It's nice to see you writing

for MRH Paul.   I have to say the photo and title really sucked me in knowing you.  I guess I have never heard the term "island" used to describe a 4x8 but it does make sense.   I hope to see more of your articles in the future..

Interesting counter point to

Interesting counter point to the usual articles. Some years ago Art Curren wrote an article for MR dealing with the use of city buildings as a backdrop. His buildings depicted a different industry on each side of the peninsula but would be right at home on one of the layout ideas you have suggested. I have always thought that was a great idea for a model railroad divider and really liked his kit bashed structures that were used to pull off the idea. Even if not an island and the around the room idea is used this would make a great idea for a peninsula.

Island Style Island Layout

Paul:

I too grew up in the San Juan Islands of the Pacific Northwest and now live in the Hawaiian Islands. It would be hard to imagine living very far from the ocean. When I got back into building model railroading, I had an open space that an island layout could accommodate. The idea of an island theme meant that I could follow my train around the layout and have the port interchange on one side and industry on the other. Family wanted to see trains go "roundy-round" so that was accommodated. I simply assembled my train and headed out around the point to the other side of the island to switch the industries there and back. 

No one said an island layout need be small. My 66" wide by 12' island layout was somewhat bigger than my first 5'x9' layout on the old ping pong table. (At one point it got "cookie cutter'ed" to do an HO layout that grew.) A bonus room or basement, or apartment space, may not be ideal to build shelves so an island makes sense. A creative inclusion of a helix could provide a fun way to access a lower lever or staging as well. 

How about a layout build on a desk that rises and falls to let the younger group enjoy it as well? 

Thanks for the comments

A small part of me thought there might be a tad more reaction, but it is after all a fairly benign Reverse Running topic.

Perhaps had I mentioned God, or called out Digitrax, or buried "NMRA" somewhere in the column, I could have ignited a real firestorm of debate and discussion.

Satire?

Perhaps adding a little satire about the roundy-round just so it wasn't clear if you were serious .

I'm waiting for the reverse running from someone in the audio biz to say that they would rather have no sound over the incessant, monotonous, and flat chuff or diesel sounds that are being touted as "must-have's" to experience a model railroad at slower speeds and prototypical lashups.  Worse yet is the new way to disconnect the sound from the motor to emulate notching! 

O.K. I'm kidding, of course, but there must be others that have good reverse running ideas. The "Island" layout should see a comeback once the results of "TOMA with a Twist" come in. Good timing. 

Rev Run

The idea of island layouts really disappeared when linear layouts caught on a decade or two ago, but I think they're a great solution for someone who has a small room, or may face moving periodically. No need to cover up anchor  holes and repaint a room if you're relocating an island. For a while it sounded like "island layout bad, around the walls layout good" in the model press.

The island gives an easy way to transition from a rigid, rectangular 4x8 to something that might flow a little better. Four or six sections could bolt together and be self-supporting. They would also spread out the foot traffic on a multiple operator layout for people who aren't into bumping butts.

The staff-written pieces are OK, but can get repetitive.  I really enjoy reading a Reverse Running from one of MRH's subscribers.

Us too

We agree. Reader submitted Reverse Runnings are a nice change for us too.

"Island" layout construction gets short-changed

I thought maybe this was about model railroads with an ocean island theme, like some of the micro-layout ideas.

So we're talking about "island" in the sense of a self-contained table-type layout. As compared to a layout which is custom-built to fit into a particular room and essentially impossible to relocate intact if a move is necessary.

Yes, an "island" layout can be very practical. It may not make the most of the space compared to "around-the-room" but it has more potential for portability. With suitable backdrop or scenery the back side of the layout can have a feeling of distance from the front side. Aisles around more sides provide more viewing angles and better access. And, access to windows or closets in the room can be more easily maintained.

I have a 54" x 72" "island" unit with a three-lap oval that provides track mileage plus sidings and junctions and reverse loop and hidden layover for moderately long trains. A wye connection on one corner connects with a yard-on-a-shelf built to fit available space. The "core module" can be cut loose and moved as a unit if necessary. I'm pretty happy with my "island"; I've been using it for 40 years in different locations!

This island layout subject has excellent potential for a more extensive article with illustrations.

Prototypical island layout

Hi all 

here's a prototypical island layout - designed for viewing on one side and operating from the other.

It might not be your prototype or your usual "island" size, at just over 23' by 17'. But after all Australia is just about as BIG an island as you can get. 

Remember - this is all about Reverse Running...and taking "a different slant on rails" 

Now retreating rapidly behind the barricade to get into my flameproof suit,  

Ace, that reminds me . . .

 . . . of an N scale or HOn30 layout someone built years ago depicting a railway on the Micronesian island of Yap.

@ACE 54"x72"

Just noticed that our pseudonyms sort of complement each other. Do you have a track plan of your layout? It sounds interesting.