Modular layout update

I've been making some progress with the modules. I've now got four modules built and the track laid. The yard, took the most effort as all the yard tracks straddle two modules.

After laying the track, I made a temporary connecting module between the old layout and the new modules. With everything wired up, I now can run trains again, as I have a yard to store all my rolling stock, and build and stage trains. 

I will keep working on the turntable, which I've been building from scratch, and then the Roundhouse and Caboose tracks. That will pretty much cover all the track work for the time being until I build more modules. Then perhaps I can start to develop the backdrop and scenery plan further. 

The fourth module will feature a canyon with mountains rising high above the tracks.

The yard looks reasonably busy already. 

To mark the joining of the rails, Jupiter and 119 met at the boundary of the old and the new layouts.

Modular layout trackplan

Funny how these things go. I meant to make this post a month and a half ago, but time somehow gets away from one so. 

I've been using the free version of AnyRail to design the layout for the modules. The area on each module for track laying is 550mm x 1200mm. 

As always there are some compromises in any track plan. 

Some things I wanted to achieve:

• I really like point-to-point operations, 
• I prefer not to handle the locomotives, so turntables and engine houses are required.
• Trains up to 1.45 meters long (two locomotives and 6 passenger cars) need to be accommodated.
• Yard tracks need to be double-ended (for locomotives to escape).
• All rolling stock must be able to be stored on the layout, including:
• A caboose track for storing cabeese.
• Maintenance of way equipment track.
• To achieve the above and save space, I'm happy with a non-prototype, fiddle-yard track design at one end. Although, this will still be finished with scenery.
• The track must be mostly level across all modules, save for small changes between different sorts of tracks. The scenery will rise above and drop below the tracks on some modules to give a sense of the landscape.
• I want several modules to just feature a single track and large landscapes.
• Two types of bridges, one of which should be a timber trestle.
• At least one tunnel. (The previous layout used a lot of tunnels and I want to reduce the level of hidden trackage).
• I want a passing siding between the two towns for meets. This is a location to include the large redwood trees and some industries like the sawmill and mine.
• Provisions for locomotive servicing at each end. 

 

The design below is what I've come up with so far. The benchwork for the four modules along the top of the picture has been constructed and after laying out the printed track plan and testing the space with my rolling stock, I've started laying track for the yard area. The modules along the right side of the picture and bottom, are a concept only and will be constructed in the future. 

Any tips, suggestions or comments on the track plan are welcome, so feel free to leave a comment. I'll endeavour to reply

New modular layout benchwork

I've started chipping away on the construction of my new layout modules that will connect up with the part of the old layout I brought with me. I settled on the modules being 1200mm long x 600mm deep. 

I contemplated doing something similar to  FreeMo style modules without a backdrop. But then I found this idea from a user on the MRH forums and I decided I did really want a backdrop and in built lighting. This way, when the layout moves again, each module can be packed up relatively easily and transported as is. Maybe, I may even be able to take the modules to a train show one day. 

I've got room to build five modules in my current space. I'll share a track plan in a future post, but the priority is to build a yard area with enough capacity for all my rolling stock and locomotives, so I don't have to have any off layout storage. That way I can run trains in a point to point manner, as I did on the old Thoroughfare Gap Railroad. I'm hoping to have a roundhouse, which will be a new addition. That would go nicely with one of my turntables and engine servicing facilities. 

I've decided to minimise the grades on the layout to maximise the pulling power of the little 4-4-0's, which always tended to struggle with the steep grades on the old Thoroughfare Gap layout. That doesn't mean I won't have any dramatic scenery though. While the track height will remain mostly the same, the scenery in some modules will extend for some distance above and below the track, like it did in my redwood foreste/ravine module that didn't make the move. 

So far I've put together the benchwork on two of the modules. I'll be working away on them as I get the time over the next while. I need to make some legs and I'm thinking I'll make the track level about 125cm (49 inches) off the ground as it seems to be a comfortable height for me. How high did you decide to make your layout? If you started again would you go higher or lower?

Two modules in need of legs... (and some models). 

The layout moved by rail...

So we made the move and have been settling into our new home over the last two and half months. This post is about the decommissioning and disassembly of the layout as it was.  

I only brought one (large) piece of the layout with me. In the end, it was a strategic decision. If I only brought half the layout with me, I would have a head start on building some new easily transportable modules and use them with the part of the old layout I brought. That way when I move again, I've got something to take with me and can continue building the new modular version of the Thoroughfare Gap Railroad. In the meantime, I get to run trains and enjoy some of my favourite scenes on the layout for another two years. 

The day before we packed it all down the whole family spent the evening running trains for the last time. Everyone got to run their favourite locomotive with whatever cars they wanted. I enjoyed making up trains and aligning switches and just seeing everyone else enjoying the layout. 

I wanted some sort of ceremony for the last trains on the layout. So I decided to have a special freight train to pull all the cars off the layout and into the fiddle yard. I used three locomotives, one in the lead and two as mid-train helpers. I'd never lashed up three locomotives together but it worked beautifully. No derailments and it looked great. 

