I love to see large N scale layouts like this. Someone recently observed that the scale you choose has more to do with how you watch real trains than it does with your available space. If you're looking down at a valley and watching long coal trains go by, then you tend to think of a model railroad in N-scale terms. Given a larger space, you'll simply fill it with a bigger N scale railroad. But if you live across the street from small industries and watch them get switched, than the details that you notice will draw you to HO (or larger) scales. This may not be true for everyone, but I think it's the case for many... and helps explain why some folks with large spaces still choose N scale, and some folks with small spaces would prefer a small HO switching layout to anything in N scale.
Yes, I think you are absolutely right. I had a friend in Michigan who had a knack of creating interesting O-scale (2-rail) layouts in N-scale spaces. Sure, we were limited to 4-car trains, and the run was rather short, but they were still great fun to operate.
As much as I enjoyed watching the large build, I'm glad to see more planning videos. From Peter's tone of voice I can tell he's relieved to have that behind as well :)
Actually, that's not quite right. It was more a case of being excited to present another layout design video after so long. I had several consecutive clients bail out before the detailed design phase. I'm perfectly okay with them doing that, but it unfortunately doesn't leave me with good material for a video.
I'm in the process of building my first layout and watching this video overwhelms me with the amount of work required to build it. I salute you, sir, for your ability to build such a complex layout; especially so if built in sections and shipped to the client.
For a first layout, keep it simple and treat it as a test bed for techniques. The more you do, the more you will learn. At some point, you'll probably realize that you have improved greatly and that your earlier work no longer matches your standard. That's when you know it is time to start over.
I am planning in the opposite manner, but I appreciate what your clients want to create . What you are creating reminds me so much about the old masters oil painting portrait artists in how you have to work the process intensely to serve a patron and each one's senceabilities and individual character . The HUGE freight yard combined with huge passenger terminal looks so novel ! ❤ ❤ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I always enjoy how you approach each layout's design and meeting the customer's goals. Well done. I have friends in the layout design stage and shared your videos to hopefully help them...or see your expertise and just call you instead, lol.
I always enjoy your track planning videos, so much so that quite often I rewatch your older ones to try and get ideas I may have previously missed. And just as often whenever I’m in basement staring at my own layout I wonder, what would Peter have designed for this space…? I’m fairly certain not what I’ve come up with that’s for sure.
I like a great deal about this layout. We’re I using it for my own purposes I would skip the “Canadian line” to the upper level and simply stick with building the one scenic level and the staging, and build it all a bit higher. In my experience two level layouts are seldom at good heights. Either the upper level is too high to see well for switching, or the lower level is so low as to be at an unrealistic viewing angle. Regardless, watching the process of working with the client’s desires, as opposed to designing for one’s own preferences, it’s very interesting to me. Nicely done, as always.
Layout height is always a compromise, and multi-deck layouts make that doubly so. This layout is being built a couple of inches lower than I would normally, simply because the owner is shorter than I am. The best operating height and the best viewing height are two different things. Where possible, I like to cluster the the main operating areas on the lower deck, with open running areas at eye-level on the upper deck. It doesn't always work that way, and the next build will have the operational areas on the upper deck with open scenic areas on what is otherwise a staging level.
Nice to see you doing an N scale design. I understand that scale is a personal choice of the client, but I sometimes felt with some past projects that the space available was just too small for anything but N.
Most of my layout design clients contact me because they have been unable to fit the layout of their dreams into the space they have available. I think that explains why most of them require that I squeeze a little more than perhaps I should into the space.
Another beautiful layout 😮 I would love to be able to wave a magic wand over my HO stuff and turn it into N gauge then I could really go nuts with a huge layout 😁
I'm sorry I just watched your build of your new shop but I could not send a video on that format for some reason.What I heard at the end I can't believe but it happens all the time people are ruthless.
