Why

It all started with sound. Tsunami sound decoders are too good. Now I have to run the trains if I'm going to let the sound out. And that means I need some track.

• I've come to appreciate shelf railroads: a foot of mainline for every square foot of scenery.
• I like modules too: easy to service (just stand them on edge) and easy to stash away.

So I started working on a plan for a sectional shelf layout.

Plans

I decided to create mating surfaces like those used by the North Carolina Sipping and Switching Society. They design for a precise alignment, and run their rails right out to the surface of the end plate. Getting the construction right can be a little tricky, but the result is a fit that you could mate up quickly and (perhaps) even while you've been sipping.

Then I worked out a rule that lets curves run right to the end of the section, and still lets sections be connected in almost any order without making "S" curves.

Then I laid out a minimal transition that let my sectional units link to standard Mid-Atlantic Modules. Similar transition units could link to any other standard.

These guidelines are just what worked out for me. Please feel free to mix, match, alter, and in any other way use them for yourself. Contact me if you have questions. The info is at:

Berrett Hill Trains :: www.berretthill.com/trains

Note: I offer services building custom layouts and modules. I would be glad to help work out a similar design. I'll reasonably contract to build custom sectionals to any standard, and to any level of completion. I can also supply drill or router templates to help you build your own.

Kimberton 2008:

Photos of the Sectional Layout at Kimberton 08

Video of Trains Running on the Sectional Layout

Larry Rickert's great photos of the meet.

Kimberton Plans: These are the sketches for the Meet at Kimberton.

Guidelines: The guidelines for this sectional project (PDF).

Current Production: These are the modules currently under construction.

Kimberton Plans: These are a few preliminary sketches for the Meet at Kimberton.