Lastly, I ran a special triple-headed 6-car passenger train from Teresaton to the Erewhon Fiddle yard. Again, the trains performed flawlessly and it was a wonderful 'closing ceremony'. 

Then my Dad and I spent two days packing it all up. The first day was devoted to taking everything off the layout, trees, buildings, figures, rolling stock and locomotives and carefully preparing it for transportation. On the second day, we build a big plywood box around the portion of the layout that was going to move. It was awkward, because of the switch throw knobs and bits of scenery that protrude out of the layout's baseboard footprint. The final result was solid but heavy. 

Our movers loaded everything into a shipping container, which was transferred onto rail for the trip up New Zealand's South Island. I enjoyed that the trains travelled on the train. The great thing is that it all arrived intact and is ready for repopulating. 

I've set the layout up in my new space with the buildings, but no figures yet. I've started building the new modules, but more to come on that soon. 

The layout looked very bare before pulling apart the benchwork.

The Redwood forest was carefully packed into two large boxes for separate transport.

I had made a dedicated carrying case for the locomotives. 

The section of the layout that made the trip. On the ground, with the structural framing built around it. 

The layout is encased in plywood and ready for shipping.

The ravine section was passed on to become a part of another person's layout.

The layouts going to move

The house we have secured for next year has a room for the model railroad, which is fantastic. So I've finally landed on taking the layout with me, reasoning that it will be faster to re-commission the current layout rather than start again completely from scratch. In the end, I really want to be able to run trains next year and share the layout with visitors in our new location.

I've started planning the deconstruction and my Dad and I will take it apart over the Christmas holiday while they are visiting. We need to remove and pack:

• 270 people 
• 36 structures
• 28 redwood trees (including the big 750mm tall giant)
• 51 pieces of rolling stock
• 6 locomotives

I'm mindful that perhaps the layout may sustain some damage during transit so I'm taking some photos of the layout before the move, just in case. Enjoy. 

Moving... to bring the railroad or start again, that is the question.

So the exciting news is we'll be relocating early next year to continue my ministry training. We're in the process of looking for somewhere to live and of course, a prerequisite is that any house/garage must have space for a model railroad. I'm just not sure if that space should house THIS model railroad or a new version of the Thoroughfare Gap Railroad.

Taking the current version of the Thoroughfare Gap Railroad in some ways is easier. Yes, it will be a challenge but it can be done. My practical-minded friends and our moving company all have good ideas for shifting it safely. Inevitably there will be some damage and some time will be needed to set everything up and troubleshoot issues. But I could be running trains again pretty quickly. My internship is for two years, so we will be likely moving again soon. Perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself, but I'm not sure I'd want to move the layout twice (but then again, why not).

Starting a new version of the Thoroughfare Gap Railroad (ie dismantling this one) sounds exciting, but also daunting. Do I really want to be building a new railroad during this season when I'm still focused on my training? While I may be pressed for time, starting again does have some advantages. I'd build something modular so that it could be moved easily. This would mean I can also build just a couple of modules at a time so there would be no pressure to get the whole thing done. Furthermore, it would be a good opportunity to fix all the design issues I have with the current layout, the core of which is 15 years old. There are things I'd not do again. Is this an opportunity to start again with a clean slate? Of course, it would not be a complete build from scratch. I'll keep all my trees, buildings and scenery details, and possibly some bridges could be repurposed. But, the landscape, backdrops and trackwork will have to be new.

Currently, I'm oscillating between the two options. I do enjoy the creative outlet of building scenery. But, I also really enjoy running trains. While I'm making up my mind, I want to share the railroad with others. So I'm preparing to have an open house where I'll be inviting people to visit the layout before its move. I also plan to take more photos of the layout, which I'll share here too. 

Have you had a similar situation? Did you take your layout with you or decide to start again? 

So its been a year

Wow, so it's almost been a year since I posted last. Back in July I did post a new video to my YouTube channel but neglected to post a link here. So here it is below for those that haven't seen it.

Truth be told the last 12 months have been very busy and I have been completely immersed in my studies.  I am scheduled to begin a training internship for ministry in the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand (PCANZ) in 2023, but there is some uncertainty about where it may be. Because of this, I've found that my motivation to continue building my layout has evaporated. It doesn't seem to make sense to continue to pour creative energy into a layout that may be mothballed or moved. Of course, I may be able to stay where I am, which would mean the layout can stay as well. But in the meantime, development is on hold.

 Over the next twelve months, I aim to take some more focus stacked photos and more videos of the layout to document the layout, in case it is eventually moved. I'll post them here when I'm able. 

So I have not been building, but I have been running trains. I used to run a car card and waybill system, but lately, I've just been running whatever trains I have felt like. My son is showing more interest in operating the layout so I may see how he likes the car card system. Perhaps our experience may be covered in a future post. 

So apologies for the radio silence. But hopefully, I can have a few more posts in the coming months.