No Excuses... Just Do It

Dear Joe,

Gotta say "Amen" to this RR. Indeed, I believe you'll find an entire website full of guys and girls who have been up for the "One module challenge", in most any combination of scale, gauge, and theme one might want to consider, for years now, http://www.carendt.us

and no, take Lance M's article in this issue into consideration, and there's no reason why a HO SW1500 or GP and a handful of cars cannot provide a very significant ammount of very-proto operation in < =6x1!

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

PS this "try a small chunk" concept could equally be used as a testbed for some really high-grade trackwork, a la Andy R's proto87 offerings, and with "only" 6x1 to fill, and a Lance M-esque "single turnout" layout in play, it really isn't an onerous mountain to climb in quantity terms...

PPS the Model Rail Radio podcast recently held a "Shelf Layout" contest, which is in it's 2nd Phase,
the layouts were limited to 5x1 in this case, but all the same concepts noted here apply

http://www.modelrailradio.com/layout2013.html

PPPS if we assume 40' HO cars, that 6' length is 12 "units" of linear length. A cannonical "proto-nook" only needs 11 units, and a shorty-nook only needs 8...
(using more-modern 50'ers at 8" ea, a shorty-nook is very much a possibility...)

The challenge works!

I totally agree with this, it's worked for me for many years with a total of 24 plus modules! Some complete, and some waiting for final scenery. My shortest module is 1" long and 30" wide with scenery! and has been used at a couple shows between the Free-mo and Sipping & Switching Society of North Carolina modular layouts. It's funny that this module has ties only, get's rails installed only at shows. It's effective scenery wise, sporting trees,shrubs, rail side shack, man walking, and several other details while still only an inch long. Oh, and it has it's own carrying case to protect the scenery. I have other modules much longer, they service other purposes with even much more detail. I have a mini module (half width to the 30" wide modules.) 15" x 24" with narrow gauge out of dual gauge siding. Two warehouses, and several offline business, a small engine repair shop, cut-a-way lumber yard scene, and a general store. Amazing the amount of scenery/structures can be installed without overwhelming the module! So I say, go for it and built a module!    Ken Anderson - Watauga Creek & Southern Railroad                                                                                                                                                                                                

Moss module

I built this module called "MOSS" first part of name for Free- mo< < and SS< < for Sipping & Switching. Module's ties are set up for code 83, and wholes are for covering steel pins of the S&SS of NC's template system. This module was milled from a 2'x6' framing, roadbed, ditches, and landform are milled and conformed for both club standards. The module is 1" and allows for the 2" cut back for Free-mo standards. The 2" rails work by rail joiners on Free-mo side,and hand spiking and gauging to the S&SS side. Possibly with a little more thought, and slipping the rails into spikes on S&SS side would save even more time.

Definitely

While I don't plan for my 3 modules to be part of my 'final' layout, they will certainly be my focus and allow me to get to something somewhat "finished" in a reasonable time frame.  I should be laying track as early as this week, but for sure in a couple weeks. And I'm pumped about it!

The Northeast Corridor a few feet at a time..

This "module at a time" concept is exactly how I plan to build my NEC set up.    I've already begun with the North Elizabeth station,  in New Jersey.     "Lane interlocking" is the next spot north,  which is the northern most  terminus of electric freight.     I plan to then build "Elmora",  where the 4 tracks turn to six.        Ambitiously,  I'll then try to do Union interlocking,  (the junction between the NEC and the New York & Long Branch, now known as the North Jersey coastline).       Then I'll just fill in the middle, a few feet at a time.       If anyone was at the East Penn Traction Meet,  you already saw me and my module.   I had the "mini" catenary display there as well.     

MOSS is cool...

and serves a terrific function. It was awesome to see photos of the S&SS/Free-mo layouts. I hope to see them in person in the future.

Chris Palomarez

Modules!

That's just what I'm doing - building modules!

As mentioned in the article - it doesn't take too long to get something finished and you're able to run trains. In addition you'll get the flexibiltiy to rearrange the modules in different ways and even moving to another home will be no problem at all.

The first module of the modular switching layout "Industry Ave" is nearly finished and I already had a lot of fun with operating sessions with it.

Amen to NO EXCUSES....

  For a long time I said this, that and the other on why I can't have a layout. I had the time but NO SPACE and limited money. Then I ran across a 1x6 foot layout (The Gum Stump & Snowshoe)  built by someone who had more space restrictions than me. The story was in an old Kalmbach Books publication. The GS&S was not a bad layout compared to no layout. If that author could do it, then I could do it... and DID!  My massive HO collection was just sitting in drawers and boxes. My "module" is 20 inches deep and 7 feet long with a 5 foot wing to the left. It's FUN to operate and i get to switch and display my collection even if only a few cars at a time. It is not my dream layout and that was another reason (excuse) for not building anything. It takes up Zero floor space because it's a shelf above furniture. I'm going to complete it to a very detailed and fully complete section before i move on to anything else. No excuses. I'M SO GLAD I BUILT IT...  

