Is it just me? Or others think the same way? The layouts in July MRR are beautiful. The photos show really awesome works of modeling. Whether it’s the hand laid Code 70 rail on sanded sticks from the yard, or the beautiful downtown and golden hills, or the original ideas on the plexiglass sub roadbed.
But, I did not quite get the operating plan for the layouts. On the first one, the interchange could be reversed for better operation. On the second, there could be a run around at Valley Junction and Lake View. Perhaps a town at Lake View and an industry at the big round would add to the operational interest. Both designers used industry tracks that have switchbacks.
Maybe it’s just me. Maybe there is something I don’t understand, and I think different people prioritize differently. It’s their road!!
They are pretty good looking though!
NP.
Edit: Added “spoiler alert” … thank you for suggesting
Unfortunately most small plans are NOT designed for OPERATIONS but for those that want to have a Model Layout and just watch trains run!
Even if the Layouts are of the Garage size - TOO many find out too late that there IS MORE to Model Railroading than just watching the train make endless circles!
And when they do - they find the layout can NOT be Operated smoothly or even at all!
Fustration sits in and the Layout either becomes disused or torn down - never to be rebuilt as the Layout Owner is too unhappy in seeing all of his great work being trashed to make the Layout OPERATIOAL!
While I know there are a number on here and other Forums that state they have no interest in OPERATIONS - Which is fine!!
I know of TOO Many that were and the Layouts are no more as they left the hobby as they found out too late!
Look at ALL aspects of the Hobby not just one area should be considered when beginning Model Railroading but they are in too much of a hurry to make the trains RUN!
This is unfortunate as the ones I personally knew HAD really fine looking layouts that are no more and have left the Hobby due the Operations thing and now we are missing out on their fine Modeling Skills too!
I’ve know several that has departed the hobby and some was stellar modeler.
They all had one thing in common in their layouts–all was a dumped bowl of spaghetti that was hopeless to operate other then running endless loops.
One can have a operating small layout if they will forge ahead to the more modern layout planing and forget the plans in layout books and poor advice from “layout design experts” that is still pushing the old school methods of layout designing.I suspect many fail to realized a 1’x10’ ISL can be operated prototypically as can a 36" x 80" hollow core door N Scale layout…
At every ISL design clinic I have attended you will without fail have one attendee to mention John Allen’s “Time Saver” design ( a one time design switching puzzle for a NMRA meet) at a serious ISL design clinic…[banghead]
Model Rairoading is a multidimensional hobby. While operation can be very rewarding, it is not a top priority or even desired by everyone. Some people like to “railfan” on their model railroads, Some model railroaders like to build models (rail equipment or buildings or scenic dioramas) and don’t care if they ever run a train. There are even some who enjoy building benchwork, others wiring layouts or electronics. Still others like to design layouts, and never get around to building one…
The “big round” is an excellent representation of an actual location. Placing an industry there would destroy the effect. The builder of the layout achieved his goal.
Too many operational types leave also because they can’t just run trains. On my layout, I tried to have both worlds, started with a large dogbone but I have many operational areas too.
Having seen Joachin at an exhibition, the pictures don’t do it justice. It was fascinating to stand and watch it being ‘operated’, especially as it was at a height to not be able to take in all of the layout. It’s simplicity is what makes it enjoyable!
I have to agree with those who say, “Different strokes for different folks.” Not everyone has operations as his top priority. Not to invalidate anything previously said, but there are plenty of folks who want to kick back with a beer and wathc the trains run. For myself, I like the option to do both, and my layoit reflects that.
I peronally found the use of space and especially the detailing to be very good. Plus, it was obvious that the owners had great pride in their efforts.
Serious operators doesn’t want to run trains between op sessions unless necessary like returning loaded hoppers to the mines and empties to the power plant.
Unlike loopy loop layouts these layouts was built for operation not casual running.
The layout comes to life when your operating crew shows up and operates in a prototypical manner.
Even if you don’t think of yourself as an operator, it seems that the track arrangement ought to look like you COULD operate on it. If the track arrangement looks impractical, believability is compromised. The prototype generally tries to avoid track arrangements that are inefficient, and so should we, IMO.
