Modular Layout Tour Article

I actually think that could be a good article since modular layouts that are being setup in different configurations in different locations "behave" quite a bit different than a "regular" layout in someone's basement. Perhaps something to discuss in the Sunday evening Free-mo chatroom and have some of the Free-mo run chiefs we've had to date do/help with an article write up?

It would be good to contact

It would be good to contact the N-Trak groups (Like North Raleigh Model Railroad Club) that have put together the largest layouts, too... 50,000 (NOT a typo) square feet in Louisville KY, for example, with a 120 scale mile Red Line Route that took 2 hours to complete one lap. They literally wrote the book on large layout DCC operations. The manual is huge.

Here's a link to their web site: http://www.trainweb.org/nrmrc/

The manuals are under the "DCC Design for Layouts" heading.

Modular clubs?

   It would be fun to start a modular club where each member builds modules of the real railroad near their house then have get togethers where they are all assembled in sequential order into an extended version of the railroad..DaveB

Proto specific Modular clubs exists

(There is one in my area. Sometimes they are called sectional layouts since they are assembled the same way every time. They share some features with modular layouts like those mentioned above. But modular diverge in that they are rarely assembled the same way twice.)

Back on topic. Although there are any number of successful run chiefs that could write an article what I was thinking was more of an interview ala layout tours. I was actually inspired by the blind modeler regaining his sight article. The human factor is what interested me. As Benny pointed out on that thread it's not just the model but the hobbyist. What better way to delve into the mind of the modular run chief than an interview? I figure sooner or later Joe will weigh in on this. I think he's pretty busy with the excitement about the Gen3 version of the magazine.

And Barr_ceo, although my personal preference is towards Free-mo I can't help but give a hearty cheer and respectful bow to the N-trak crowd. They repeatedly do monstrous layouts with no two alike.

Crickets

I think I'm hearing crickets on this one. Spam is far more interesting I guess. Anybody want to write an MRH article on spam?

interview style for layout tour

Matt,

I have a hard time this envisioning how a layout tour article would work if you basically have a dozen layout owners to interview for a free-mo or n-track modular layout. I think an interview with the run chief focusing on how to plan such a temporary layout, deal with contingency plans, describing how (DCC) train control is reliably established in an electrical hostile environment, and what the fun elements are from setting up modular layouts at these events would provide a better understanding of 'what it takes'. I could see interviews/quotes being included from module owners in the article on what drove them to modular railroading and what the get out of it etc...

Photos, Need Photos!

As long as there's photos, count me in! 

LOL!

John

PS. Thanks for the link to the North Raleigh Model Railroad Club! 

Yaron nailed it

I think Yaron is exactly right in how that sort of article would flow. The interviewee would have to be the run chief or the run chiefs designee at a large module gathering. The occasional snippet from a module owner is ok but the subject matter to me is exactly what Yaron said "how to plan such a temporary layout, deal with contingency plans, describing how (DCC) train control is reliably established in an electrical hostile environment, and what the fun elements are from setting up modular layouts at these events"

And John of course photos! Here I'll drop a couple in this thread for entertainment sake.

Some of the same modules, some different modules, different layout shape;

And that's just a small club, As was mentioned above go talk to the N-track guys

The FECRS has an N scale

The Florida East Coast Railway Society has an N scale modular layout that depicts areas of the FEC mainline. They set up at their convention, Cocoa Library at times and I believe had a small section at Cocoa Beach RPM meet. I am not involved with the layout since in live in NC but am member of the FECRS and see articles, photos, etc about it. 

Bill Michael

Modular

I would be very interested in reading/viewing this.  We are in the process of starting a free-mo group here in Vegas.    The questions posed on the original post are of great interest to us.   

Fun Photos!

Matt,

Those modules look like fun. And I was just thinking, related to some comments I made in a different thread about virtual model railroading-- that these modules might be the closest thing a physical modeler can easily get to the flexibility of modeling in a virtual environment. The idea of being able to take them apart and reassemble them in some different configuration. For people who like variety and something different, it seems like modular has quite a bit to offer!

