Started building my first switching layout... sort of...

[BestSnowman]

After a long busy summer (new baby boy, new job, and woodworking* as a second hobby) I finally got around to doing something with my layout... tearing it up.

A while ago CNE Runner got me intrigued about switching layouts and since I'm likely to be moving and won't have much room for my 4x8 I decided to take some of my DM&IR ore cars (since they are short) and build an Inglebrook Sidings layout (http://www.wymann.info/ShuntingPuzzles/Inglenook/inglenook-rules.html). For those interested in how you operate such a layout see this: http://www.precisionlabels.com/shunt/jpage330.html

Right now I have left over track from my 4x8 roughing it out but I plan to lay reduce down my 4x8 table and hand lay the track.

* Turns out woodworking is a great hobby that can be used to acquire tools if the project you are building is something your wife wants

[jonathan]

Matt,

Congratulations on your new son!

Just an opinion, but I think a small switching layout is a good idea when space is an issue.  The beauty of it is you can add a small switching layout to a larger layout when time, money, and space all come together.

Hope you post a few pics when you make progress.

Regards,

Jonathan

[BestSnowman]

I will definitely post pictures when I have some decent ones, right now its just some flex and switches on a 4x8 table with a mess of ripped up track.

My current intentions are to build it up as if it could be tied in to a larger layout in the future but if that never happens it is still an operational diorama. My choice came down to potentially ending up spending 5-10 years without any layout due to space and budget or do something small that I could operate and use to fine tune and test rolling stock and locomotives.

Plus I got hooked on the precision labels web version of the puzzle

Congratulations on your new son!

Thanks, he's doing really well (Jacob, 2 months) and his older brother (Luke, 4) is very proud of his little brother and can't wait till he's big enough to play. Between Luke and myself it shouldn't take him long to jump on the train bandwagon.

[jward]

if you are serious about handlaying your track:

http://www.handlaidtrack.com

this site has a line of jigs that simplify building track, especially switches. building curved and straight track is fairly easy. you can do that with an nmra guage, one or two kadee 3 point guages, and a pair of pliers to drive the spikes. you'll also want a surface like pine that is hard enough to hold the spikes, yet soft enough that you won't destroy them trying to drive them. beileve me, from experience, plywood ot too hard, and homasote, too soft.

good luck. i think you'll like the result.

[BestSnowman]

I was actually planning on using Fast Tracks jigs, I figured when I build a big layout building my own switches would save a bunch of money to hand lay.

[BestSnowman]

I've got a track plan roughed out, I haven't adjusted it for clearances yet but you can get the general feel of it.

http://cid-811d1df10b2b3e61.photos.live.com/self.aspx/Switching%20Layout/ho%20inglebrook.png

The lead track (left side) is big enough to accomodate a SD38-2 (my biggest DM&IR motive) and three ore/taconite cars. The bottom right siding will hold 5, the two above it 3 each, and the siding will hold at least 5.

Across the top will be the "mainline" which will mostly just be part of the scene (but could become operational if/when I have the opportunity to expand, hence the switch). The square box (yard office) and the road (black line across both the main and the yard lead) are based on a small UP yard not far from where I live.

[CNE Runner]

Bestsnowman - Thanks for the mention. It sounds like you are well on your way to building a super Inglenook layout. I will assume you have already 'poured over' Carl Arendt's website for ideas and other choices? If you are interested in switching layouts, Jack Trollope designs some really interesting ones...in very small spaces. My Sweet Haven section (really an add-on to the Monks' Island Brewery) was from his fertile mind.

If you are an 'Inglenook Affectionato' you will want to visit the following website for additional ideas. I also recommend 'Googling' Inglenook for additional websites.

http://www.wymann.info/ShuntingPuzzles/

All our best and please keep us informed of your progress.

Ray

Carl Arendt's website is located at http://www.carendt.com/index.html

[BestSnowman]

Well I have to mention you since you are responsible When you started your Monks layout it go the idea of building a switching layout noodling around in my head which eventually got me started on this project.

I choose the inglenook (keep incorrectly referring to it as inglebrook) because it was small, was easily adjustible on dimensions, and could easily accomodate my large motive power (not to mention DM&IR SW9s are difficult to find models).

I'm getting close to getting some pictures with the track I have on hand (though it will over time be replaced with handlaid track), just need to trim it to the appropriate lengths and clear off the table.

[BestSnowman]

I don't have any layout pictures left per-se, but while I was doing some track maintenance (I'm using left over track until I get to hand laying track I decided to take some small scraps of rail and try to make a bumper. It's not really based on any prototype, its basically just a offset tripod.

While it doesn't look as good as a model hayes bumper, it didn't cost me anything:
http://cid-811d1df10b2b3e61.photos.live.com/self.aspx/Switching%20Layout/IMG^_2395.jpg
http://cid-811d1df10b2b3e61.photos.live.com/self.aspx/Switching%20Layout/IMG^_2396.jpg

I've also started a blog that I intend to update more frequently with updates to the layout at http://bestsnowman.wordpress.com

[BestSnowman]

Pictures finally, I've adjusted the track plan a little bit to fit my difco side dump cars in the compressed inglenook (instead of 3/3/5 for the sidings 2/2/3).

http://cid-811d1df10b2b3e61.photos.live.com/self.aspx/Switching%20Layout/IMG^_2399.jpg
http://cid-811d1df10b2b3e61.photos.live.com/self.aspx/Switching%20Layout/IMG^_2400.jpg

The mainline on the left in the first picture isn't actually accessible for now so it's primarily going to be storage for extra cars/scenery. Once I trim down the train table from 4x8 to fit the layout I'm thinking I'll add a removable track lead to tranfer cars on and off the "mainline".

[Doneldon]

BS-

The 1:1 railroads had all kinds of homemade bumpers, ordinarily utilizing whatever scrap parts they had on hand.  (Does that sound at all like model railroading?)  So you can freelance your bumpers any way you want, from a pile of rocks dumped on the end of the track to a scale bumper with a light (which the real ones rarely had but of course model bumpers cost more when the track manufacturer puts  light in).  The trick to making your bumpers look real and official, whether protypical or not, is to use one consistent design.  If you have a pile of rocks at the end of every siding it will look perfectly natural.
                                                                                                                                                                 -- D