Good evening sir Victor from New Jersey how are you? I know you've been doing railroads for a long time put your vast knowledge of how it's built comes from where? What I'm saying it's not something that just goes into your head do you research did somebody teach you when you were younger could you play baby tension to the railroads outside just curious as to where your ability came from. Once again you impress me. Currently I'm building a layout just doing what fits my needs not so much typically correct if you know what I mean. Please elaborate thank you well done 👍 as always
Did you mean "prototype knowledge" or "construction knowledge"? Prototype knowledge comes from reading and watching videos. Construction knowledge comes from a lifetime of doing it. I made a lot of mistakes along the way, but I've always had a aptitude for building stuff and thinking in 3D. Is that what you meant?
Yes the way the track is laid as far as a main line and the branch lines did you read a lot about railroad systems in the way they worked or did it just come over time? You cannot just be a regular homeowner and build very intricate bench work and then take it apart and reassemble it somewhere else, that you cannot just read in a book and get away with. I am also a carpenter for 40 years visualizing everything in 3D is what I see all the time as well. Those railroads will challenge any good Carpenter. I guess what I'm asking is your real road knowledge where was it obtained did you ever research a lot of it or was it all trial and error? Sorry to be so long-winded anyway keep up the good work hopefully the next build will be coming up soon
@@victordandrea8697 My knowledge came over time. I have been hooked on trains since my earliest memories (I'm 58 now). I was always a social misfit and an avid reader. I never wanted to go out with my friends (never made any friends, come to think of it), preferring to stay inside and read. I would read everything that had anything to do with trains. I was also very mechanically-minded - other than trains, the only toys I ever wanted were lego and meccano. I remember starting to hand-lay track and turnouts at age 12 because I couldn't afford to buy them on my meager allowance. At about the same time, I started building structures out of cereal boxes (the only free materials I had at the time). I also built a large truss bridge entirely from the same cereal box material, edge-gluing thin strips into I-beams. It wasn't very good as a model, but it supported the weight of my OO-gauge trains as they crossed the great chasm. I chose a degree in architecture (not sure now why I didn't choose engineering), where several of the prescribed classes were the same as those taken by the structural-engineers. I never graduated, running out of money first. I spent 18 years as a software engineer, then 14 years building houses before starting my model railroad construction business. I think it's safe to say that my entire life up to this point has been grooming me for what I do now.
Good evening show how are you it's Victor from New Jersey. Just wondering what you're working on do you remember that job you looked at in Pennsylvania the lady wanted a real locomotive inside whatever became of that if anything if you don't mind me asking? I thought that was very cool. And the last layout you shipped out I believe your customers picked it up will you be coming up there to do the finish detail work on the layout. I guess they must have to recoup a little bit. A man with your talents does not come cheap I am sure worth every penny having said that not degrading your talents in any way. Very well sir I was just picking your brain you have a good evening and I'm sure you're working on another layout now.
Wish you could do a track plan for me ,I’m having a nightmare with Anyrail 6 because I don’t know how a track should work with switch backs , Signals ,Crossovers etc etc, Ive just finished the base boards, Basically I have a square that measures 18ftx18ft with 3ft depth but really struggling with a plan. Oh and want to use N gauge Peco code 80
Contact me through my website (link in the description). I'm booked up for layout designs about 9-months out at the moment, so the sooner you can get in line, the better.
In the final version do you still have Atlas Code 55 #10's connecting to Peco code 55 (basically code 80 with a portion imbedded in the ties), as this could be troublesome connecting ?
We are both aware that PECO code-55 rail does not work well with other brands, but it can be made to fit with the help of a dremel tool. It's not something one would want to do a lot of, but a small of such connections in places where the visual improvement is significant can be worthwhile.
if i provide the measurements available in the area where i plan on building my layout, would u be able to design something for it, its my first layout and i need some help
I love to see large N scale layouts like this. Someone recently observed that the scale you choose has more to do with how you watch real trains than it does with your available space. If you're looking down at a valley and watching long coal trains go by, then you tend to think of a model railroad in N-scale terms. Given a larger space, you'll simply fill it with a bigger N scale railroad. But if you live across the street from small industries and watch them get switched, than the details that you notice will draw you to HO (or larger) scales. This may not be true for everyone, but I think it's the case for many... and helps explain why some folks with large spaces still choose N scale, and some folks with small spaces would prefer a small HO switching layout to anything in N scale.
