1x4 layout design challenge, anyone?

[the North East Rail Modeler]

I am writing this on behalf of my friend, who I got started in this hobby.

• He wants a layout that is 1-foot x 4-foot that has the following:
• a variety of industries that require a variety of different cars
• it must be modeled as a free-lanced industrial park in Jacksonville, FL (close to where we live)
• the layout should be modeled in the present day
• it must NOT do any damage and/or perminantly/semi-perminantly attach to walls (he is currently living in an appartment)
• the layout must be cheep and easy to build ( our budget is about $60.00/month)
• and (the real challenge) he wants some type of Amtrak operation on his layout (I'm guessing a maintnance facility)

  Note: I think the factor of the 1x4 dementions can be expanded; however we already have the benchwork cut and built, so the expansion must eather be easily attached or be a module that can be easily attached or dismantled for a move.

We already have a locomotive lined up for his use ( a CSX MP 15 DC) and I can share my rolling stock with him, so those factors can be ignored (for now)

  So, those of you who like layout planning challenges, go ahead and have fun. In a few weeks, I'll E-mail the best plans I have receved to him and I'll relay the final verdict.

[cthart]

I presume this is in N scale? Maybe this could be the first of several modules of this size?

Byron Henderson includes a couple of 1x4 modules in his layout design gallery.

http://www.layoutvision.com/gallery/id27.html

Cheers,

Colin

[Texas Zepher]

N-scale, Z-scale?   T-scale is only avaliable in Japanese prototype which I don't believe would be appropriate for Jacksonville FL.

[tgindy]

See the classic Highland Terminal Railroad on a 1'x6' in HO Scale.

This would be an awesome switching layout if it were converted to N Scale in the 1'x4' available space -- And most of it could be adapted to HO Scale if that is the preferred scale.

Note how this module could later easily be incorporated into a larger layout.

[Swayin]

That Highland Terminal is giving me a bunch of ideas for my new switching-focused expansion ... thanks for posting it.

[the North East Rail Modeler]

I'm sorry about forgetting the scale.

  The scale that he wants is HO scale, because that is what he likes, as well as what he and I share on a regular basis;my friend comes over about every other weekend, and since he has become interested in model railroading (through me) we often share different ideas, and locomotives and railcars. In fact, all of the rolling stock and locomotives he owns (with the acception of a Santa Fe GP 20) is seccond-hand from me.

Note: I tried to get him to try to get into N scale, but he refused (the price-tag of the cheepest N scale locomotive at our local hobby shop was around $80.00, which is more than most of the HO scale locomotives in the shop, so the price drove him away)

[BerkshireSteam]

Did he look for a consignment shelf? My local train shop has one with some good finds. Couple weekends when I was in there there was (still) a Life Like GP38 in CSX for $20, I think Life Like (still there) Amtrak pack with a powered F40PH and an unpowered F40PH plus caboose for $25, and a new Kato DRGW heratige SD70ACe unit for $60. I really hope my friend gets a hold of his friend to buy my motorcylce so I can go pick up that UP heratige unit. There is also usually a smaller box full of N scale cars price from 3 to 4 bucks, thats where I got my Atlas whale body (33000 gal) tank car. A while back that little box was packed full of (little over a dozen) ACF and P-S covered hoppers that I really wanted but didn't have the money. They must have been bought, there was none last time I was there. One of these days I will have enough money to just pick up that little box of consignment N scale cars and set down at the cash register. Of course they always have HO stuff but some of their consignment HO is more expensive than what they have on the shelves, but I did get a Proto 2000 GP18 (SAL) for $30 and a Bachmann Plus B23-7 (ATSF) for 20 or 25. Both HO cars I got were around $10.

I love the consignment shelf

[the North East Rail Modeler]

Unfortunately, our local hobby shop doesn't have any type of consignment shelf. They do have a Bargain Box at their other location, but the last time I looked through there, it was all old, broken-down (and really broken) scenery stuff. Besides, that location is in the bad part of Jacksonville (I think there was a shooting in that area not too long ago)

One thing's for sure: I'm not going into Jacksonville any time soon, and I definately ain't going to drag my friend anywhere close to that area eather.

[cuyama]

tgindy

See the classic Highland Terminal Railroad on a 1'x6' in HO Scale.

This is actually Linn Westcott's Switchman's Nightmare design from 101 Trackplans. One of the few really buildable and realistic layouts from that book.

[cuyama]

the North East Rail Modeler

The scale that he wants is HO scale,

1X4 in HO scale is pretty constrained. Best bet is one of the Micro Layouts on Carl Arendt's fine site.

[mjones9678]

Try the new layout on the NMRA Gateway site:

 http://www.gatewaynmra.org/project15.htm

[the North East Rail Modeler]

I got good news: I just got a reply from my friend, and Yes he can expand the dementions to a 1x6 layout

[cthart]

cuyama

tgindy

See the classic Highland Terminal Railroad on a 1'x6' in HO Scale.

This is actually Linn Westcott's Switchman's Nightmare design from 101 Trackplans. One of the few really buildable and realistic layouts from that book.

For those interested in reading why, see Byron's blog posting on this design.