Plans

The plans look incredible for this layout. I hope to participate in such a layout in 2-3 years with Free-Mo modules. Am I correct in understanding that Free-Mo and Speed-Mo module owners get the same rights and privileges to run on the large layout as the S&SSNC and OVS&SS members?

That is correct Alex......

Bringing fully functioning modules is one of the ways that get layout running access. You are not limited by your membership in Speed-Mo or Free-mo to those modules only.

In 2-3 years, I hope to have a trailer full of Speed-Mo modules to offer for the event! < grin>

Thanks for your question! Try and come down sooner to see how it all comes together!

Tim Moran Akron, OH

Some more information about this layout

This is the current design of the layout for this weekend. I can't upload a PDF, as far as I know so that you can zoom and see more details. Here are a few planning notes from the designer:

140 ft x 180 ft

25200 sq ft

1407 main line ft

667 branch line ft

There will be at least 1 dedicated switching district in the lower center of the plan that notes Free-mo goes here.

Thanks for looking. Hope to see some of the MRH family there this weekend!

Tim Moran Akron, OH

I walked it today.

Plan on some time if you want to see this layout. Words and pictures do not do it justice when it's set up.

It's never the same, but always operates flawlessly. The operation is a tribute to the designs and standards Joe Balint established when he dreamed up this concept.

If you get the opportunity to see it, don't pass it up.

Don

totally gobsmacked

I visited yesterday. It's completely mind-blowing.

Some of you folks are easily

Some of you folks are easily impressed.

Imagine a layout with an almost 4000 foot long mainline (120+ scale miles), over 50,000 square feet, that required 2 hours to make one lap around, and hosted over 100 individual mainline trains simultaneously.

Yes, that's a big layout for HO, and it's a major accomplishment. But N-Trak... 

I'm looking forward to the

pix and videos Tim!

I really wanted to make it there this weekend, I designed two modules and wanted to see a setup in action before I proceed with bench work construction.

How insulting. Some of us aren't as experienced as you are. I guess we should slink off and avoid embarrassing ourselves.

Yeah, I thought it sounded

Yeah, I thought it sounded insulting too.  Smh.

NTrak

NTrak uses a spine and loops off of the spine because it's not practical set up more than about 75 modules away from the keystone module with a "traditional" modular system. S&SSNC has completely blown this out of the water, their alignment and butt joint system along with centralized DCC booster farm makes it a cinch to assemble modules farther away from the keystone module in less time.

Electrically, they're close to maxed out on their central booster farm concept, but beyond that, I don't see why they couldn't assemble a layout MUCH larger in a day's time if they built secondary power table/cabinets that each had boosters, an RPT-1, and a Wi-Fi AP.

What really limits modular layout size is setup time, and S&SSNC has optimized this to an extreme. Free-Mo and traditional modular systems are painfully slow to set up, so they are rather limited in size. Free-Mo can branch out from the keystone module to an extent, so it might be able to go 4, 5, or even 6 directions with 70 or so modules in any given direction. S&SSNC/OVS&SS could probably scale quite a bit larger (if venue space is available) simply by building a small "spine" first with multiple Free-Mo ramps, or having Free-Mo close to the center and having it branch out several directions from the ramp connection.

Speed-Mo deserves mention as well, if it catches on at a larger scale, it could produce Free-Mo style free-form layouts at the scale and speed of S&SSNC, and since Speed-Mo modules can connect to S&SSNC, the possibilities for very large combined layouts are significant.

Wow...

Boy, you're really thin-skinned...

Some pictures......videos will need to be editted....

Good morning,

Here are a few close up shots on various modules from the event. Something to "tease" with, so to speak....

This is a scene on one of Ken Anderson's "mini" modules.

Above are 2 views of Mark Gugliotta's "New Jersey Float yard" module

This view shows an oval of "mini" S&SS of NC modules that was used to make an "Over / Under" route from the mainline to the Free-mo and Speed-Mo module branch line.

Like I said.....just a "taste".....< grin>

Tim < heading home> Moran (soon to be back in) Akron, OH

re: Wow

And barr_ceo you just couldn't resist one upmanship. Ooh 25K sq ft is nothing we had over 50K sq ft...

Here's the first video.....

This video shows some "Heritage" units (IIRC) on a prototype location in central Michigan.

I'm working on getting the information about the owner of the train in the video. The module and scenery are by Jeff Patterson ( no relation to Ken P. that I know of ).

BTW, all the model railroad content in the background is on the same layout.

Let's forget the controversy and enjoy the new content, OK?

Tim Moran (back in) Akron, OH

Another "roll by" video from Raleigh

Good evening,

Bobby G.has shared another of his "home made" (3D printed) hopper car fleet. These cars are from Australia's Rio Tinto iron ore region. Bobby has even made working rotary couplers for these cars.

Thanks for looking!

Tim Moran Akron, OH

An overview of the layout - Periscope style

Good morning,

I've put the layout diagram in this post for reference points. The "star" towards the upper center is where the camera was located. The green arrow at the top is about where the video starts and goes around the layout clockwise. The grey beams on the right side of the layout are not noted in the drawing but are visible in the video. The layout went almost to the first wall on the right.

Thanks for looking. Will be using the same space with more modules next year!

Tim Moran Akron, OH

All I got was 43 seconds of

All I got was 43 seconds of spanning view with no details???

43 seconds of spanning view.....

Good morning Brian,

What details would be helpful in that video? It is hard for me to walk the perimeter of a layout this size to show the details. I hoped that the overview we are discussing would show the size of the layout. I can find the "cab view" videos and share that link, if it would more to your liking.

What I can show with detail is the switching branchline that was built using Sipping and Switching Society "standard" & "mini" modules, a ramp that transitions from 48" rail height to 50" rail height, then Free-mo and Speed-Mo modules. You can see that here:

I am open to suggestions regarding the videos that I take or should have taken. Please let me know!

Tim Moran Akron, OH

@Some Pictures...

Hi Tim.  Love the "Metro Concrete" pic.  How much fun would that be to switch out I ask -- Especially using the EL power sitting there. Oh Yeah !   Have a great time and travel safely home. 

Sorry, Tim

I'm sorry Tim, I guess I was expecting your video to first show the overall span of the layout (which it did),....then proceed with a walk around looking in on individual portions. So your posted video did what it said.

I had just hoped to see a LOT of the individual 'scenes'. Perhaps that will get posted in the future,...maybe from a number of individuals that attended.

I remember seeing one of their setups at the Timonium, and it was fantastic. I believe I posted a number of photos i took on a previous subject thread.

This is impressive

Is the design for visitors or the operators?  

Many of the aiselways seem to allow access from the perimeter, but a few look like dead ends and portions restricted.

Just curious, not being critical.  I know nothing about it.

Access for visitors

Hello Mike,

These layouts are designed to allow as much visibility of the layout as possible. If there was an interested visitor that wanted a closer look at a particular module or section, someone usually grants access to that area and acts as a mentor.

Hope this answers your question!

Tim Moran Akron, OH