Layout Planning 3 - Operating Style

In Layout Design Process 4 - Railroad Modeling I identified that the layout design process can be broken down into three primary functional areas: Concept, Structure and Layout Detail.

Structure. Structure identifies the parameters within which the layout must be designed. It is broken down into two main elements: 3) resources available, and 4)  layout planning to build the railroad.

The third area of consideration in Layout Planning is Operating Style.

In my post Welcome to the Western Washington Short Line  I referred to my three phases of railroad modeling. As I look back at the numerous layouts that have been published and the ones I've actually built and operated I've noticed a couple of operating styles that influences the layout design process.

The Railfan

This operating style is based on the concept that the operator is a rail fan - a line side observer  - whose interest is primarily focused on watching a series of trains move past him at a particular point of time. He has no interest in where the train was or where its going. This permits three type of layout design:

• The oval with a single or double track main line with a yard or yards configured to hold and stage a variety of trains - passenger, freight, maintenance of way, etc - in either direction to the observer.
• A point to point main line with staging yards at both ends configured to hold and stage the trains.
• A figure 8 with yards or staging tracks where the crossing is a junction of two railroads.

The observer's location can be anywhere - a train station, depot, interlocking tower at a junction, even a railroad - road crossing and his operational focus is the next train on the employee timetable approaching his location. A large number of layout plans published in the model press in the 69-90's were rail fan oriented layouts.

The Engineer

This operating style is based on the concept that the operator wants to move the train from point A to point B -  starting in a yard, controlling the speed and obeying signals, meeting and passing other trains, and ending in another yard. Some local switching could occur based on the layout design.  As expected the engineers location is in the locomotive cab and his observational focus is forward - the next hill, curve, signal, station, etc.

Some of the designs of Allen, Armstrong and Wescott could be adapted to Engineer oriented layouts with selected tweaking of sidings and yards. Many of the layout plans published in the model press in the mid to late 90's  - early 2000's were Engineer oriented. The modular layout designs of clubs that show their modules at conventions, train shows etc are certainly Engineer oriented layout designs.

The Engineer/Brakeman

This operating system is based on the concept that the operator wants a greater degree of switching activity - moving the railroad car from point A to point B. The layout designs that promoted this operating system includes:

• Switching modules ala John Allen's timesaver.
• Lance Mindlein style industrial modules.
• Club sized yards involves switching cars into block order at local yards.
• Dave Barrows domino style layout designs.

This operating system gave rise to greater interest in car movement, and in particular, car card and waybill operations.  The conductor/brakeman's location is at the switch and his observational focus is the car and its movement to the car spot.

The Conductor/Engineer

What other operating system allows you the opportunity to climb off the locomotive, line the turnout, climb up on the car, ride it to the spot, tie down the brake, close the air line, pull the pin, wave the engineer off, mark the switch list, reline the turnout, climb back on the locomotive and then start all over again at a new industry spot?

This operating system is based on the concept that the operator wants to move the train from point A to point B -  controlling the speed and reacting to situations as they occur over the route - getting clearance and train orders, obeying speed limits and signals, meeting and passing other trains, reacting to weather and other operational situations imposed upon him by the scenario. As expected the engineers location is in the locomotive cab and his observational focus is forward - the next hill, curve, signal, station, etc.

This is the layout design espoused by Allen McClelland, Tony Koester and others in the model press early in the 90's but really taking off in the early 2000's thanks to the Layout Design SIG and Kalmbach publishing Model Railroad Planning and Great Model Railroads annual publications.

The WWSL Operating System. I had all three operating schemes in the layouts I built in prior years. While all provided a great deal of entertainment, it was my overwhelming preference to model a complete system influenced me greatly to implement the Conductor/Engineer operating system.

Layout Planning 1 and 2 - Space and Scale

In Layout Design Process 4 - Railroad Modeling I identified that the layout design process can be broken down into three primary functional areas: Concept, Structure and Layout Detail.

Structure. Structure identifies the parameters within which the layout must be designed. It is broken down into two main elements: 3) resources available to build the railroad, and 4) layout planning.

