Hello people,
prompted by a friend who has recently relocated (and dismantled his layout), I made for him some proposals for modules in the area he had allocated after the discussion with his wife.
The area allocated to him was 240cm*170cm. I used for the designs the XtrkCAD program, under Linux, and used sectional K-track everywhere (only in an occassion I used flextrack).
I made at first a proposal using continuous operation ideas, in one level.
This was one of my first proposals:
One of the semicircles can also accomodate FREMO module connections with other layouts.
When you join back-to-back the basic modules, you can have an adequate small passenger station. When configured as a loop, the top mainline module is used as a mini staging yard.
A refinement of the design led to the following variation (streamlining a bit, somewhat longer passing siding). Also, I added an adaptor module for joining to single-track FREMO modules.
- I used a 30cm diameter turntable in module B, so you can reverse a locomotive on an arriving train in the passenger station (module A) without any switches/turnouts.
This turntable can be also used an an entrance to a locomotive depot/rotunda. This is designed so it can be attached to FREMO modules from all sides.
- the 'big' semicircle (radius 424mm, modules G-H) connects the two layout edges, while at the same time it permits through traffic from other FREMO modules (vertical axis). Under the straight line in G module exists a small river, that necessitates a small bridge (= scenery opportunity!)
- The modules E/F are staging yard (from here start trains destined for the passenger station -module A- or the industrial area).
- The industrial area is our switching layout part, with a river along it (opportunity to add 1-2 small boats). There are two ways of reaching it: either via module A (diagonal track) or via the FREMO-compatible connections (left or right)
In total, the 'packed' version can be connected with other FREMO modules at five different points for through traffic.
If we 'unfold' the modules, a sample arrangement is shown at the top area of the image below (you can put everything in one axis, giving you a HUGE linear layout that can accomodate branch traffic as well)
In this 'unfolded' version, I have turned the modules E and F 180 degrees (you can also make 1-2 extra F-type modules for extra expansion of the passenger station).
The industrial 'customers' at modules C/D were moved to a branch line, as I did with the turntable as well. Or you could plug the C/D modules in reverse (I designed it in a way that you can plug it in a FREMO layout).
In the example below, you can plug other FREMO modules in four different places, accomodating through or branch traffic.
And see our weekend's opus: