DMIR
Missabe Dream N-Scale Layout
(Soon to be a reality)
UPDATED: 5/13/08

This is the start of my life long dream of building a layout that will remind me of home. Duluth was a city I thought I wouldn't leave, but life can throw some curves and I found myself living in Jesup Iowa. So let me begin.....

Currently the basement is unfinished and I have to get the furnace moved because it sits in the middle of the basement. Here's the current layout of the basement.....
Current Basement

Here is the future layout of the basement this summer when the new furnace is installed. New stairway, new walls and the exterior walls will be insulated. I will have an area in the basement that measures approximately 11' X 22'. That's the area my wife will lets me use (haha) because she has plans for the rest of it....
Future Basement

Now, when this is all said and done, the layout will be 3 levels. Top level will be Mitchell Yard, a couple mines and a little bit of Hibbing, the Mid-Level will be Proctor, grade to the ore docks/Duluth and the Lower level will be the ore docks and Duluth.

The track will be all code 55 with no radius less than 17.5 inches because of Benchmark's Yellowstone minimum requirement of 15". In the layout will be one helix that will go from mid-level to top level. Track layout is just a guideline in most areas, but the track was laid out with Atlas' Right Track in order to generate these layouts. I used sectional track in the design, but I'll use as much flex-track that I can in the actual build.

The other thought in the design is to allow at least one train go from the top to bottom (and back) without operator intervention. However the plan is to go DCC for control of this whole layout.

Here is the Top Level design....
Top Level

Here is the mid-level design as I have laid out so far.....
Mid Level

Here is the lower level....
Lower Level

The lower level will get a redesign as I can't picture the whole area yet. The location of the depot may change. This level will always be in-flux until the "AH HA" thought appears.

This is just a start, but it gives you an idea of where I'm going with this. Laying track probably won't start until next year. Till then I'll be defining the levels more, work on finishing the basement and continue acquiring more equipment (ore cars, another Yellowstone and such).

Until then... watch for updates as I'll be posting pictures of the construction or layout updates.

If you have any comments, email me at n0ttw AT yahoo.com .