{"id":108,"date":"2012-10-14T15:32:28","date_gmt":"2012-10-14T20:32:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/smallmodelrailroads.wordpress.com\/?p=108"},"modified":"2017-10-25T14:58:02","modified_gmt":"2017-10-25T18:58:02","slug":"consider-the-small-layout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/consider-the-small-layout\/","title":{"rendered":"Consider the Small Layout"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"color: #999999;\"><em>NOTE: Many of the sample layouts featured in this article were borrowed from\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/carendt.com\/microplans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #999999;\">Carl Arendt&#8217;s web site<\/span><\/a>. Links back to appropriate page on <a href=\"http:\/\/carendt.com\/microplans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #999999;\">Carl&#8217;s site<\/span><\/a> have been provided.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Among North American Model Railroad Hobbyists, there is a\u00a0predominant\u00a0thought that a &#8220;real&#8221; layout is one that fills a large space such as a basement or, at minimum, a room. Anything smaller is considered less than a layout, to be\u00a0shunned and the modeler should be encouraged to build a real layout.\u00a0This thought process is perpetuated by books, magazines and the hobby industry as a whole.\u00a0The industry would do much better to\u00a0dispel\u00a0this myth of bigger is better. In many cases this bigger thinking is and has been a detriment to the hobby.<\/p>\n<p>A large layout takes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Large space<\/li>\n<li>Large budget<\/li>\n<li>Long time commitment<\/li>\n<li>A long time for payback (unless building\u00a0bench work\u00a0is your interest)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These few items of the large layout myth, has alienated would be hobbyists. The myth can also lead to\u00a0common ailments in the hobby including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Analysis\u00a0paralysis<\/li>\n<li>Over collecting<\/li>\n<li>Assuming to much to\u00a0handle<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A large layout requires a multi-year commitment. With a\u00a0commitment of this magnitude looming over your head, is\u00a0more\u00a0likely\u00a0to contribute to over\u00a0analyzing, over collecting and never getting to the\u00a0enjoyable\u00a0portion of the hobby you desire. A small layout does not carry the large burden, each step can be done in a reasonable amount of time and the expense can be managed.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_123\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-123\" style=\"width: 375px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/carendt.com\/scrapbook\/page87\/index.html\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"123\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/consider-the-small-layout\/brooklynl\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/brooklynl.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"375,281\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Prof Klyzlr&amp;#8217;s Brooklyn 3am under construction\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Prof Klyzlr&amp;#8217;s Brooklyn 3am under construction. The professor uses light weight and inexpensive materials.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/brooklynl-300x224.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/brooklynl.jpg\" class=\"size-full wp-image-123\" title=\"Prof Klyzlr's Brooklyn 3am under construction\" src=\"http:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/brooklynl.jpg\" alt=\"Prof Klyzlr's Brooklyn 3am under construction\" width=\"375\" height=\"281\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/brooklynl.jpg 375w, https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/brooklynl-300x224.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 375px) 100vw, 375px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-123\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Prof Klyzlr&#8217;s Brooklyn 3am under construction. The professor uses light weight and inexpensive construction materials.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>A small layout IS a layout<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I have heard many people use terms such as diorama and display when\u00a0referring\u00a0to a small layout. These terms invoke the notion that the layout is something other than a layout, Minimizing the value of the layout. A diorama is a static model of a place or theme. A display can also a diorama but designed for viewing in a\u00a0particular\u00a0way as defined by the builder. A layout is an operating model railroad with an operational purpose.<\/p>\n<p>There are many people (especially in the world of large layouts) who do not run their\u00a0railroad from an operational aspect. This does not mean they do not have a layout. I think we can all agree, a piece\u00a0of track with no scenery and a train on it that goes a couple inches is not a layout. Add\u00a0scenery\u00a0and a building at each end and you do have a layout. Why the difference? The layout now has purpose. It travels from point A to point B to service whatever is there. This is of course the absolute minimum of operation. To most this will get old very quick but it is still a layout!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Operations on the Small Layout<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As descried above a\u00a0minimum\u00a0operating layout would be a single track from point A to point B. The two points could be a few inches or a prototype mile. The operation\u00a0principle\u00a0is simple, to move something from one point to the other. This is 100%\u00a0prototypical\u00a0and used on the largest of layouts. The\u00a0difference\u00a0with the small and the large layout is that these points are physically close together. Carl Arendt\u00a0refereed\u00a0to these as a Single Line Terminus. (SLT).<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_111\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-111\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/carendt.com\/scrapbook\/page80a\/index.html#excellence\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"111\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/consider-the-small-layout\/1-slt\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/1-slt.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"375,281\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"1-SLT\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/1-slt-300x224.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/1-slt.jpg\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-111\" title=\"Linkstadt-Rechtsdorf by Nigel Beeton, England\" src=\"http:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/1-slt.jpg?w=300\" alt=\"Linkstadt-Rechtsdorf by Nigel Beeton, England\" width=\"300\" height=\"224\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/1-slt.jpg 375w, https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/1-slt-300x224.