Former N Scale Layout Project
White River Junction, VT to Canaan, NH in N Scale
The layout depicted the Boston & Maine line (the old Northern Railroad) from White River Junction, Vermont, across the Connecticut River to Lebanon and on to Canaan, New Hampshire. The design was created by Jody Marsh and developed through the work of many Club members. All spurs, passing tracks, and yards on the prototype were worked into the design, which was approved by the membership before construction began.
The layout was planned with three levels connected by a multi-track helix, with the lowest level used for staging. It used Digital Command Control (DCC). Construction reached a point where the helix was complete, staging yard tracks were laid, and second-level benchwork was underway — representing towns including White River Junction, Lebanon, Mascoma (old East Lebanon), Enfield, and Canaan.
Layout Design — Three Levels
Click any diagram to view full size.
Helix Construction
Construction began with the multi-track helix — the engineering centerpiece connecting all three levels. The helix subroadbed was built from two layers of luan plywood arcs, offset and bonded with construction glue. Once the first level was set correctly, the remaining turns could be fine-tuned with a threaded rod and nut support system. Click any photo to view full size.
Staging Yard, Door Bridge & Second Level
With the helix done, work turned to laying staging yard tracks on the first level and building the ingenious door-bridge: a hinged plexiglass-backed door allowing members to enter and leave the layout room without removing track sections. The second level was started with the curved Mascoma section, where the old lakeshore scene was created by slicing and lowering foam along the shoreline and bonding it with ACC glue.
