01)First, and perhaps most important, model railroading is a hobby. Building and operating a layout should be an exercise in relaxation, not stress management. Trying to execute a complex schedule with a large number of trains on a limited amount of track maybe a little TOO realistic.
02)In addition, the layout must be small enough for the owner to maintain and operate alone, but maybe provide “interesting” operation for any additional operators who happen to be available. Note that “too large” is as much a measure of complexity as brute size. A smaller layout with a good deal of complex track work can be worse then a larger layout. Also, try to avoid trying to do too much in a limited space.
03)Even the best layout design will fail if it is built in an undesirable space. Also note that making any needed improvements will probably be a good deal easier if it is done before the bench work is started.
04)A layout design is basically trying to fit a one dimension object into a two plus dimension space.
05)A railroad is like the old debate joke, “Our opponents case is like a male bovine, a point here, a point there, and a good deal of b*ll in between.” This factor helps mitigate the above factor. In other words, a railroad can be viewed as a dashed line; points of interest usually are separated by a good deal of boring track.
06)A layout design should provide a series of “stages” (foot lockers) (fish bowls) separated by “green rooms”, hidden sections, this will allow the views are framed to limit observation to the desired elements and prevent observation of the undesired elements. This will also make the back drop easier to paint since it w
Thanks for the list. Do you know that you can replace those bullets with accending numbers? That way you don’t have to number them yourself. It will do it automatically.
Just highlight your entire list then click on the “Ordered list” icon next to the bullet item or “Unodered list” icon above the text box. It will change it from bullets to numbers. Just a suggestion…[:)]
No Problem! The Old Dog just wanted to run some of those ideas up the flag pole to see what fire they will draw. They have been bouncing in my head and I wanted to share them.
You might ask yourself, how do these guys maintain and keep clean some of these mega layouts that we see in the magazines? Answer: some of them don’t! Some of those beautiful layouts hardly run.
After all the givens and druthers have been sorted out from Dog’s list, to me the over riding and controlling points are: can I build this thing in my lifetime, or at least before arthritis takes over? And if I can build it, WILL I build it? Those are two different questions! Can I wire it? Can I keep it going and keep it clean? Can I see it all clearly when it’s dark out? And are there places to stand up and sit down for me and my friends?
Note that none of those things relate to gauge, scale, prototype or era, DCC or DC or Marklin.
Since one size does NOT fit all, here is a direct comparison between the Old Dog’s ideas and those of another individual with well over six decades of active model railroading (over four of which have been devoted to a single grand scheme.)
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If the stress level might get high, design pause points into the (140+ train per ‘day’) timetable. Also, make sure the track (especially staging and offstage thoroughfares) will be adequate to support the schedule. In a worst-case situation, take a break!
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The KISS principle lives. A large, somewhat complex layout can do a better job of supporting a fixed schedule than a smaller spaghetti bowl.
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This should be printed in big type on the first page of every layout design book!<
It’s weird that you two have picked #6 as the one to bandy around. As I found the most to say in this area.
I whole heartedly agree that if your goal is to present a layout to the public (or operators), then controlling how they view the layout is extremely important. IF you are limited in space, however, this can be a challenge. For if you have a scene that takes 5 feet to develop and you only have a 6 foot wall to work with, expecting your train to completely disappear between scenes is asking a lot unless you run traction or RDC’s exclusively.
Likewise have a scene that is divided by a backdrop where the train runs through the backdrop from one scene to the other is a tad on the cheesy side.
My favorite approach is to divide the scenes using a natural barrier such as a mountain, building , tall stand of trees, bridge, etc. where the scenes flow, but when the train emerges from one to the other, you know the scenes change.
Again, tight space limits this ability.
Better to reduce the number of scenes and do them well, but space looms as a layout designer’s biggest bane.
I just reread the list and the one thing that strikes me as unrealistic is building the layout in sections. If the reason was to build it because you know you are moving in two years or that you plan to take the layout on the road, that is one thing, but to limit your design based on the need to work on wiring is over the top.
I understand that there are people who have for one reason or another are restricted in their ability to crawl under a layout, but to them, I suggest planning their layout with that in mind. Wire the section of the layout with the signals, interior lighting, street lights, etc, before you place the section in place. You can even pull the wires through the top of the layout and hide them with a bush or shed until you are ready to connect them.
The potential for damage is high every time you pull a section. Unless you plan for them. When you do, you limit what you can do, because invariably, you will alter your trackwork, city scape, etc. to be able to pull the module to work on it.
