Model Railroading > My Temporary Layout

I'm planning on making a modular layout.  I only plan on being in Northern CA for the next 3.5 years, but I need layout to tide me over until I can make a big one.  I do not plan on taking this layout with me when I leave.  I'm looking at approximately 7'x14' feet modular layout.  The outside track (#1) will have a small incline and a be a mountain scene.  The inner track (#2) will be flat and have roughly a 26" radius, the #1 track will have between a 30"-40" radius. This layout will be DCC.  Does anyone have any do/don't recommendations for modular layouts?  Attached is a very rough layout which is not to scale. Any opinions on the layout or changing the layout design are welcome.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/24/26 10:29 by FishinJeeper.

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Why are you making it modular if you don't plan to take it with you? Seems like some extra work. 
I'd say you did a fairly good job of keeping switches off of the module joints, that's good. 
Suggestions... I would get rid of that industry cluster in the center pop up and just make it one large aisle. This is similar
to what I did as a kid. Next, its there any way you can add an extension off one corner making the layout L shaped? If
you can, and it's fairly long (6+ feet) and maybe put your main yard, or industry cluster over there. I am afraid you 
may be a little generous with the number of switches you can fit into the yard where you have it. If you have to stay
with this space as is, maybe just add the switches to the yard off the main, but don't layout the yard, till you have some
track (0r templates) in hand to put on the layout surface. You remind me of me trying to get all that operation in there.
Best of luck.

Thanks for the input.  I plan on building this layout in my garage over the sping and summer, but it could be moved into the living room in the winter so it’s not soo cold.  The other reason for the modular is that I plan on either selling this layout or donating to a club when I move.

I'm not sure I will have enough room for an L shape unless I build it only in the garage.  I have not thought about an L shaped layout. The center was an afterthought.  I do agree that I think it might be a little much to have the center section.  I appreciate your input and ideas.
 

What sort of rolling stock and era do you want to operate?

BN and WP around 1970-1975.

FishinJeeper Wrote:
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> BN and WP around 1970-1975.

Cool! Of course the Bieber Gateway comes to mind, but I gather than it was not located in the town. It was at a place called Nubieber, a pretty sparse area, a little southwest of Bieber. I found one person's Flickr photo stream that had a few interesting photos:

Bieber, CA | Bieber, Califronia is a rather out of the way r… | Flickr

I wonder what sort of run-through operations BN and WP had through Bieber during your era?

**** edit

I found this thread with some circa 1980 images:

Wobbly at Nubieber, CA, c1980
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/24/26 13:17 by ts1457.

You have put a lot of model railroad in a comparatively small area. Suggest that you get a large piece of hard paper stock and draw your plan out in scale. I used the scale 1 inch equals 1 foot. use pencil since you're going to be erasing a lot. You will quickly find what will fit and what won't. You will save yourself a lot of work and disappointment if you use this method. When things did not quite fit for me, I used curved switches, which has proven right over time.

The laws of physics will enforce and lapses in realistic layout of turnouts; to me it appears you do not have enough lead length on many of your turnouts.
This is especially true where you have a diverging turnout at the end of a curve with no room for the stock rails and points.
You can download turnout templates from Atlas or PECO to print out for a good start.  PECO curved turnouts can save you some space, I have used them.

Agree with lots of length needed for the yard ladder switches. Also suggest a second cross-over to return from the outside to the inside loop. That could also work out as a run around track for everyday yard work or industries.

Also agree that the no scale sketch is very deceptive, doing some closer to scale drawings would save a lot of grief. But using a single line for the rail and roadbed is also deceiving. The spacing between yard tracks is one of those kinda things. At some point buy the hardware and put a switch ladder together and see what you've got.

The early edition of ' Track Planning for Realistic Operation ' by John Armstrong  gave me an idea of how to's and don't do's, including drawings, switch dimensions, operations and industries. But at some point you have to actually build something and it's a lot more fun.

hth,

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/24/26 15:31 by TCnR.

Agree with the others with the plan being track heavy. However, if this is just a temporary, deposable project, I don't know if I'd get overly wrapped up in planning rather then the building process itself because that's were all your really valuable lessons are going to occur. Those lessons are what will shape and make your "real" layout so much better. But planning can be fun too, and will be very important in your next layout so do what you think you'll enjoy. Three and a half years will go quickly.

