HCD design help needed

[MichaelT]

Morning,

The railroad group that I'm part of, for the last few years we have built HCD modules, connecting with door hinges at the ends to build a MRR for the two shows that we operate at here in Arkansas. The majority of the group has worked on the HO modules, and myself and a couple others have worked on the N modules. Our next show (the one our LHS sponsors) is in late August, and I'd like to put together another HCD module to add to our layout. Let me post the template for the module;



Here are the parameters for the "pass through" modules.

The HCD doors are 32x80.

Using Kato Unitrack, each end (as shown) must have the first piece of track as Kato Unitrack, set at 1-3/4" or so from the end. That way we can utilize the Unitrack expandable piece to join the modules.

At either end of the leg of the layout, there will be a turnaround that will bring the railroad across each module twice (I hope that makes sense).

So instead of just having two straight runs of track, would like to have some ideas of what I could do with this module to give it a little bit of interest without going terribly spaghetti track wild with it.

Any suggestions and ideas would be appreciated.

Here are a few other modules that are on the layout;







These three modules could actually be setup together to run as a smaller layout; Jacksonville and Winslow on the ends, and McRae in the center.

[MichaelT]

Might need to add;

As far as the shows we setup at, we do some switching during the days, but mostly we run at least one mainline train (usually a passenger consist) and then we have three or four other loops among our modules that we can run local freight and smaller passenger setups, of course keeping an eye on the "thru" train so the local/smaller trains find a siding to run into for the mainline thru train to pass.

[wm3798]

I like the concept of this.  While the 80" length of the HCD module might make storage a bit of an issue, the size gives you the opportunity to do a more complete scene than you can with a 2x4' Ntrak module.

Not being a fan of the rigid geometry of Unitrak, I would consider that a limitation to realistic scenery, but I would concede to the track's durability and reliability for this type of layout.

With the connecting tracks being located close to the edges, is it possible to run a scene divider down the middle of the door?  Do visitors to the layout view it from both sides?  Or is it more of a "Sky Board In the Back" situation like in N track?

Seems to me you could look up any of the millions of HCD layout plans and easily adapt them to the through-traffic module design.

Lee

[MichaelT]

I like the concept of this.  While the 80" length of the HCD module might make storage a bit of an issue, the size gives you the opportunity to do a more complete scene than you can with a 2x4' Ntrak module.

Granted storage is a bit of an issue. Currently I have three modules standing on end in one of our guest rooms, just leaned against a wall. I also have two "in the works" modules in there as well.
I wasn't part of the "design idea" meeting when it was conjured up a few years ago (I think we were on vacation then), but the decision was to use increments of 16", so 80, 64, 48, 32, 16 are optional lengths, and 16 and 32 are the depths.

Not being a fan of the rigid geometry of Unitrak, I would consider that a limitation to realistic scenery, but I would concede to the track's durability and reliability for this type of layout.

My apologies I wasn't clear with that. Any track can be used on the module itself. The only requirement is using the Unitrack as the end piece so each module will connect to other modules via the Unitrack expanding track piece. So Atlas, Peco, etc., are all game if the modeler chooses.

13" radius is the minimum mainline curve, and #6 turnouts on all mainline track. Sidings, industrials etc., can have smaller curves and #4 turnouts if desired.

With the connecting tracks being located close to the edges, is it possible to run a scene divider down the middle of the door?  Do visitors to the layout view it from both sides?  Or is it more of a "Sky Board In the Back" situation like in N track?

That is actually up to the modeler. While the visitors can see both sides of the layout (we've set it up in an E configuration allowing visitors to walk all around it), if the modeler decides to use a scene divider that's fine. One of the guys built a mountain scene with two small helixes that brought the track up and down on one door, the kids like trying to figure out where the train is going to come out of some of the small tunnels on that one).

Seems to me you could look up any of the millions of HCD layout plans and easily adapt them to the through-traffic module design.
Lee

True...I wanted to see what some of you folks might have in your heads, and I've been looking at HCD plans and other linear plans as well to see what I can come up with.

The one thing we are going to add for 2018 is going to be a two door staging/yard area, with approximately 10-12 tracks to stage trains to run onto the overall layout. That way we can setup train consists once and have a place for them to sit when not running instead of taking them out of and putting them back into their boxes.

[ednadolski]

Just thinkin... has anyone ever seen or done a double-deck HCD layout, i.e. with two doors stacked one atop the other?   A dual helix could be added at one end to allow trains to travel up & down continuously, and also provide serial staging.

The bottom level could feature some industrial/switching, with the top level doing open running.

Ed

[Point353]

While the 80" length of the HCD module might make storage a bit of an issue, the size gives you the opportunity to do a more complete scene than you can with a 2x4' Ntrak module.

Ntrak doesn't limit you to only a 2'x4' size module.
A module can be 4', 6' or 8' in length, plus there is the option to add an extra 6" to the front and/or the back.
Thus it's possible to have a single module as large as 3'x8' - even larger than that HCD. 

[wm3798]

Just thinkin... has anyone ever seen or done a double-deck HCD layout, i.e. with two doors stacked one atop the other?   A dual helix could be added at one end to allow trains to travel up & down continuously, and also provide serial staging.

The bottom level could feature some industrial/switching, with the top level doing open running.

Ed

Pulling the thread in a different direction, but rather than consuming HCD space with an inboard helix, one could do a helix off to one side to create a 10'6" x 36" layout... putting the helix off to the side means it could also go up 3 levels!  (or as many as you can fit between the floor and the ceiling!)

This is similar to @justTRAINcRaZy 's old Winston-Salem Southern layout...



His helix was 48", and he cleverly disguised it as a Southern Railway tail car...

Lee