Thanks for sharing the photos!

John

Something similar under way

Over the past few weeks I have been writing a similar piece to what Matt suggests on a number of these issues as they relate to the Operations Road Show layout. This stems from a conversation I had with Jeff Shultz at the Cleveland NMRA National Convention last year. Granted, The ORS layout doesn't vary from set-up to set-up as a more conventional modular display layout does, but the same issues arise with respect to room environment concerns, layout security and logistics. 

Competition from my day job, and another ongoing writing commitment have slowed it down, but it's under way.

Sectional

Fritz,

I think that's what would be called a "Sectional Layout"? Which to me is a layout made up of sections or module that are assembled in the same configuration each show. An important factor if you have a single prototype that everybody in the club is working towards representing. I believe a Venn Diagram of a Modular and a Sectional layout would nearly overlap with a few problems or issues unique to one and not the other falling in the outer circles. There may not be layout configuration element or it's impact on operations with a sectional layout but rather other issues such as what does a new member model? Scenery standards to keep thing similar across all sections. Or what do you do when a scenery product is discontinued and no longer available when a new section is built? 

Maybe instead of a single article there is enough material for a mini-series of articles addressing modular and sectional layout difficulties?

If anyone wants to take on

If anyone wants to take on the article there will be several operating modular layouts in Plano TX this weekend. There will also be a train show. My club has a modular layout but it will be at our club house with the other two and open to the public. Since it is not truly modular but sectional you may want to disregard our n scale layout. 

The section in the back on end also connects to this layout and makes it L shaped. Below is a copy of the council page for the show. It also has a list of the clubs that will be there and the open house sites as well, so much to do and so much to see.

• Ft. Worth Train Show
• Dallas Area Train Show
• Layout Tours
• Clinics
• Bylaws
• Contact Us
• Exhibitors
• Galleries

Member Clubs

• Denton Model Railroad
• DFW O Scalers
• East Texas Club
• Lionel Modular Group
• Lone Star Flyer
• Lone Star Hi-Railers
• LSR NMRA Division 1
• LSR NMRA Division 3
• North Texas Garden
• North Texas NRHS
• North Texas Narrow Gauge
• North Texas NTRAK
• North Texas T Trak
• Red River Railroading
• South Side Railroad Modelers
• Southwest Dallas Modular
• Spring Creek Modular
• Tex-N Modular
• Texas Northern Model Railroad Club
• Texas Outlaws On30
• Texas Western Club
• Trinity NTRAK
• Trinity River Express
• Union Station Club

Follow our train shows

Area Railroad Activities

Texas State Railroad
Grapevine Railroad
Jefferson Texas Railway
Museum of American Railroad

Tables Available

January 13, 2015 by Chris

Have trains you'd like to sell? We have had a last minute vendor cancelation so if you'd like to thin out your collection or just forgot to send in your contract, take a look at the information at http://dfwtrainshows.com/exhibitors and call Chris Atkins at 469-438-0741 about reserving tables.

Dallas Area Train Show - January 17-18, 2015

February 2, 2014 by Chris

The Dallas area Train Show is held at the Plano Centre. Next time it will be the January 17-18th, 2015. Hours 10am-5pm Saturday, 10am-4pm Sunday. 2000 East Spring Creek Parkway. Go East from Central Expressway (Exit 31).

Admission $8.00 per person Children 12 and under are FREE.

Please contact Chris Atkins for more information.

If you would like your layout added to the Dallas area tour contact Chris Atkins at chris@railroadmodelers.com

There will be two full days of clinics.

Many home layouts will be on tour.

View Larger Map

"maybe some article fodder?"

Dear Matt,

Believe we've had some robust discussion RE "Sectional" and "Modular" layouts
(and some of the finer points of design and construction for optimised results) 
here onlist previously, even a "Publisher's Musings" in MRH proper

http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/magazine/mrh-2012-05-may/publisher_editorial

http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/6562

http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/14552

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr