In short the Basics

In short the Basics “Given”:

• A)Minimal space and possibility to store the whole layout standing in a room corner.
• B)Flexible track layout and possibility to modify it following experience.
• C)Reliable tracks and manual coupling operations. DCC using NCE PowerCab.
• D)Sound decoders functionality (both steam and Diesel) but without modify the non-sound decoders already inside engines
• E)Essential scenery and possibility to change industries and service on spurs to be able to play different jobs.

The “solutions” Marco used are:

• A)use a single table of 170cm x 15cm (more or less 5’6” x 6” !!), removing the background plate it can be stored aside a wall library in 5 cm (2”) space!! Ideal for an apartment?
• B)Use of Kato tracks and turnouts plus Kato Plug&Play turnouts controls.
• C) installation of 2 “Under_The_Table” Locksound Select decoders and speakers that uses the same address of decoders inside the engines. This takes for engine decoder to stay at address 3 for diesels and 4 for steamers to permit one of each type at work at same time.
• D) essential ground cover (White glue and Vermiculite) and use of removable little structures to define each spot job ( a wood platform define a team Track, a couple of Tanks define an Oil dealer, a gravel pile, or a pile of scrap and a little shed will define a Building material dealer or a scrap yard spur….)
• And additionally the background was populated with some low profile industries (print on paper) that can be moved along spurs to change the destination of cars.

See also one of first sketch for a similar layout “A little N scale switching layout” here: http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/track-plan-database#comment-101665

The track layout is more or less the same, just change the geometry given the tracks used.

 ---  

To keep simple and automatic the Switchlist generation, it was done using JMRI (here some samples of the documents).

And, few pictures of our session:

Well, I must say I never can believe that such simple layout will take 2 Operators and a Dispatcher so busy for a whole Sunday afternoon! Very good job Marco!

This is a sample and short movie of this funny mini-session:

Great idea!

I wholeheartedly agree with your 'simple' approach to this venture; no chance of boredom setting in either!

Here in the UK where space is somewhat at a premium, we see quite a few plug-in-and-play portable layouts, but they're no less disappointing IMHO.

Will watch with interest, Enzo, as the layout develops.

Thanks for sharing,

Jonre

Magnificent

There is so much to admire (and in my case, emulate) in what you've shown us here! 

What I notice while I'm watching the video is how quickly my attention is focused on the operations, and how little the "level of finish" affects my attention. But your "movable car spots" along the backdrop is very cool, and I'm stealing it immediately.

Great project!

Jeff Allen

it is surprising what you can

it is surprising what you can do on a small layout.

    does one engine work trailing points and the other work facing point or how do they work together?

Hi and thanks for kind

Hi and thanks for kind comments ( I will forward to the owner friend too

About the "trailing/facing point" question... simply, when a steam engine is used:

If it serves the arriving train ( from left side track) then is facing right to first turnout.

If "she" is used for the departing train, is waiting at left track facing left.

As there is no provision to turn an engine (maybe in the future Marco plan to add a short module holding a manual Model Power turntable or a cassette module for more staging.

The diesel power provide both side operations, so no problem to emulate a "post 60" era!

And, I've to agree: despite I love good scenery and details, you're not "disturbed" by lack of this!

thank you

thank you

I forget this, and sorry ...

I forget this, and sorry ... it's in Italian language, but I think pictures are "universal"?

This is a presentation Marco takes last November in Milan:

http://www.amiciscalan.it/risorse/master-clinics-workshop_files/2014_Marco_Trespidi-MicroLayout_da_manovra.pdf