06)A layout design should provide a series of “stages” (foot lockers) (fish bowls) separated by “green rooms”, hidden sections, this will allow the views are framed to limit observation to the desired elements and prevent observation of the undesired elements. This will also make the back drop easier to paint since it will limit the angle it can be viewed from. This also will allow better control of the layout lighting which can allow numerous “interesting” effects like varying the time of day. The layout should appear as if one was in a building and viewing the layout (railroad) through a window.
19)A layout design should provide “stages” that are long enough to view the entire train. If a train is to be six feet long, the sidings for meets and/or passes will probably require at least nine feet when the turnouts are added. That means that the “stages” will need to be ten or twelve feet long.
20)A layout design should provide enough spacing between “stages” so that the end of a train leaves one “stage” before the engine reaches the next station.
The Old Dog should have added some addition material in regard to the above points.
The idea of the “green room/s” is not only to provide seperation bet
06)A layout design should provide a series of “stages” (foot lockers) (fish bowls) separated by “green rooms”, hidden sections, this will allow the views are framed to limit observation to the desired elements and prevent observation of the undesired elements. This will also make the back drop easier to paint since it will limit the angle it can be viewed from. This also will allow better control of the layout lighting which can allow numerous “interesting” effects like varying the time of day. The layout should appear as if one was in a building and viewing the layout (railroad) through a window.
19)A layout design should provide “stages” that are long enough to view the entire train. If a train is to be six feet long, the sidings for meets and/or passes will probably require at least nine feet when the turnouts are added. That means that the “stages” will need to be ten or twelve feet long.
20)A layout design should provide enough spacing between “stages” so that the end of a train leaves one “stage” before the engine reaches the next station.
The Old Dog should have added some addition material in regard to the above points.
This does seem to be a problem for the N-Trak folks.
The Old Dog is thinking in terms of modules (stages) that are at most 24" wide. Length would be say 48", 72", and maybe 96" in extreme case. Corner modulars (green rooms) would need to be about 48" by 48" Pike size, 20’ by 4’, room size maybe 24’ by 12’ for I shaped pike with six stages, three per side. For U shaped pike with 18 stages, 26’ by 26’ would be needed.
Scenery would be mostly urbane, most flats. Buildings would be made seperately and be removable for maintenance and to allow era to be altered.
06)A layout design should provide a series of “stages” (foot lockers) (fish bowls) separated by “green rooms”, hidden sections, this will allow the views are framed to limit observation to the desired elements and prevent observation of the undesired elements. This will also make the back drop easier to paint since it will limit the angle it can be viewed from. This also will allow better control of the layout lighting which can allow numerous “interesting” effects like varying the time of day. The layout should appear as if one was in a building and viewing the layout (railroad) through a window.
19)A layout design should provide “stages” that are long enough to view the entire train. If a train is to be six feet long, the sidings for meets and/or passes will probably require at least nine feet when the turnouts are added. That means that the “stages” will need to be ten or twelve feet long.
20)A layout design should provide enough spacing between “stages” so that the end of a train leaves one “stage” before the engine reaches the next station.
The Old Dog should have added some addition material in regard to the above points.
N-trak folks have a line about 1/8 to 1/4 " between every section.
If we are talking about a “manifesto” we cannot be getting too far in a single direction in terms of layout style. I like big scenery. Pulling a section of hillside with 6 24" high fir trees to get at a signal for wiring would not be worth the effort to make it sectional. I also think, that layouts built for multiple eras are compromises for the eras that are being changed out. Again, multiple era layouts are a design choice and should not be part of a “manifesto.”
But I like the manifesto you wrote as it stands, and while I argue points, I like the overall. However, I feel that each point should be arguable in terms of all layouts rather than a specific style.
Excellent list and overview of layout design. Much food for thought. Any remaining hint of switching from N scale to HO was just squelched entirely and for good…unless I will a Lottery and can build another barn, one just for trains. [C):-)] Rob
Maybe. I think it all depends on how well the transition is handled. There are a couple of very effective layouts on the exhibition circuit both here and in the UK where each scene is separate from the next, in it’s own “shadow-box” or “stage”. The passage of the train through the backdrop is screened by scenic features as you describe below. In this context, I reckon this is a better way to present separate scenes, as you tend to focus on the train itself, rather than the edges of the “stage”. As you said, it’s all about controlling the viewpoint of the spectators.
I’ve often seen such transitions on layouts, but in my opinion they’re usually not very convincing. But that may be more a reflection of the layout builder’s scenery skills!