Reminds me of a MR April Fools

I remember an April Fools in MR about modeling rail to trails. They built a single track module with no track and a dirt trail with a group of cyclists. It was cute.

You could go one step further and just buy a set of Prieser survey figures and just put them up randomly around your house. If anyone asks, you can tell everyone you are doing an environmental impact study to determine the feasibility of building a railroad

If you wish to find prototype

If you wish to find prototype examples Google rust belt, Detroit, Michigan, West Virginia, and lots of others. Yoiu will also find areas that used to have industry and now they have been torn down and reclaimed. They are often referred to as brown fields. You can model this with some deformed trash trees, lots of weeds, and a static grass applicator, and lots of signs talking about what used to be.

Rob in Texas

I remember an April Fools in

Er, well cute wasn't exactly what David Popp and I were shooting for then, but OK, in a sense I guess it was.

We did have a blast building No-Trak. The feedback we got from readers who missed the joke was priceless. Especially the part about putting DCC decoders in the bicycles.

Paul Schmidt

Being cute?

I guess it was more a sense of "being cute," like naming the town law firm Dewey Chetum and Howe. Gives everyone a little chuckle, well, at least the ones that get the jokes.

I bet some of the letters to the editor were even more entertaining.

Maybe someone should do NVIS-A-MO it is a completee N-Scale modular system that occurs only in the 8th dimension...  or maybe not....

Freemo and notrack compatability

For years I have been fascinated with both the freemo and notrack modular model railroad systems. I thought they were pretty much incompatible until I thought up this scenario. Maybe there was a bridge on a branch that got washed out and the track beyond was abandoned. Here is an aerial shot of the adapter module. It is freemo on one end, obviously the end with the loco on it, and notracks on the other. I haven't ballasted yet but it will be finished to the appropriate standards.  

I have to say, the wiring on the notracks is much easier, just a straight 12v for a few building and street lights.  Also, model bicycles are much cheaper than DCC/Sound equipped locomotives and cars.

Paul

My layout has no track

and no earth to put it on yet but it's got a bit of sky so perhaps I'll buy a RC helicopter and start operations?..DaveB

End of the line

Paul,

I love that end of the line free-mo you have there. Much better than a piece of track ending in a clamped on piece of 3/4 inch of plywood

You guys have finally figured out a way I can afford the hobby!

I mean I have a very limited hobby budget spread over three different hobbies and I struggle to afford Locos, rolling stock and track. Heck, with the "NO-track" concept, I could eliminate almost all that completely. Plus, I've been concerned with the rash of "proto-fanaticism" that has washed over the hobby these days.  What better way to eliminate that problem than virtually doing away with the prototype all together??!!  Bravo!!!!

Michael