Yes, I think you are absolutely right. I had a friend in Michigan who had a knack of creating interesting O-scale (2-rail) layouts in N-scale spaces. Sure, we were limited to 4-car trains, and the run was rather short, but they were still great fun to operate.
As much as I enjoyed watching the large build, I'm glad to see more planning videos. From Peter's tone of voice I can tell he's relieved to have that behind as well :)
Actually, that's not quite right. It was more a case of being excited to present another layout design video after so long. I had several consecutive clients bail out before the detailed design phase. I'm perfectly okay with them doing that, but it unfortunately doesn't leave me with good material for a video.
I'm in the process of building my first layout and watching this video overwhelms me with the amount of work required to build it. I salute you, sir, for your ability to build such a complex layout; especially so if built in sections and shipped to the client.
For a first layout, keep it simple and treat it as a test bed for techniques. The more you do, the more you will learn. At some point, you'll probably realize that you have improved greatly and that your earlier work no longer matches your standard. That's when you know it is time to start over.
Very nice Peter. Always look forward to and enjoy your layout designs.
Glad you like them. I know there is one in particular that you are really looking forward to.
@@mpeterll indeed - can’t wait
I like the idea of varying the heights of the rivers, very interesting
I am planning in the opposite manner, but I appreciate what your clients want to create . What you are creating reminds me so much about the old masters oil painting portrait artists in how you have to work the process intensely to serve a patron and each one's senceabilities and individual character . The HUGE freight yard combined with huge passenger terminal looks so novel ! ❤ ❤ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I always enjoy how you approach each layout's design and meeting the customer's goals. Well done. I have friends in the layout design stage and shared your videos to hopefully help them...or see your expertise and just call you instead, lol.
Awesome, thank you.
I always enjoy your track planning videos, so much so that quite often I rewatch your older ones to try and get ideas I may have previously missed.
And just as often whenever I’m in basement staring at my own layout I wonder, what would Peter have designed for this space…?
I’m fairly certain not what I’ve come up with that’s for sure.
thank you for super detailed video
Interesting that the main follows the river as opposed to the usual 90 degree crossing, very realistic
Most hilly routes follow rives as much as possible. Let nature do most of the earth-moving for you.
Super video. I love your layout design videos.
I like a great deal about this layout. We’re I using it for my own purposes I would skip the “Canadian line” to the upper level and simply stick with building the one scenic level and the staging, and build it all a bit higher.
In my experience two level layouts are seldom at good heights. Either the upper level is too high to see well for switching, or the lower level is so low as to be at an unrealistic viewing angle.
Regardless, watching the process of working with the client’s desires, as opposed to designing for one’s own preferences, it’s very interesting to me. Nicely done, as always.
Layout height is always a compromise, and multi-deck layouts make that doubly so. This layout is being built a couple of inches lower than I would normally, simply because the owner is shorter than I am.
The best operating height and the best viewing height are two different things. Where possible, I like to cluster the the main operating areas on the lower deck, with open running areas at eye-level on the upper deck. It doesn't always work that way, and the next build will have the operational areas on the upper deck with open scenic areas on what is otherwise a staging level.
Nice to see you doing an N scale design. I understand that scale is a personal choice of the client, but I sometimes felt with some past projects that the space available was just too small for anything but N.
Most of my layout design clients contact me because they have been unable to fit the layout of their dreams into the space they have available. I think that explains why most of them require that I squeeze a little more than perhaps I should into the space.
Another beautiful layout 😮 I would love to be able to wave a magic wand over my HO stuff and turn it into N gauge then I could really go nuts with a huge layout 😁
There's a web-site for that. It's called e-bay.
Nice design, hope client works on building it as much as you spent designing it. Burn out comes fast to some of us.🥴
I'm sorry I just watched your build of your new shop but I could not send a video on that format for some reason.What I heard at the end I can't believe but it happens all the time people are ruthless.
I like this kind of video the most ty, are there others done in this format?
Check out my "layout design" play-list. It has about 50 videos in it, most in exactly this format.
Good evening sir Victor from New Jersey how are you? I know you've been doing railroads for a long time put your vast knowledge of how it's built comes from where? What I'm saying it's not something that just goes into your head do you research did somebody teach you when you were younger could you play baby tension to the railroads outside just curious as to where your ability came from. Once again you impress me. Currently I'm building a layout just doing what fits my needs not so much typically correct if you know what I mean. Please elaborate thank you well done 👍 as always
Did you mean "prototype knowledge" or "construction knowledge"?
Prototype knowledge comes from reading and watching videos.
Construction knowledge comes from a lifetime of doing it. I made a lot of mistakes along the way, but I've always had a aptitude for building stuff and thinking in 3D.
Is that what you meant?
Yes the way the track is laid as far as a main line and the branch lines did you read a lot about railroad systems in the way they worked or did it just come over time? You cannot just be a regular homeowner and build very intricate bench work and then take it apart and reassemble it somewhere else, that you cannot just read in a book and get away with. I am also a carpenter for 40 years visualizing everything in 3D is what I see all the time as well. Those railroads will challenge any good Carpenter. I guess what I'm asking is your real road knowledge where was it obtained did you ever research a lot of it or was it all trial and error? Sorry to be so long-winded anyway keep up the good work hopefully the next build will be coming up soon
@@victordandrea8697 My knowledge came over time. I have been hooked on trains since my earliest memories (I'm 58 now). I was always a social misfit and an avid reader. I never wanted to go out with my friends (never made any friends, come to think of it), preferring to stay inside and read. I would read everything that had anything to do with trains. I was also very mechanically-minded - other than trains, the only toys I ever wanted were lego and meccano.
I remember starting to hand-lay track and turnouts at age 12 because I couldn't afford to buy them on my meager allowance. At about the same time, I started building structures out of cereal boxes (the only free materials I had at the time). I also built a large truss bridge entirely from the same cereal box material, edge-gluing thin strips into I-beams. It wasn't very good as a model, but it supported the weight of my OO-gauge trains as they crossed the great chasm.
I chose a degree in architecture (not sure now why I didn't choose engineering), where several of the prescribed classes were the same as those taken by the structural-engineers. I never graduated, running out of money first. I spent 18 years as a software engineer, then 14 years building houses before starting my model railroad construction business. I think it's safe to say that my entire life up to this point has been grooming me for what I do now.
Good evening show how are you it's Victor from New Jersey. Just wondering what you're working on do you remember that job you looked at in Pennsylvania the lady wanted a real locomotive inside whatever became of that if anything if you don't mind me asking? I thought that was very cool. And the last layout you shipped out I believe your customers picked it up will you be coming up there to do the finish detail work on the layout. I guess they must have to recoup a little bit. A man with your talents does not come cheap I am sure worth every penny having said that not degrading your talents in any way. Very well sir I was just picking your brain you have a good evening and I'm sure you're working on another layout now.
Wish you could do a track plan for me ,I’m having a nightmare with Anyrail 6 because I don’t know how a track should work with switch backs , Signals ,Crossovers etc etc, Ive just finished the base boards, Basically I have a square that measures 18ftx18ft with 3ft depth but really struggling with a plan. Oh and want to use N gauge Peco code 80
Contact me through my website (link in the description). I'm booked up for layout designs about 9-months out at the moment, so the sooner you can get in line, the better.
Nice video. What software is that you use?
In the final version do you still have Atlas Code 55 #10's connecting to Peco code 55 (basically code 80 with a portion imbedded in the ties), as this could be troublesome connecting ?
We are both aware that PECO code-55 rail does not work well with other brands, but it can be made to fit with the help of a dremel tool. It's not something one would want to do a lot of, but a small of such connections in places where the visual improvement is significant can be worthwhile.
if i provide the measurements available in the area where i plan on building my layout, would u be able to design something for it, its my first layout and i need some help
Please contact me through my web-site. There's a link in the description above.
What software do you use for your design?
3rd-plan-it