I guess that makes me a “Frivilous” operator, since I run trains when I feel like it, and don’t normally do the operating session thing. I took an old John Armstrong two track loop, and made it into an “operatable” layout, then built a yard on to it so that I could “prototypically” classify and make up trains, then send the local out to drill the customer sidings, and return with the outbounds. Which is what in essence I did for a living for 42 years. There are seven industries on the main, and two more within the yard. There is also a nusiance passenger train just to make things interesting. I can spend a couple of hours just with the local. Then there are times, when I just want to relax and watch the train go over the crossover, and follow the continuous run loop. Especially nice when I don’t feel like pretending I’m still at work.
I have to disagree with the OPs comments on the designs. I think that it’s obvious that Frank Henry Fieler is a “modeler” first and a “railroader” second - which is his right. His layout still operates and I imagine the C&O comes from staging and exits through the yard. Had his interchange with the C&O been reversed, the lead to the interchange would have been by way of the uphill branch to the woods.
On Hans Wolfram Nicolaus’s layout, I suspect that Valley Junction and Lakeview are more like visible staging than operating points. Run arounds wouldn’t be as important, and may exist anyway - just not drawn on the plan. As others pointed out, putting an industry in the turn back loop would have ruined the scenic intent.
As for industries on switchbacks, I would agree to a point that it shouldn’t be overdone, but I don’t think either modeler did. Look at the Progressive Rail Industrial Park plan on page 18. Switchbacks and no run arounds. Shame on the civil engineer that laid that one out! JK, and I’m a civil engineer who has designed some industrial spurs. Most recently a sulfuric acid transloading facility in northern Nevada with UP - rail to tanks to trucks - would make a great model.
Joe,You sound like your having fun and that’s the way I usually operated my few loop layouts.
By “serious operators” I was talking about those that design layouts strictly for operation with their operation group which is usually made up of their closest friends and these operation session may rotate between layouts…
I have a small switching layout, which is U-shaped, point-to-point (along the walls), and, it is “operational”. It is only about 20 linear feet long and is designed for interchange/switching operations; it even has staging. The point is, there are small layouts that are operational and are not just for running trains. In my case, because of space limitations, I do not have the luxury of having any kind of continuous running (which I would prefer, along with operations), so, as they say, where there is a will, there is a way. I wanted to have SOME kind of layout, with the space I have available, so I opted to build something within that space that would lend itself to some kind of operations. Some day when I get into bigger quarters, I can
I never ment to imply that one could not Operate on a SMALL Layout! I have run on a number of small alyouts and just as much fun (ifnotmore) than I have on many larger Operational Layouts!
It is that some - actually most on the Forums think that Operations is some how a bad thing when we that are Obsessed (which is too tame of a word) with Operations!
Most here when the word Operations is stated have the mind set that it is a form of a Question (OPERATIONS?) - WHY do we have to do THAT?.
And others like myself and about 100 or so of our I-80 OPs Group - look at Operations as a statement (OPERATIONS !).
Meaning WHERE and WHEN are we going!
I get the feeling that most would think that if one would drive for 3 hours - attend a REAL Operations session with 20 other Operators for 4 hours - and then drive back home another 3 hours are nuts!
NO! - That is the difference between Operations? - and OPERATIONS!
It is like going 4 wheeling - ONLY In a JEEP - If you have to ask - YOU Don’t Understand! - as the saying goes!
Or riding Motorcycles - If you are NOT on a Harley - WHY GO?
It is a state of mind thing. Once you Understand OPERATIONS! then one can see why we tend to be so passionat about it.
Until then most will try and explain it away by stating there are other thins to Model Railroading other than operations.
What we Operators find is that the OTHER stuff is just something that needs to be done to get to the OPERATIONS!
Exactly…I really hate the other parts of the hobby like laying track,ballasting and scenery but,those are just steps getting from point A to the big “O” (operation) we need to take.
Now my personal thoughts is why did I even bother to build a layout,buy the needed models and other things if I was only going to rip it up and rebuild only to rip it out again and rebuild some more? I realize we been taught through the pages of MR and RMC that a layout is never finish–of course not…Such false(false only because a layout can be finished) statements keeps the advertisers happy.