Layout Design

I'm in interesting discussions with a number of folks about potential new design projects. One of the most challenging of these is a preliminary design for a club layout in a very large space. This will include many prototype-based elements from the surrounding region, formal operating potential for club members, and provisions for moving visitors efficiently through the display. Although I am only working on the early conceptual design at this point, I think this will be a very engaging project.   At the other end of the scale, I also really enjoyed developing a plan for one prototype-based branch to complement a client's larger layout. This had to fit in a fairly tight, broken-up space and it was fun to see how many prototype elements we could shoehorn in while still allowing for some operations and scenic potential.   Other potential projects in discussion include two separate mid-sized urban switchers and a Class 1 railroad through the northern Rockies and the Great Plateau. More on those if and when they develop. If you'd like help developing your own track plan, check these pages for more information.

A lot of the operations planning work this past month has been in the context of layout design. Work continues on the ops plan for the large traction-themed layout hand-in-hand with the layout design for that large space, and I've also developed operating outlines for a couple of other design projects.   I usually provide a few operating ideas with every design, and sometimes this has (pleasantly, I hope) surprised clients. Some folks have said they were going to think about ops "later" -- after the layout was up and running. But they found they understood better what we are trying to accomplish by thinking about the design in the context of the eventual operations.   Although it sounds official (even officious), "operations" doesn't necessarily mean intense sessions fraught with time pressure and puzzles to solve. It can simply mean moving trains with some purpose, adding an element of reality. If you'd like to add operational realism to your layout or plans, check out the Operations Planning pages.

Ops Plans

Even though lately most of my designs are commissioned for specific clients, every once in a while something comes up in an Internet discussion list or magazine article that inspires me to dash off a small layout or a small section of a larger layout. I've put a few of these on a "Layout Gallery" web page for those who might be interested. Some of these are collected from elsewhere on my web site and others are newly published, but I thought some of you might enjoy seeing them. I hope to add to these over time.   (Note: I'd be really pleased if someone built one of these designs as-is or modified, but all other rights, particularly publication rights in any form, are reserved by me).

I'll be in the Las Vegas area in early December to work on a charity event and make a few business calls. I will also be traveling to the Miami, Florida area late in December.   If you're in Las Vegas, South Florida, or nearby and would like to meet to discuss a project, please contact me.   Also, see below for trips you might want to take ...

Upcoming Bay Area Events   One of things I have really enjoyed about living in the Bay Area is the large number of operating layouts in a relatively small area. Many of these are well-known throughout the hobby. I've had the pleasure of helping a number of layout owners in the region with their operations planning and now some of these layouts will be open for you to visit and operate!
BayRails 2005 is the inaugural session of what we hope will be a biannual (every other year, in the odd years) operating event. This year BayRails will be taking place March 9-12. That's the same weekend as the Winterail railfan photo and video festival, so it’s a great time to visit. You are welcome to register for the BayRails operating meet, although operating slots are limited. Click for the BayRails homepage, which has all the information, a list of the 18 participating layouts, and even an on-line registration form. [Note: BayRails is primarily intended to give-out-of-towners a chance to experience those terrific Bay Area layouts. But there are opportunities for Bay Area locals to help support the BayRails meet and to fill in available operating slots after traveling visitors are accommodated.]	BayRails 2005
The month before BayRails, the Layout Design Special Interest Group and Operations Special Interest Groups will also be holding their annual regional combined meeting in the Bay Area on the weekend of February 12th and 13th. As usual, there will be clinics Saturday, layout tours Saturday evening, and op sessions Sunday. The Saturday sessions will be held at the South Bay Historical Railroad Society's wonderful venue in Santa Clara, CA. Operating slots at these sessions are open to locals and out-of-town visitors alike. A great team of volunteers is working hard to make both these events memorable -- please join us!

The Vision Thing   A few weeks ago, a client and I were discussing his layout plans. As so often happens, we started with a question about a small detail -- but that one detail unraveled a discussion of larger and larger issues. Soon, we were knee-deep in questions on the most fundamental decisions: Locations to be modeled? Once around or twice-around? How long was a design train? How long must the mainline be for a satisfying run? Why did we ever get involved with model railroading in the first place?   Actually, we did not get as far as the last question ... but I think maybe he was wondering why he ever got involved with me.  Simply put, we had lost sight of his vision for the layout. I suggested he visualize the key thing he wanted from a layout, try to capture that in some form, and we'd go from there.   But he did better than that. Walking around his layout room, he simulated the length of run. Tried out the routines of switching in towns, experimenting for train length and town-to-town separation. In one evening he walked-through the key elements of his design and got in touch with his highest design priorities, re-establishing his vision for the layout. In his case, I think it was more of a feel than a vision, but the result was the same.   Each one of us has an optimal means of perceiving and learning: some prefer hearing; others would rather see it or read it; still others have the richest experience by simulating the situation. It's important for each of us to target those methods when trying to identify our own layout vision. Long before you set a minimum radius or choose a DCC vendor, establishing your vision for the layout-to-be is the most important priority for creating a satisfying layout or operations plan.   Whatever your preferred method of interaction with the world (assuming it's not telepathic), perhaps I can help you define and implement your vision of what your railroad should be. Please contact me today and let's get started.

Copyright © 2004 by Byron Henderson