The track plan in individual pictures:
A modular model railroad layout based on the us model. Set in the green west of the USA. The double track main line is operated by the Union-Pacific Railroad. The scenery could be set in IOWA, for example. Fictitious places are the small Lotzburgh with its agricultural county and Dakota-City, which with its administrations and factories provides jobs for the surrounding area. Union Pacific is still a major employer in the region with its railroad facilities and rail yard.
We started building the layout at the beginning of 2008. The woodwork for the modules was made by our "club carpenter" Rico Kaddatz. The frames of the modules are made of plywood 19/2.0 cm. The top panels are 1 cm thick. The frames are mortised and glued. The cover plates are screwed on. In the headers of the modules are standardized holes for the screw connections of the modules among themselves. Two additional holes are provided for sliding bolts, which immediately bring the modules to the same height when they are inserted. In addition, an opening for the passage of the cables. Thin aluminum plates are used in the side panels. Here the toggle switches for the switches etc., which are to be set analog on site, are attached. Each module is stiffened from below by two sturdy metal brackets. Power is supplied (analog for turnout control etc./digital for driving) via separate ring lines with luster terminals (normal three-wire electric cables). The locomotive is driven with an Ecos incl. two boosters and ESU radio hand controllers.
The modules:
- Turning module: 100x100cm. Adapted to the track curve. 2 turning modules make the turning head (meanwhile the two modules are combined to one with 100x200cm). The track diameter of the outer track is 196cm. On one turning module there is a track change. This is formed by 2 curved turnouts #8 from Walthers/Shinohara. Other switches are located on the track.
- Intermediate module: This 150x100/80 cm module returns from the width of the turnaround module to the width of the standard module.
- Standard module: 150x80 cm
- Special module: 3 modules 150x100 cm
- The total length of the plant will be 17.00 m, the width will be 2.00 m (turning heads) and 1.60 m respectively. The two sides of the plant will be separated by a painted central backdrop.
One side of the layout accommodates the small country station "Lotzburgh" with cattle loading and a granary. There is also an open-air loading track with a short ramp. At the other end of the station is a loading track for the local fuel dealer. In addition there are a few buildings. Adjacent to this is a small station for Andy's private K&AW. Next is a small farm, fields and pastures, broken up by a stream running across the layout, trees and clumps of bushes. Next to the railroad line a road is laid out, which changes sides via a railroad crossing. At the other end of this side of the layout are more agricultural processing plants with sidings. The end of this side is a road tunnel and a 3-track railroad tunnel.
The rear is dominated by the five-track "Dakota City" siding. One of these tracks is used as a bypass track with switch connections to all sidings. From this bypass track, two tracks lead to a container/trailer yard. Others lead to factories and warehouses. A bread factory with grain storage, a warehouse and electrical factory, a scrap metal trade, a lumber trade, A large cold storage warehouse, and an auto factory follow. At one "head" of the staging yard are short tracks used for staging locomotives. The other head accommodates a larger diesel store with the necessary utilities. Most of the adjacent turnaround head will be covered with a small Dakota City district. The "basement" will feature the start of the three-track Dacota-City Junction station in the mainline area.
Around the layout runs a 2-track main line with respective switch connections to the sidings or adjoining stations. The attraction of the layout lies in the busy traffic with long trains on the main line and busy shunting operations. Each "engine driver" walks with his train around the layout. Switches etc. must be set by him on the spot, always taking into account the other traffic on the layout.