Under the element Layout Planning, the following areas are considered:

1. Space - the amount of space you have to dedicate to your layout.
2. Scale - the physical size of the locomotives, rolling stock and structures youre going to model.
3. Operating Style -
4. Shape - the shape of the layout.
5. People Oriented Parameters - specifications to be followed in the design of the laout.
6. Layout Oriented Parameters - specifications established through the layout concept process that will be used in the design of the layout.
7. Scenery - the type of scenery (including the absence of such) that will be incorporated in the layout.
8. Control - the electro-mechanical control of the locomotives, the turnouts and other facets of railaroad control as part of operating the layout.

Space

Scale 

The second area of consideration in Layout Planning is Scale. Scale of the railroad model is its relative size in proportion to the real thing.The model railroading hobby presently has 6 common scales. HO scale is the most popular, N scale is second in popularity. Space is a controlling factor with respect to scale only if the available space is so limited as to make an operating layout in such a space impractical.

I have been model railroading off and on for 50 years. I started with HO scale and have modeled and operated primarily in that scale. I have had the opportunity to operate N, HO, S and O scale layouts and I find that my personal preference continues to be HO scale. 

 

The next blog will discuss operating style in the layout planning process.

Resources 4 - Space

Over the years I've had the WWSL located in a spare bedroom in a bachelors officers quarters, a spacious attic, a large garage and most recently I bought a basement - with a house above it  - for the latest location of the WWSL. The layout started small and as fortune and space presented itself the layout grew.

Layouts are often found in garages, basements, spare bedrooms, family rooms, etc. It is humorously said that the layout location is often determined by the negotiating skills of the modeler with his significant other! 

I had a choice at this location. I had a two car garage and a basement. The garage is unheated and does not have a entry door either to the outside or to the house. Both are negatives when it comes to consideration of locating the layout. I did it with the WWSL version 2 and it was definitely a 2 season layout.

The basement is a grand 30' long by 25' wide. It has entry from inside the house and of course its heated and cooled.

 

 

 

 

Version 3.0

One square = 1 square foot

 

As basements go, its an ideal design for any large layout. The utilities (furnace and hot water heater) are located in the lower left hand corner. The stairs are at the lower right corner and the set tub, washer/dryer location and circuit breaker panel are at the center right wall. Two lally posts are located along the center line. This allows 3/4 of the basement to be used for the layout - and the other 1/4 is convenient for utilities and crew lounge/workshop. Minus the mechanical configuration of the basement (furnace, water heater, stairs and utility room area) the basement provides a footprint of some 575 square feet of space for railroad modeling.

Conveniently, its rectangular shape permitted the WWSL version 2 to 'drop' into it with no changes. The addition of 6' in length and 12' in width allows 8 additional modules for operational improvements, extended running, and greater scenic possibilities. A crew lounge and work area can be included in the final design.

Valence 3

In the last blog post I identified that I need some additional valences to hide the lighting bars along the peninsula. Specifically I identified the need for: 1) a 4 inch height valence added to the bottom of the end valence to hide 20 feet of light bar, and 2) a 8 inch valence attached parallel to the center beam.

I added 4 inches in depth to the end valence. This sufficiently hid the lights when looking straight down the peninsula. As it stands now there is annoying light bleed from sloppy measuring and cutting. At some point in the future i will replace this panel with a more correctly sized and cut piece. Suffice to say I'm temporarily tired of cutting panels.

The Upper Level

The 8 inch valence attached parallel to the center beam was an error on my part.  The upper module will not be open around the entire 180 degrees. The track goes through a tunnel at the outermost end of the module. This requires a backdrop similar to that on the rest of the upper peninsula.

I cut two luan panels to fit in preparation for constructing the peninsula modules. They solve the problem but now i have a visual issue with the end panel being observable from the side. I'm not sure whether to add some depth to the front valence at the left and and curve it into the correct height or paint the interior of the end panel black or sky blue. I'll try all three solutions and see what looks best.

 

Notice the electrical box on the upper right side of the picture. This was the power source for both the upper and lower peninsula deck lighting strings. I had some problems plugging the cords in and quickly realized that the hidden outlet box wasn't a good idea. Out came the box and its been reinstalled outside the valence and the cords are routed through a 2 inch hole in the valence.

The Lower Level

The lower module is open around the entire 180 degrees of the peninsula. From the observer's position, either standing or sitting, the light bar is not visible so no changes are necessary.