Puddlejumper's Inglenook

Thanks to Jesso over on the "N" scale forum for the inspiration... today I built an Inglenook Sidings based switching layout. It is 1'x6' and is measured for 34' cars with a 0-6-0 and tender. The 3rd pic shows my setup for the power pack, a phono jack, one on either side of the module, so I (or guests) can operate the game from the front or the back to allow viewers to watch. Scenery to come.
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nkp174

Active Member
Your module appears to be very nicely constructed! Do you have plans to take this to a few shows?
 
Thanks NKP. Being only 1' wide I have made no provision for legs to be added to stand alone, I will just set it on a large enough table to operate it. The original intent for this layout is to take to local meetings with my train group. We have been meeting for the better part of a year and can't seem to make any decisions, including the name of the group. Everybody has been a member of past groups where there were too many rules and so now everybody in the new group is too afraid to make decisions and keeps using the too many rules as an excuse.

I hope this layout will get some creative juices flowing when I take it to the next meeting, and maybe we can decide on a goal and start actually doing something.

I would most definitely take it to a show once it's done if I can figure out how to get it registered for the event, and let others operate it.

Dave
 

Russ Bellinis

Active Member
An easy way to have temporary legs for it is to get a couple of folding saw horses, or buy a 4 of the folding saw horse brackets from the home center and some 2 x 4 lumber for legs and cross pieces.
 

60103

Pooh Bah
We had compliments from a fellow because ours was the only layout at a show that his son could see. We just put ours on a folding table.
 

jesso

Member
Looks good:thumb:

Nice idea on using the phono jacks for power to both sides.
I put little foot pads on my box so that it can be put onto tables without scratching them and put on some extra pads in the middle just in case I am on a narrow table so that it won't rock.

Can't wait to see more!
 

TinGoat

Ignorant know it all
Train Group / Club

The original intent for this layout is to take to local meetings with my train group. We have been meeting for the better part of a year and can't seem to make any decisions, including the name of the group. Everybody has been a member of past groups where there were too many rules and so now everybody in the new group is too afraid to make decisions and keeps using the too many rules as an excuse.

I hope this layout will get some creative juices flowing when I take it to the next meeting, and maybe we can decide on a goal and start actually doing something.

Dave

Hi Dave,

Some suggestions to get your group going.

Someone needs to step up and take a leadership role. It looks like you are the guy to do it.

Lay out some basic ground rules and a plan and then stick to your guns. Have them follow or drop out to go their own way.

It's no fun just sitting around and spinning your wheels.

A Club would suggest renting or buying a facility and building a permanent empire railroad.

Have everyone do a "Givens and Druthers" list to decide Theme, Era, Prototype and operations orientation (Switching or Continuous running) etc...

Along with your choice of scale and gauge.

See what comes up most often and have a vote.

This way you can find out if you are all on the same page.

For a lower level of commitment, you could decide to go modular and then you don't have to worry about a permenant location.

With modules, you can set up at local train shows and meets. Or else you can rent a hall once or twice a year for set-ups.

I belong to the Narrow Gauge Madness Gang. We all do different things. We get together a couple of times each year.

We bring mini/micro layouts and other models for show and tell.

We also participate with our show and tell at a couple of local train shows each year.

Once a year we rent a hall and have a narrow gauge only train show for the public.

Just some ideas for you to get your group going. announce1

Good Luck. :thumb:
 

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tetters

Rail Spiking Fool!
Question about your project PJ.

How does it work? I mean what is the objective of the game?
 

jesso

Member
tetters,
I can answer that! :) You have three parking tracks, with eight cars on the tracks. You have to make up a five-car train on the longest siding putting the cars in some predetermined order (I get my order by pulling chips out of a bag) The length of the track is limited so that you can only pull three cars at a time. It has been really fun and it shows different types of people, some think the whole thing out before they start and others just start moving cars right from beginning.
 

60103

Pooh Bah
Another form of club is for a bunch of guys to work on one guy's layout. or a couple of "one guy's layouts". It cuts down on some of the expense of renting/buying property, but the one guy gets stuck with the major expenses; he does end up with a layout.
It can be anything from "visiting operators" to a full involvement. The one I'm with now is a once-a-month operating session and the owner does construction/maintenance in between. But there is always a lot of discussion from the group on improvements or problems. Or you can have club members contribute their skills in areas where the owner is lacking, or just have teaching and practice sessions.
 
Looks good:thumb:

Nice idea on using the phono jacks for power to both sides.
I put little foot pads on my box so that it can be put onto tables without scratching them and put on some extra pads in the middle just in case I am on a narrow table so that it won't rock.

Can't wait to see more!

Thanks for the inspiration Jesso! I had always thought that a shelf layout with 3 tracks, which is all I have room for right now, would be B-O-R-I-N-G but the Inglenook game is neat because it gives you an objective to reach. You are not just driving back and forth for no reason. I am using a very similar approach to what you used as far as putting colored tokens in a bag and drawing them one at a time to determine the order. I will also be fully scenicking and using the layout as a test track.

Tetters: Jesso already explained the premice behind the layout but the real objective is to get OTHER people to operate the layout and create interest. I only wish I could afford some jigs so I could practice handlaying the track as you sir have done. I hope to see some more work from you soon.

Tin Goat: Thanks for the tips. It appears that we are going to (maybe) go the modular route. We have talked about adopting the FCSME modular standards (Four County Society of Model Engineers) but nobody wants to make the decision or call for the vote. It is hard to do when your group can't even decide on a name. At the last meeting I did kind of take control and I don't know how many people did or did not like that but like you said a group that does nothing but spin it's wheels is no fun. I do know that with this group of people a club layout is a definite no. Hopefully we will decide on some standards soon, and maybe start a Round-Robin style of group where you meet at each others houses and operate each other's layouts like 60103 stated. All I know is I had to do something, and now I have my own piece of 1'x6' real estate I can operate on, and have fun, and share the fun with others.

Sorry so long-winded guys!!!:mrgreen: :mrgreen:

dave
 
Here are some updated pics. I have a bunch of cabin cars but not many freight cars so for now I am using what I have. The goal is to have each color be a different style of car, aka orange cabin, green passenger, grey covered hopper, brown open hopper, yellow boxcar, red TOFC car, black tank car, etc. all shortened if need be to meet the 34' guideline. The shortened cars look neat!

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I am particularly proud of my concrete dock, made from balsa wood. Comments or criticism welcome.


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I painted all the rails, tie plates, and ties individually. Very tedious but worth the effort. I took this photo after ballasting but before it dried so all the little stones stuck to the rails in the pics will be gone after it dries and I get in there to clean it up.

Dave
 
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