ChrisCampi Wrote:
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> Agree with the others with the plan being track
> heavy. However, if this is just a temporary,
> deposable project, I don't know if I'd get overly
> wrapped up in planning rather then the building
> process itself because that's were all your really
> valuable lessons are going to occur. Those lessons
> are what will shape and make your "real" layout so
> much better. But planning can be fun too, and will
> be very important in your next layout so do what
> you think you'll enjoy. Three and a half years
> will go quickly.

Good advice and I also recommend the Armstrong book reference in the previous post.

You might want to check out Free-mo and see if a group is in your area:

What is Free-mo? - Free-mo

Facebook also has a group devoted to Free-mo:

Free-mo Model Railroading | Facebook

I'd build the straight modules to Free-mo standards so that you could participate in meets and probably find someone to help you. It be a great way to get to know some other modelers.

Think of what could be done in that space if you bilt in N scale.  And you might try Kato track, as its pretty clear you are not real experienced in planning.. That you could take with you!
RB

Re: Bieber/Nubieber, Bieber is the older and longer established town. The railroad missed the town of Bieber when built, but that didn’t stop the railroad from calling their town Bieber as well. Has led to a bit of confusion as railroad Bieber sits in what is otherwise known as Nubieber on highway signs and map.

Jeff Moore
Elko, NV

Posted from iPhone

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate everyones advice and input. This layout isn't really based on anything specific, just something to run on and have fun with. My next layout will be based on the Hiline (keddie to Kalmmath Falls), which will include part of the McCloud RR.

As a kid and into my 20's, is was very heavy into modeling, but I got out of for the past 15 years or so. Now that my son is getting older and finding his own way, I have time again (although I would give up all my models to still be a full-time dad).

Snap track is an interesting idea, but I have always enjoyed the ease of flex track.

I do have a bunch of graph paper and I'll make a better diagram for everyone (and myself). I'm hoping to spend the weekend of May 16th making the tables for the layout.

The modular standards website is really neat, however that may change my plans a bit. One of the "odd" things about this modular layout is that it will be about 4 feet off the ground which is a bit high for a lot of people. When I was 27, I broke my back in a industrial work accident and at one time I was partially paralyzed (after many surgeries, I can walk again but occasionally use a cane), so having a table thats requires less bending is ideal. I will post more photos and keep everyone updated on my learning curve as I get back into the hobby.

Thanks again for all the advice. I really appreciate everyone's idea's and opinions.

Posted from Android



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/25/26 11:40 by FishinJeeper.

Does the BN / WP / McCloud theme suggest one loop as the BN / WP main with the other loop the McCloud?
 

Burney, not to nitpick but you have way to much yard planned for 8 feet. Your ladder tracks alone are going to eat up most of the realestate in your 8 foot section. I allow one foot per turnout. You can shave a little off for a #5 but its still a guidline. I do recommend the Armstrong book, it will give a more complete look at space requirements.

inyosub Wrote:
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> Suggestions... I would get rid of that industry
> cluster in the center pop up and just make it one
> large aisle.

I second this recommendation.  You'll be frustrated constantly ducking back and forth.

Thanks for everyones input, I really appreciate it.  Here is the new drawing, this one is a bit more to scale.  I decided that I have enough room to have a 4x8 off to the side which will include the yard.   Only the #1 will be elevated for a small portion on a 3% grade. I used to work in the timber industry, so I like having mills and a logging scene. 

TCnR, I'm not quite sure how that layout design will work.  An option would be to have a shelf layout with the upper level being Hiline and the lower being McCloud.  I plan on modeling the yard in Lookout, down to Hambone/Bartle, the old mill in Pondosa that burned down, coming down to Harlow's Place, Ditch Creek, Lake Britton, and terminating in Burney.  I would also like to model the RR that served the Burney mills that goes through Goose Valley.  

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I had a temporary layout for a few years, no scenery, just brown paint.  I used Kato Unitrak and it worked out very well, even with DCC.  Easy to sell/donate/etc once you're done with it.  My layout size was similar to your 2nd drawing and we had a 2 track mainline with a few small yards and had a ball of a time.
I liked it for those non-committal lessons-learned in track planning.  Plus you were up and running super quickly.
 

This is the layout so far.  I did make it much taller than most layouts due to my back problems. I do plan on changing from the NCE Power Cab to the NCE Power Pro System. 

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