The Northeast Georgia N Scale club layout came about as a result of the merger of two model railroad clubs, the Athens Bend Track Club and the Metro Atlanta N Scalers, which took place in the Fall of 2020. At the same time, one of our members offered one of the out-buildings on his property for the club to set up a permanent layout. The club layout consists of three principal parts: Bend Track modules, N-Trak modules, and the Wood corner, which are connected by specially built transition zones specifically designed to facilitate train movement between the sections. The layout is essentially a double-track dog-bone that winds its way through the three rooms of the layout building and covers about 3200 sq. ft. The Bend Track modules can be taken out of the layout for exhibition at local shows without affecting the ability to run trains over the rest of the layout, which remains permanently installed in the clubhouse. In addition, single track choke points have been purposefully incorporated into the layout design to keep members on their toes and running sessions interesting. Reversing sections/loops have also been incorporated into the layout so that train directions can readily be altered. There is an elevated Mountain Line that is seamlessly incorporated into the layout design and runs throughout the layout, except for the Bend Track sections. The layout also incorporates multiple possible train routes that can be taken by engineers running their trains to add additional interest and complexity to running sessions. The layout features a 14-track 20 ft long staging yard, several smaller yards scattered around the layout, numerous industrial sidings, and a switching section for members that enjoy operations. The layout is digitally controlled using a Digitrax Chief as the brain and 11 boosters that provide power to the layout. All turnouts on the layout have Frog Juicers installed, and we have begun designing signaling for the permanent parts of the layout. Simplex, Duplex and WiFi throttles can be used to control trains. Scenery on the layout is foam board supplemented with crumpled paper, covered by plaster-impregnated gauze, which is painted and further covered with ground foam, foam ground cover and trees. Plaster cast rocks and carved plaster-covered foam board are used to create cliffs. Most of the modular parts of the layout (~30%) are fully sceniced; we are currently working on the scenery of the transition zones between the principal components of the layout.
Scale / Gauge
N
Size of Layout
Clubhouse is 85 ft by 45 ft
Prototype
Freelance
Era
1890 - present
Style of Track Plan
Other
Length of Main Line
500'
Layout Height
Lower 40", Upper 46""
Benchwork
Wood frame deck
Roadbed Material
Cork
Track Manufacturer
Peco
Turnouts
Peco
Minimum Main Line Radius
16.5"
Maximum Grade
3.5 %
Scenery Techniques
Styrofoam board with wadded up paper covered by plaster-impregnated guaze or sculptamold, covered by paint, plaster cast rocks, and ground foam.
% Scenery Complete
30 %
Backdrop
Painted masonite
Control System
DCC - Digitrax
Car Forwarding System
None
Train Authority / Dispatching
Other
Operating Group
Northeast Georgia N Scale Model Railroad Club
Direction Comment
Turn in by mailbox and park in front of the out buildings on the property. The Train Clubhouse is the back building; go around the left side of the front buildings..
Wheelchair Accessible
ADA Comments
Wheelchair access is available by going around the RIGHT side of the front buildings on the property to gain access to the door of the train building in back.