It makes it manageable

I came to this conclusion about a month and a half ago. While my layout has half the track down and is functional in the sense that it can run trains and do minor operations, it's intimidating when I think of the sheer time involved in getting it right. So, I began to mentally section off the thing into about six foot by two foot parts.  It makes it possible to approach it now. I just hold a cardboard tube up to my eye, close the other eye and everything is just fine.  It somehow reminds me of construction in the Mexican part of the Caribbean. They tend to use sea shells instead of silica sand in their concrete so it kind of guarantees permanent employment for the construction people. By the time any given building is done, it needs rebuilding back where they started. 

The layout is probably going to be like that.

Sea-Rail, you have inspired

Sea-Rail, you have inspired me!!!  I'm trying to clean out my 10ft x 12ft room and didn't want to start anything until I had it completely empty.  Seeing your excellent RR makes me ask - why not start small (with a bigger plan) and at least get some trains running?  Thanks!

Is bigger than 6 ft okay to share?

Good evening all,

My latest module is a bit longer than the suggested 6 ft size? Is it okay to share plans and thoughts?

Respectfully,

Tim Moran

Akron, Ohio

Step up to the microphone...

Dear Tim,

By all means, the more the merrier...

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

MOSS "mystery" revealed!

Ken,

MOSS was the one of the neatest innovations I'd seen! Thanks for sharing where the module's name came from!!

It was GREAT to use MOSS to connect the Free-mo modules to your Sipping and Switching Society of NC modules.

We really appreciated the teamwork and fellowship y'all brought to Detroit. Gonna have to do it again.

Regards,

Tim Moran

Akron, OH

Tim...

Post it here or start a new topic post and share your work!

We want to hear all about it!

Prototype and module information for Beaver St. Siding

The name of the module (Free-mo) is Beaver Street Siding and is based on a prototypical location on the former Akron & Barberton Belt line in Akron, OH.  Here's a link to the location.   http://binged.it/YY7zrw

The module is just a little over 11 ft long, with a 7.5 degree deflection to the right. There are 7 specified sidings with multiple cars at most. The main 3 sections of this module were used at the recent Free-mo display in Lodi, Ohio. My plan is to have it fully ready for the National Train Show in Cleveland, 2014.

All questions are welcomed!

Respectfully,

Tim Moran Akron, OH

Love it...

Dear Tim,

Love it, nice work! I can even see this with some staging added on at least 1 end, working great as a home layout. That all of the industry tracks are facing the same way speaks to possibly not needing the run-around, but if it's there on the prototype, it has to have been there for a reason... (even if it's just historical, which then hints at some enjoyable background research possibly in one's future... )

A&BBL, hmm, do you operate this with AAR Switcher-trucked SW1500s?

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

Historical research for Beaver Street Siding

Greetings Prof,

A good friend of mine stumbled on this small collection of pictures regarding the Akron and Barberton Belt.

http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/search/searchterm/barberton/order/nosort

These images helped to solidify my intent to go forward with this module from planning to construction. (Please note that there is an image with comments about "abandoned station" in this collection. The structures in the background are actually the Summit Grower's Association siding. Another picture shows a Baldwin powered train with a ventilated boxcar about 1 mile from the aforementioned siding. " I love it when a plan comes together".

The era I'm planning on is the very early 50's with several of the 4 Baldwins the RR owned in operation. I will be using this module set with staging on both ends to keep my grandkids interested in model railroading.

Thanks for your comments and interest!

Tim Moran

My only comment...

Tim,

Plan looks good, my only comment is to connect the two peninsulas together and fill in the gap with a little scenery. I think visually it will give more depth and make it easier to photograph that area of the module

Chris Palomarez

"Fill in the gap" on Beaver St. Siding

Chris,

Thanks for your comments!

The "one piece / 2 sidings" idea was there from the beginning. Hauling all the pieces in a hatchback Hyundai makes for tight spaces.

There is an upside of the one piece idea; there was a truck transfer company on the PPG warehouse siding along the curve from the mainline.......hmmmmm.

Time to get back to work!

Regards,

Tim Moran

Reverse running thread is right here ...

Wasn't spammed, just go to the current issue and scroll down to get the link ....

Okay Joe, you have shamed me

Okay Joe, you have shamed me into it, no more arm chair modeling I'm making a module and that's that.

Tom

I'll send some pictures.

This is what I had decided to do....

.... I am a new modeller (well, I had one many years ago) who has finally settled down after many years of moving around and I have some space for a layout. I have come up with a number of vignettes that I want on a proto-freelance style layout and had decided to do exactly what you suggest... just focus on each little, workable, section and then join them together as I go.

It's so great to see the ideas I've come up with validated in this magazine.

PS I know this is a very old article but I am currently reading through all the back issues as I've only just discovered this wonderful resource.

Happy modeling all.

Well,

,the contest date was two days ago, now we just need to wait patiently for the results (fingers crossed)