N Scale Layout on a Door Ideas

Personally I like the idea of a minimalistic z scale layout on a hollow core door. Lots of scenery at most a double line folded dog bone. When I was young I never had enough track on a layout now I don’t want to see 8 tracks in the background as Amtrak runs through the countryside let alone a big boy. Trying T-Trak and T-Trak-z this year. Not the precut commercial kits I am cutting all myself. So much more satisfying.

Steve, it's pronounced June-E-At-A. The same as the river, town and PRR shops located in Pennsylvania . Love your videos, Keep'em comming!

Thanks for the shout out! I’ve long since sold the Juniata (pronounced June-ee-ah-tuh) Division (named after the Juniata River followed by the real PRR Middle Division in central PA) and now I am primarily working in HOn3. I still have a 36” by 70” N scale model railroad, but it’s the Colorado Midland around 1895-1905.

I'm currently building a layout on a 28x80 door that is based on your past designs. It's a double mainline with some interior industry and a trolley line. Thanks for all your good ideas.

Please do sometime as I am considering this with Kato Unitrak and would love to follow.

I've been wanting to do this since I saw an article in Model Railroader 30 years ago. I saw another article where they redid the original design, but with Kato track. I suppose I need to just get on it.

Ready for some more N scale!

I'm contemplating an HCD vs 1x2 framed base with 1/4" plywood top, of the same size. I'm stuck on some of the cons with the HCD approach: - Where do the wires go? I definitely wouldn't want them on the underside of the door - Where would I mount under-track switch machines? - Lots of foam shaving and sculpting to get up-and-over slopes with bridges I'd really want to hide all that inside the door if possible, so I'm leaning toward essentially building my own pseudo-HCD with 1x2's and plywood top (and maybe removable bottom). I would use cookie-cutter construction for sloped track. I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Lots of good ideas Steve. One plan I've always thought would e fun and I think would fit on a HCD an in N scale would be a plan called The Break the Rules. The name comes from leaving off an engine facility and a yard. It is 5 x 9 in HO and I think it would fit on a 36" x 80" door. Lots of industries.

Great Great Great info!

I have liked the Carolina Central for a long time. I haven’t seen the double track version before. I would like to see you build the Carolina Central with double track and broader curves. Thanks for all you do to promote N scale and Kato Unitrack.

Great idea those doors are lighter. Will look forward to that build in 2025. GOD BLESS 🚂 💕 🚂 💕 🚂 💕

I just had an interesting idea. A theme park layout. We always see trains at theme parks and zoos but I’ve never seen anyone model a theme park or zoo train. That would be really neat on even a miniature layout.

Great video Steve!

Dear Steve, love the overview of layout possibilities on a hollow core door in this vid of yours. Didn’t build in N scale, nor on a hollow core door. Did start my first ever HO scale layout on a piece of plywood around one of the gables in the attic of my childhood home. Just for space considerations it was located where normally the knee wall of the attic would be. Its footprint about the size of hollow core door. The space was rather restricted and awkward. However, by locating the tracks slightly askew with the front plywood edge, I was able to create a simple design with corners that were open for immersive scenery. It wasn’t a very elaborate track plan, just a little loop with a passing siding, some storage tracks and unloading facility. Nevertheless, I had loads of fun with this layout and definitely wetted my feet into scratch building and rigorous kit bashing. Cheerio

Something I've learned is that HO Scale 4x8 plans can be modified to HCD in N Scale. I was able to convert MRs Virginian 4x8 into a HCD plan for N Scale.

Thank You! Stéph.

I have considered building an N gauge layout on a door. Still considering it, but I’m oversubscribed in 3-rail O ATM. Need to downsize to create the space. Still like the concept! Thanks for posting this - looking forward to your buildout.

Thanks for sharing , very informative video. as always.

Looks like the old Atlas N55 layout plan I still run. Put that on a hollow core door and run some nice long passenger trains. Plenty of room for 2 mains and everything else.