Since the Dirty and Dusty is downsizing and moving indoors I am looking for ideas.
The new Dirty and Dusty will still be in G scale. It will be about 4 x 15 feet. I figure it will be end-to-end. Any thoughts?
You can do a lot with small equipment. My indoor layout had LGB small curves and 0-4-0 type locos. (Porters, little diesels, etc.) And 2 axle cars.
I had less space than you and had yards, sidings and even buildings.
I kept most of it and I’m thinking of putting it back together and tearing out my super large backyard layout. At my age it’s too much work.
Doug,
Before getting to bring my outdoor layout into reality I was heavily considering my indoor. It is on hold but the idea still remains. I have worked up several potential layouts in the size you describe. Vic is really inspirational on what can be done in small areas (really small) taking his ideas to a grand scale will make for a cool indoor road. Sean also built a nice table logging road. It shows what can be done with small equipment. Forget the rules about curves and grades. With small equipment and shorts three or four car trains, I believe a lot can be done in that size.
You can do a lot on a small layout using Hartland Locomotive Works engines and cars.
Great running, inexpensive, and will give you plenty of options.
I agree with the small equipment short train ideas.
My Christmas tree setup for example is built using a 4’ diameter circle with an oval extension from that and 3 sidings. It all fits into a roughly 4x8 area with a “L” for one siding that is about 8 feet long.
It all depends on what type of “training” you like to do. I like point to point but it sure is nice to let a train just run round. You could have a large loop with switching in the middle or a dogbone.
If you are up against a wall it would really be neat to build a switchback. along it and the end would come out on top of a mountain over one end of the oval and that could be your logging camp, mining operation, quarry, distillery or even a tourist destination look out point.
I think with some planning you can fit a lot of fun in that 4x15 area.
4 X 15 ft would be just about right for a Timesaver Switch puzzle, as Ken suggested puzzles… Or, like they all said earlier, small engines and cars, and a shelf switching layout…
People older than me, have often commented on what to do, as you approach, and pass your “Best before date”, and you have a large railroad.
It is great if you are fortunate enough to have a great crew helping you, but there will always come a time to start winding down. This doesn’t mean “Pulling the plug”. Life can still go on, if you are still enjoying the journey.
A small switching railroad, for some, may be the answer, if you have any room in the condo, warehouse (Nursing home/retirement home…same difference) to place it. Few places do, or care about your hobby needs.
There are some who thrive on large layouts, and operations, but there will always be a point where it is impossible to maintain one.
I plan on giving my railroad away to the people who have been my friends and crew members over the years; those that will use the equipment, for theirs, and friends enjoyment; and hoping they won’t just sell it off for profit…but then, I’ll be dead and buried, and it won’t be my problem, and what family I have, aren’t interested in it.
Until then…“Let the OPERATIONS continue”…!!!
Fred Mills
I think it will be fun putting the indoor layout together. I have a few small engines, including the HLW, and plan to add a few more.
I am looking at the switching yard that was at Laws on the Carson and Colorado. I have also always enjoyed Vic’s pizza layouts and will pick his brain as things progress.
Taking the layout down is a major project. I have about 50 feet of track up and that is only one curve!
Andy Clarke said:
4 X 15 ft would be just about right for a Timesaver Switch puzzle, as Ken suggested puzzles… Or, like they all said earlier, small engines and cars, and a shelf switching layout…
It would also be just about right for an Amtrak washing facility .
Don’t forget “up”. It can be 4x15x7ft. How many switchbacks can you build to get from a comfortable 3ft base up to the ceiling?
Rocky Canyonero said:
Don’t forget “up”. It can be 4x15x7ft. How many switchbacks can you build to get from a comfortable 3ft base up to the ceiling?
I looked at doing a 36" wide X12’ dog bone folded onto itself with about a 4% grade and in doing that gave I think 10" of clearance on the end where the reversing loops were stacked on one another. It was about 30’ of track and on the bottom level I wedged in a time saver yard that would use very short cars like the HLW cars. Using flop switches on the reversing loops it would give you continuous running and then a little bit of operations with the time savor. The 36" allows for creative placement of 30" dia curve reversing loops stacked on one another. The HLW or Bachmann Lil haulers and cars will run on that.
once you realize that the stuff will run in very tight spaces the possibilities become endless.
I will pass on the advice I was given when planning my indoor expansion last winter: Build the bench work that fits the space, then play around with track until you get whet you like. If you would rather decide on track before benches than use the floor and draw out bench borders with masking tape. Worked for me…
If you use R1 curves, they need a little more than 4 foot for clearance on the half circle.
I run the HLW Mack on a 29 inch diameter circle as well as a bashed USA motor block bashed to a mining mule. The LGB Frr cars and HLW kit cars run well on this RR as well as the toytrain shorties by LGB.
So for a 4 foot width one can easily run these on a custom bent 42 inch diameter .
Remember track curves are measured for center to center measurements so the 1200mm (47 3/8 inch) is more like 51 inches when measuring form the outside ties.
I have a small trolley, two Eggliners and the Mack that will find a home on the layout. I may also buy a 0-4-0T. I have a few of the HLW shorties and may buy some more to kitbash I wonder if I can build something for the Challenge that will fit in?.
Doug Arnold said:
I have a small trolley, two Eggliners and the Mack that will find a home on the layout. I may also buy a 0-4-0T. I have a few of the HLW shorties and may buy some more to kitbash I wonder if I can build something for the Challenge that will fit in?.
I bet you can, everything we’ve been given, as far as I know, could be scaled up or down.
Dave was found according to Johnny P, so get started on yer layout(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif).
Here’s one shot of a Timesaver I did on a door. Before buildings. All 2 axle cars.
Maybe it doesn’t look like much, but it keeps me entertained.
Lou Luczu said: … but it keeps me entertained.
That’s the important part!
While most of these are in the usual indoor scales there are some G, and they all can inspire ideas.
When did the site start, and why?
From the Introduction to my first book, 52 Micro Layouts You Can Build (2002):
“[In early 2001] I launched a project to see how small a model railroad layout could shrink and still be fun to operate. I designed and built the Squarefoot Estate Railway, a working G scale line in less than one square foot. I described it on the Internet and began to hear from people who also wanted to try their hands at building an ultra-small operating layout. Interest snowballed almost immediately.
“We dubbed them ‘micro layouts,’ and I started adding examples — both my own and other peoples’ — to my website [in January 2002]. I reckoned there would be maybe 10 or 15 layout possibilities in these extremely small sizes. I was astounded when the total collection passed 25 … then 50 … 75 … and grew beyond 100 different layouts! It’s still growing, and I’m still amazed and delighted at the ingenuity and imagination of model railroaders worldwide.”
I am thinking I will combine the indoor layout with a Timesaver. I also decided today that it will also have a small turntable. Why? About five years ago I bought a kit to put one together on the big layout and never did it. A small gallows turntable will find a home on the layout!
Doug Arnold said:
I am thinking I will combine the indoor layout with a Timesaver. I also decided today that it will also have a small turntable. Why? About five years ago I bought a kit to put one together on the big layout and never did it. A small gallows turntable will find a home on the layout!
Use a loco with a cowcatcher instead of a coupler up front and a spin on the table becomes part of a switching move …(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)