge and the track plan is erriely similar to the one in this video. The HO WS layouts are Grand Valley and River Pass. I’ve got the Scenic Ridge and yeah - it WAS a pretty penny but it came with everything except Bulidings (Town & Factory set), Track, trains and rolling stock, lights, controller, etc. All tolled, Scenic Ridge has knocked me back at least $2500 AUD but still cheaper than buying everything separately.

[@baconseggs]

Very nice! Wonderful lighting.

[@crazykong1967]

This is awesome. I am blown away that this is your first layout. I guess you are a natural. Excellent! Someday, I give my own layout a shot.

[@eddiebell5181]

Brilliant fun.. one of the most enjoyable train videos on KZbin... a great watch. And you're definitely better than you think

[@robertcornelius3514]

Great job. Thank you, Covid.

[@cameramanconor1715]

Very cool! Love the baseball field.

[@Lithonion1]

Great little layout. Mine started as a door layout and ended up being 7'4" x 4'. lol Mine is all DCC and purchased special switched so I could use DCC on the Kato switches as well. Mine is also my first and will be my only layout. It has changed a bit over the years but the track design hasn't changed only my bus route in the city.

[@wolfiealternateaccount4181]

That looks fabulous. Well done and thanks for sharing.

[@wolfiealternateaccount4181]

I have my trains in storage at the moment as I have been out of the hobby for a decade. A collection of DCC N and HO scale. My daughter just turned five and loves trains and keeps asking when we can build a layout together. Something like this would be perfect.

[@StockportJambo]

@@wolfiealternateaccount4181 Do it. Don't wait. Trust me on this. Their interests change so quickly at that age if you don't help foster them. Building a layout together is a wonderful thing that you'll both treasure.

[@apitheous194]

Very nice job, just keep pets at bay. LOL I built a layout in the late 90's on completion I was so proud of what I had achieved. Some days later my springer spaniel decided to take a walk on the wild side. No more layout. Now sixty-seven I'm ready to try again. Loved the modeling aspect.

[@Brakevan817]

Wow, this is a great layout! That night shot of it was really pretty too

[@1313coffeeguy]

The perfect layout for a small place. 👍

[@MilesWilhelm]

Beautiful looking final layout. Well done... and greetings from a fellow PNW model railroader. (I'm in Central, OR)

[@isaiahfurrow7414]

Thanks for the inspiration...your layout is awesome. I live in the NW , and have plans for an HO layout , but am contemplating a start by making a small N scale layout.