I've been thinking about scrapping the N scale EVRR layout along with the HO Ocean Park Loop as part of making a new start. I've stalled out at wiring the control panel. I was talking about this with Vince a few weeks ago during a discussion about wiring reversing loops, and he asked an intriguing question: Did E. L. Moore ever get his layout - the HO scale EVRR on which my N scale version is built - to run?
It's a good question as the track plan is complex, and Mr. Moore wasn't a person who liked dealing with complex electricals. I've not seen a control panel for his layout, although he hints at the block locations in his postcard. I think his layout did run, but if he wired it, what the control panel looked like, or if he ran it much are interesting questions likely to never be answered.
What do you mean by "work"? Sounds like you mean making trains run, but I'm pushing you a little here to define for yourself what a "working railroad" means to you. As to Moore's layout and whether it ever featured running trains, I have no idy.
ReplyDeleteYes, you're right, I should have been clearer: I did mean making trains run. I think he did run trains, but I have no idea what operations were like.
DeleteNo, you were clear enough as to what he did, but what I'm asking is, how would you like it to run? I'm not even thinking anywhere near operations in the formal sense. Personally I suspect Moore's version was a photo prop unless there's evidence to the contrary, but what would you do with it? What pleasure would you gain from it regarding how the trains ran?
DeleteIt did appear to be used mainly as a stage for photos, but I don't think it started out with that purpose in mind. I think it evolved into that as he produced more articles for buildings that needed staging. He seemed to use the Eagleroost & Koontree RR for many staged photos - I don't think it was an actual layout, just temporarily staged scenes from a fictitious setup.
DeleteWhat pleasure would I get from it? Interesting. I think the please is in the building, not in the running of trains. Running is sort of a nice to have, and not the primary requirement. Although it has been interesting to find out exactly what the track plan was and what it would take to get it to run trains.
Aw, I'd be disappointed if you didn't bring this to completion. True, it's complex, but you know you want to see it in full 3D bloom. Or are you afraid if you are successful, you'll be disappointed in ELM's design? You're starting to feel that now.
ReplyDeleteWell, I took great liberties with his design when I built my "tribute" layout. My over-and-under layout plan featuring the lake side of his EVRR turned out pretty to my eyes but even then, it goes nowhere and needs a booster engine just to get up the hill.
On the EVRR, 60's layout style, he crammed in a lot in a tiny space. By today's standards, it's a spaghetti bowl with no industries.
So, what then? May I suggest this: T Trak modules featuring your favorite ELM scenes in a realistic setting. They're small, very portable, connectable to others in T Trak (so as to promote ELM!) and you can make them to look like they're in their "prototype" setting. If T Trak one-footers are too small, combine and make 2 or 3-footers. It's still lighter than N-Trak.
I think a lot of T Trak is done poorly, aimed at kids but it holds so much better potential. They feature T Trak at every local train show, so it'd be easy to get a prime spot if you joined in with a fabulous display. Use nice backdrops and show the kids and adults what T Trak can do! All the while, educating them on ELM and scratchbuilding.
I hadn't thought of T Trak before - thanks for the suggestion. It might just be lock-down blues talking, but I'm feeling I need a big change layout-wise, so junking everything and starting something sounds good these days - but, I'll be thinking about what to do a lot more before the saws and prybars come out.
DeleteWhen I transformed my old HO layout into NMRA modules, it revived my model fun. It still didn't have any "operation" (something I've never been interested in, anyway) but it got me out there promoting the hobby and making lots of new friends. This T Trak interests me (although I still haven't made the plunge) because it's way more portable than even an NTrak module. You can go as small as 1x1 and the framework isn't nearly as heavy. I don't think I'd build anything smaller than a 2-footer, but it holds a lot of potential. Apart from the public layout, it still serves as a diorama and can be easily taken outside for photos.
DeleteThat sounds good. I'm not into operation either, but from time-to-time I do like to see trains looping around the layout. Someone once called this a 'mechanical fishtank', which is weird, but I get where he was coming from.
DeletePlenty of people have assembled a simple loop using T Trak modules. For home or for shows.
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