The recent post about who has the largest layout got me to thinking. It’s really cool to have such a large “world” to run around in. I wi***hat we all had that luxury, but we don’t.
My professor in college used to say that anybody can use a lot of words to say what they want to say. It’s much tougher to say the same thing in very few words.
In that spirit, I’d be interested in knowing who has the smallest “operational” layout. That is to say, who has the smallest layout that has at least a few things that you can do on it?
To make it fair, because the Z scale guys have us all beat right out of the gate, I would suggest something that jeffers_mz brought up. That is “a scale feet proviso in this one, to level the playing field”. I would further sugget that you list what things your RR does, i.e., ships coal, lumber, furnature, heating oil, works the docks, swithes a yard, etc., so that we get an idea of how much operation you’ve incorporated into your meager space.
32" x 36" - (so I guess that is 232 x 261 scale feet) Two tiny stations separated by a stream and a mountain (hill?). Has one industrial siding (dry goods warehouse), on the outside of the circle. Freight is shipped from the warehouse as partial car shipments to either station. Freight is unloaded and loaded off the main. In addition, passengers are moved between the two towns. Seasonally, the train stops at the streams for the passengers to fish for trout. Also occasionally the train will stop in the cut to load lumber brought down from the hills. Steam loco servicing (water tower) on the main next to the junction (turnout) 15" radius curves except the inside of the curved turnout which is 18", and the outside which is 22". Here is an unfinished picture taken a few years ago.
I’m making the first claim to the smallest by far… it’s still operating Amtrak, Powder Basin/River coal, steel, grain… local switching and more… in my head!
I guess you got me. I should have stated that you should be able to take a photo of it (not that you have to post it, but you can if you want). Nice try though.[;)]
I’ve got 4 1/2’ x 1’ in N scale, but I’ve got around six feet worth of staging as well, which starts to make things a little bigger. It serves a few industries on the outskirts of a town, including a small steel mill (fabricators, not a foundry) and an interchange track.
Keeping speeds low it can keep me occupied for an hour or better, just dropping off a few cars, and picking up the ones that are out. I could operate even longer, if I wasn’t limited by my lack of rolling stock.
very nice idea in that very small space, Texas Zephyr.
I run a 4x8, but i’m really beginning to enjoy operations on it. I have set up a feed mill, team track, and large oil distribution plant. i’m thinking about condensing the oil disributor since I’m not as fond of oil and the team track is too squished in.
A large portion of my operation is interchange from the outer loop main line ( Basically my connection to the outside world) and the inner loop (the local line). I interchange cars going to/from the industries, as well resupplying cabooses (i’ve made my area a crew change point). I’ve placed a station on the Yard Ladder. So that trains can once again access the hilltop station, I’m thinking of putting the access to the hill from the outer loop, and then creating a single track staging line, that will nicely connect both inner loop and outer loop again.
I’m finding that the 4x8 is really serving well, but i’m still going to move on to my 9x8.
My 9x8 will model my hometown.
I only have about 5 feet by one foot with a single track on it at the moment.
I do have several “drop in” industries being built for the future expansion. One nearing completion is the LCL warehouse capable of taking 10 40’ boxcars and something like 12 tractor trailers on the other side. The other project is a TOFC track, I just completed the 8 car TOFC and am working on the planning of that area at this time.
All together I am probably 8 feet by 2 feet at this time.
That is absolutely astounding!!! You guys are insane!!! Not real heavy on operations, but WOW!!! I think that we may have a winner, at least for size! Any challengers[?] How 'bout some operations[?] We’ve had one very good contender in that area already. Anyone want to take him on[?] [8D][:p]
It’s not a layout, but someone here posted a pic of a steam loco,4 cars and a caboose that fit on a toothpic.( I lost all my links or I’d post a link to it)
very nice job Vsmith and On30shay (whoa, I just figured out what that really says, hehehe, an On30 scale shay…didn’t realize that earlier, I only noticed the shay…yum, shay)
