Very interesting article.

I have one minor "nit" to pick.  Bishop is in California, but not far from Nevada.  The mines mentioned may have been in Nevada, or South of Bishop toward Death Valley.  The Carson & Colorado became a narrow gauge subsidiary of the S.P.  The old freight depot, station, and other buildings is now a railroad museum in Laws, California just Northeast of Bishop.  They have a locomotive and some rolling stock from the S.P. narrow gauge at the museum as well as the restored buildings.

Double Duty Layout

I only wish this layout had been featured a couple of years ago when mine was in more of the planning and tryout stage. The size is doable and affordable, rather than huge and expensive. It happens to model one of my favorite areas. for 25 consecutive years my wife and I spent from one to three weeks en December and January visiting and photographing the area. My travel buddy and I had a trip planned to visit a web friend in Tonopah when the lockdown began. We stil hope to go if his cancer doesn't take him first.

I have walked a few miles of the railroad out of Beatty, s well as sections on both sides of Goldfield. After reading this article, I plan to once again alter my layout in a similar "double duty"  style, and feature Beatty and Goldfield.

Nice layout in progress

Nice layout in progress there.  I’m curious why the layer of 3/16 luan on top of the 3/4 ply on your modules?

Double Duty Layout

Thank you for the comment!  The walk from Rhyolite east to Beatty on the railroad grade is nice also.  You can even drive on it.  It is about 6 miles and there is access about half way up the hill.  The open pit mine dumps are all around, plus remains from the yard at Rhyolite and the old grade to the Montgomery mine.

Double Duty Layout

Thank you for the comment Russ.  Operating the layout, I find there is little reason to send rail traffic north from Tonopah, but the ability is there.  I have added passenger service since the article was written, since Reno, Virginia City, and San Francisco are potential destinations.

Double Duty Layout

Flexibility.  The luan cover can be completely removed leaving a fresh, new module. Between the two yards, I found that I could lay the track directly on the cover in places also.

Thank you for the question.

Below-grade areas?

Looks like a great plan and it seems like you've hit on a method for modeling that works for you.  I'd love to visit and operate someday if you host sessions.

A couple questions:

How did you make your backdrops?

How do you handle below-grade areas like creek beds, ditches, etc?

Thanks,

Galen

Double Duty Layout

1X3's on three sides, covered by luan or masonite.  They are clamped to the back of each module and are removable.

Below grade areas I would simulate with paint and painted spackle.  The top can be cut also, but I'm trying to keep it simple.  Paint is easy.

Is the scenery intentionally

Is the scenery intentionally Spartan because of the minimalist philosophy, or is that an effect of the region you are modeling?

"domino module format"

Please will you give a bit more detail on your expression "domino module format".

It seems to me that your baseboard / layout table is permanently connected sections. Where each section is 4 feet long and the appropriate width.

Double Duty Layout

Both reasons. It is a hot, dry desert, plus I tend to make a lot of changes to the track plan once I start running trains.  For instance in Tonopah I recently extended the team track to accommodate an additional rail car, and I have realigned the track behind the station to accommodate the station eves.  This method easily allows track changes.

Double duty layout

Dominos are a Track planning concept from the 80’s and 90’s.  I found that the key element is the length.  By making all the modules the same length, they are interchangeable. It helped me determine “what will fit.”   My initial plan was significantly different.
 

They are help together by C- clamps and are amazingly sturdy.  They are heavy also.  Particularly at the tabletop height I use.