Full Version: Time Saver / Inglenook Switching Combo
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Hi All:
I started this topic in the "other" place but wanted to bring it here as we hope it is going to develop into a neat module.
dwight77

We have an N-Trak modular layout at our club (Scale Rails of Southwest Florida - Ft. Myers, Fl) and we wanted to be able to add some switching. We hit upon the idea of adding a module that would have both a Time Saver and an Inglenook switching puzzle. Since we are predominately DCC, we also thought it would be great if we could achieve our goal and we could have two people working a different puzzle at the same time, maybe. Cheers

In order to get two working at the same time, we decided to "T" the module off of our regular modules....thus allowing two members to be on opposite sides of the module, one working the Inglenook and one working the Time Saver.
We developed the layout and a view from the top looks like this:
HI Again:
I am not familiar with writing up one of these threads and interspersing pictures with text. So please bare with me while I get these posted.
dwight77

The main track comes in off the layout and branches off to the left to enter the Inglenook puzzle while the Time Saver is made up of the tracks below. We did add two sidings that are not used in the operations at the top left to park two locomotives. We plan on adding scenry. On the Time Saver, we have limited our rolling stock to box cars only. We know this wasn't the original set-up, but if we wanted industries to deliver the cars to, it helped in our planning. We can send box cars to most any industry. But sending a coal hopper to a box factory didn't seem to fit.

A view looking across the module onto our main layout looks like:
Hi Again:
One of the questions we get asked is why didn't we put in a wye to join up with the main modules. Two reasons, one there wasn't really enough room, and two, we wanted to keep it simple and not have to worry about installing an auto reverser. We used Peco #6 turnouts and flex track. The only exception to the flex track is the connector track to the main layout.

We are going to be adding buildings to the "Time Saver" sidings; a Cornerstone Water Street Freight Terminal, a Cornerstone Red Wing Milling Co, a JL Innovative Hubermill Warehouse, a Northeastern Scale Box & Crate Factory, and a Laser Kit (AMB) A.C. Brown Mfg. Since we are only using box cars on the "Time Saver", all of these can realistically receive a box car.

The "Inglenook" area will have a yard office, yard tower, a couple of service buildings, a railroad rooming house, and a small country store. We have numbered the cars we use on the "Inglenook" layout from 1-8. We can place the cars randomly on two of the sidings; one with 5 cars and one with 3 cars. We then have 8 poker chips numbered 1-8 in a Chevas Regal blue cloth bag. Pull out five chips and the order they come out is the order the train is made up. We usually then pull the train out, take it around the N-Trak layout, and then back it into the siding area, leaving 5 cars on the long siding and three on one of the other two short sidings, really makes no difference which of the shorter sidings is used. In doing this, the cars are randomly placed, i.e. not in a specific order. The next engineer can then draw out five poker chips and have a completely new and different train to arrange. This keeps up the interest and no one gets into a rut of solving the same puzzle over and over. Of course, if we want to have a contest, we would then have a set arrangement of the cars on the sidings and also a fixed train set-up.

We can also do the same thing with the "Time Saver". Each siding has an industry, each car is labled, and we randomly draw where the cars are to be relocated.
And since we are using DCC, two can work at the same time.
dwight77
Hi All:
Following are the buildings we have built and tentatively placed on our switching module. We have tried to allow ample room for people's big hands to come in with a bamboo shoot and un-couple cars for the switching operations. Our next step will be to scenic the area with roads, grass, a walking path, and a few trees (not too many or we will spend all out time resetting them when they get knocked over or broken when we are performing switching operations). We still have some weathering to do on a couple of the buildings. But overall, we are pretty a happy with the set up.
dwight77
Hi All:
And the final three pictures to date.
dwight77
I have to say, that's looking really good. Some dirt, trees and grass and it'll be looking fantastic.
Wow does that look complicated. Icon_lol
wgrider Wrote:Wow does that look complicated. Icon_lol

But fun to operate Misngth

I like it Dwight, look forward to seeing some scenery on it Thumbsup Goldth 2285_
Well done dwight77, it's looking good.
I really like switching layouts, and my wife likes it even better because generally a switching layout doesn't take a lot of space Smile
I'm looking forward to see the combo with the whole scenery completed.
Could you please tell us what's are the dimensions of that switching module ?

Maybe some caution here:
http://www.housatonicrr.com/timesaver.htm

Jacques
Very nice Dwight! Should be a blast to operate and it looks like it will be beautiful to look at as well !
I like that module, and I like how you have incorporated it. I think that the concerns that Craig Bisgeier has is with that module being "the town" and the switching district. As long as everyone understands that it is a game, it isn't a problem. I have seen switching layouts that much easier to work around, but isn't that the idea, this layout is supposed to be a challenge?
Hi Biased Turkey(Jaques):
The module is a standard 2' x 4' N-Trak size module.
Hi Jesso (Scott):
Once we get the scenry finished, I will post more pictures of the whole layout. The switching puzzle module will not be the basic city, but it will allow us to have two operators working the different puzzles at the same time and still allow other operators to operate on the rest of the layout...all with DCC. One thing we are considering, especially with the Inglenook puzzle, is to work up a train, and then deliver cars to other industries on our layout. It will be a fun challenge.
dwight77
Hi All:
We are slowly making progress with our switching puzzle module. The ground cover, roads, and paths have been installed....pictures below. Next will come trees, bushes, vehicles, and people.
dwight77
that looks really good!!

I just spent about 5 mins looking over the last pic, looking at the trackwork, man that looks really cool!! and really fun to operate!! Thumbsup Misngth
It looks great! I need to build a timesaver someday to play with. Your's looks very fun!
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