Category: Layout Planning

Education, German Railways, Layout PlanningLeave a comment

Guide to German Railways Operation and Signalling Principles

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For those who are looking for German railways operation and signalling principles especially in English, I highly recommended the following: Source: Mark Vogel (Flickr.com) Dr. Joern Pachl wrote an excellent document on the German railway operation principles (PDF), explaining in detail how the German system works compared to Anglo-Saxon’s. Wolfgang Meyenberg did an excellent job on documenting and explaining the various German railways signal principles from last 2 centuries as well as the latest practices. I hope both references will be useful to you in building a close to prototype railway operations on your model layout. Continue reading Guide to German Railways Operation and Signalling Principles

Benchwork, Layout Construction, Layout Planning, Planning Book2 Comments

Build #10: Staging Yard

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I have now reached the staging yard, one of the critical part of my layout, after months of weekend construction. This yard is important, although it would be hidden, as it would consist of 6 tracks – 3 per direction – and hold low priority trains. The initial plan was 7 tracks but I decided to forego this track for cost consideration. Just like a real railroad, any track extension involves cost and whether it is economically viable to do so. Furthermore, the tight radius at first track resulted in me pushing the positions of all 6 tracks further up … Continue reading Build #10: Staging Yard

Benchwork, Layout Construction, Layout Planning, Planning Book4 Comments

Build #08: Heading Towards the First Milestone

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For the last 2 weeks, I had not been seriously working on my layout, for the fact that I had other personal commitments to attend to. During their period, I allowed my layout to “take a rest” and “absorb some sun and humidity”. I think it is important to allow the wood to so-call “breath and adjust to the new environment”. As my friend and fellow N-scale modeller from UK said “that once you have cut your wood I wouldn’t leave it unsupported or leaning on anything. Try and keep it on as flat a surface as you can. Wood has … Continue reading Build #08: Heading Towards the First Milestone

Benchwork, Layout Construction, Layout Planning, Planning BookLeave a comment

Improving Gradients

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I read in many forums as well as from various modular standards such as FREMO, Ntrak, etc., it was uncommon to have multi-levels. In fact, gradients were typically kept to minimal (please correct me if I erred). Ntrak did specify a “mountain division” track . On the other hand, segmented layout is actually a layout broken up into many equal or unequal sections without common end-profiles that allow for interchangeability. In essence, this is what my layout germaN160 is. I have in total 8 modules – 6 standard modules and 2 end modules. Each module supports 2 levels. My challenge … Continue reading Improving Gradients

Layout Construction, Layout Planning, Planning BookLeave a comment

Build #07: Flex Tracks as Planning Tool

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In my previous post – Build #06 Track Laying Visualisation – I started working on the track laying for 2 segments, or to be exact, marking the lines for the tracks. This might should overboard or too much planning but I liked the overall process of the hobby. The hobby is not just about collecting trains and running them in circles or whatever configurations. As I build my layout, I am also learning more about railway operations and how for example tracks were laid and why they were laid in certain ways. I do some research and talk to modellers … Continue reading Build #07: Flex Tracks as Planning Tool

German Railways, Layout Planning, Planning Book4 Comments

Best Practices for Model Platform Constructions

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The Federal Association of German Railway Friends (Bundesverband Deutscher Eisenbahn – Freunde e.V.) published best practices as guidelines for modellers of German railways. These best practices are not part of the the MOROP NEM standards; thus, modellers are not obligated to adopt them. Having said that, I read through their best practices and would adopt them on my layout. In particular, this best practice on platform and ramp constructions took into account the existing NEM 102 loading gauges/clearances. Additional clearances were recommended for platforms located at curves (NEM 103). Not all platforms are the same. Depending on its purposes and … Continue reading Best Practices for Model Platform Constructions

Benchwork, German Railways, Layout Construction, Layout Planning, Planning BookLeave a comment

Concept Development: S-Bahn Underground Station

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I am pretty satisfied with the results of the track laying visualisation. I made some adjustments to the track positions to ensure I have some buffer space between adjacent tracks. 4 of the 6 tracks would be elevated starting from the end of Segment A-H; thus, I made sure that I have some buffer when I saw them – I am using cookie cutter method, whereby you cut and lift a portion of the roadbed for elevation. One of the major adjustments was the tracks leading to the proposed S-Bahn underground station. This station could hold up to 3 coaches per track and with tighter than expected radius. … Continue reading Concept Development: S-Bahn Underground Station

Benchwork, Layout Construction, Layout Planning, Planning BookLeave a comment

Build #06: Track Laying Visualisation

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We had good weather this weekend in Frankfurt. So it was worthwhile to go out and enjoyed the sun for one day. Strictly no construction. I was sure my neighbours enjoyed the peace and quiet Saturday that they did not have for 3 weekends. Despite no sawing and hammering, work still goes on in germaN160. In fact, it was back to the drawing board. I took out my track plans and examined the track arrangements and configurations at Segment A and its adjacent Segment H. I am now working on the bottom level aka Ground Minus 1, which is 110cm … Continue reading Build #06: Track Laying Visualisation

Layout Construction, Layout Planning, Planning Book2 Comments

Standards on germaN160

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While waiting for the weekend to come and my second batch of plywoods (order sent), I decided to put down on print the standards that I am adopting on my layout – both as a reference for myself and for those who would like to adopt some forms of standards. I am following the recommendations from NEM as well as the best practices (after consulting many expert modellers in both HO- and N-scale). You might be wondering why all the fuss over conforming to some standards and take the fun off model railroading. Well, better to take the fun off now … Continue reading Standards on germaN160

Benchwork, Layout Construction, Layout Planning, Planning Book3 Comments

Build #02: Lots of Measuring and Cutting for Module Parts

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This year’s weather was rather unusual. It was a relatively “warm” winter, between 5C and 12C, and occasional shower. The last 2 weekends were wet; thus, disrupting my plan to work outdoor. I do not have a proper workshop (note to self: make sure there is a small room for workshop when looking for new house) so I have to be satisfied with a makeshift workshop under 5C. In 3 hours, I managed to measure and saw module parts for Segment F, G and H and base for Segment A. This was my second time using Dremel DSM20, still more … Continue reading Build #02: Lots of Measuring and Cutting for Module Parts