Branch line/ISL

[jwb]

On a final note, who cares if you call your layout an ISL and it doesn't conform to what some people think an ISL looks like. If you want a small yard, put one in. Do what makes you happy -- it is YOUR railroad and you are the one spending money and time to build it. Just my two cents.....

Chuck

The problem I have with calling a layout an ISL is that (we're talking opinion here) it becomes a substitute for looking at the prototype and thinking out what you really want to do. I note that the term ISL is probably used more by modelers of US prototype in the UK and elsewhere who are, due to their inability to take a Saturday and go railfanning US prototype, inclined to dream up what they think an industrial district must look like -- thus the multi-story curtain-wall "warehouses" served by squeaky-clean Railboxes, when the prototypes, if not long since torn down, are now condo conversions. Everyone's free to do as they please, but my personal preference is for work by people who challenge themselves to do something different.

The best thing a modeler can do, from my perspective, is go railfanning. The next best is get DVDs with good railfan footage. The third best is search Youtube for railfan scenes that reflect what railroading is really like in the real world. You will find very few clean Railboxes next to brick curtain wall "warehouses". Some guys in the UK might not invite you to their next exhibition, though.

I'm not sure if the best approach to layout design is to cogitate over whether you want two tracks in your yard or three, or whether there should be a facing point or trailing point spur. Some of this is coming from guys who've never built a layout. Here is how I would go at this:

-- Go railfanning. Look at what turns your crank. If you live in the UK, go on Youtube and search for good railfan video.

-- Sketch out a track plan that starts to represent what you most like about what you see.

-- Draw it to scale and cut out scale rectangles to represent locos and cars. Try switching the track plan with the rectangles.

-- Start laying track according to what you think will work based on the above. Make this tentative for a while.

-- Go railfanning again and see if you're any closer to what you enjoy.

-- Rinse. Repeat.