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-111\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Linkstadt-Rechtsdorf by Nigel Beeton, England<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>A step up in operations is the Pizza layout. A pizza layout is the layout that goes round and round just as many peoples first\u00a0Christmas\u00a0layout did. To many, This may be going backwards as it does not appear to have operations like the point to point line does. On the contrary, the pizza has\u00a0continuous\u00a0points of operation only limited by your\u00a0imagination.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_112\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-112\" style=\"width: 450px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/carendt.com\/scrapbook\/page96\/index.html#ampersand\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"112\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/consider-the-small-layout\/ampersand450\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/ampersand450.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"450,377\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Amper Sand, built by Geoff Potter, from Wamberal, NSW Australia\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Amper Sand, built by Geoff Potter, from Wamberal, NSW Australia&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/ampersand450-300x251.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/ampersand450.jpg\" class=\"size-full wp-image-112\" title=\"Amper Sand, built by Geoff Potter, from Wamberal, NSW Australia\" src=\"http:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/ampersand450.jpg\" alt=\"Amper Sand, built by Geoff Potter, from Wamberal, NSW Australia\" width=\"450\" height=\"377\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/ampersand450.jpg 450w, https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/ampersand450-300x251.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-112\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Amper Sand, built by Geoff Potter, from Wamberal, NSW Australia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>My favorite type of operation on a small layout is the puzzle. A puzzle is designed to take advantage of the small space and make switching challenging. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.wymann.info\/ShuntingPuzzles\/Inglenook\/inglenook-layouts.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Inglenook Sidings<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/gdlines.com\/Timesaver.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">John Allen\u2019s TimeSaver<\/a>\u00a0are examples of a puzzle. Puzzles can be prototypical\u00a0especially\u00a0when modeling an urban setting.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_116\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-116\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/smallmodelrailroads.wordpress.com\/2012\/10\/06\/mound-city-1862\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"116\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/consider-the-small-layout\/moundcitymap-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/moundcitymap1.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"500,335\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Prototype Inglnook &amp;#8211; Mound City, IL\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Prototype Inglnook &amp;#8211; Mound City, IL&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/moundcitymap1-300x201.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/moundcitymap1.jpg\" class=\"size-full wp-image-116\" title=\"Prototype Inglnook - Mound City, IL\" src=\"http:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/moundcitymap1.jpg\" alt=\"Prototype Inglnook - Mound City, IL\" width=\"500\" height=\"335\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/moundcitymap1.jpg 500w, https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/moundcitymap1-300x201.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-116\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Prototype Inglnook &#8211; Mound City, IL<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>You can try your own skill on the virtual inglenook at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.precisionlabels.com\/shunt\/jpage330.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Riverside Yard<\/a>. If you are challenged by this virtual challenge, imagine how much fun it would be with a\u00a0small layout with real cars.\u00a0Additional puzzle layout variations can be found at\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.wymann.info\/ShuntingPuzzles\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Adrian Wymann&#8217;s web site<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Some small layouts are designed for advanced operations such as <a href=\"http:\/\/carendt.com\/scrapbook\/page87\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Brooklyn: 3 AM, built by Prof Klyzlr, from Sydney<\/a>. This layout is based on a real\u00a0prototype\u00a0and full of operations. The layout uses a &#8220;Phantom Layout&#8221; concept to help engineers feel they&#8217;re running on the real thing. the full article explaining this operation can be found on <a href=\"http:\/\/carendt.com\/scrapbook\/page87\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Carl&#8217;s site<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_115\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-115\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/carendt.com\/scrapbook\/page87\/index.html\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"115\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/consider-the-small-layout\/train\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/train.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"740,403\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Brooklyn: 3 AM, built by Prof Klyzlr, from Sydney\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Brooklyn: 3 AM, built by Prof Klyzlr, from Sydney&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/train-300x163.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/train.jpg\" class=\"size-full wp-image-115\" title=\"Brooklyn: 3 AM, built by Prof Klyzlr, from Sydney\" src=\"http:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/train.jpg\" alt=\"Brooklyn: 3 AM, built by Prof Klyzlr, from Sydney\" width=\"600\" height=\"326\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/train.jpg 740w, https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/train-300x163.jpg 300w, https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/train-624x339.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-115\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Brooklyn: 3 AM, built by Prof Klyzlr, from Sydney<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Carl Arendt has a <a href=\"http:\/\/carendt.com\/scrapbook\/page103\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">page<\/a> dedicated to showing ways to enjoy operating your micro layout! In the <a href=\"http:\/\/carendt.com\/scrapbook\/page103\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">article <\/a>he\u00a0dispels\u00a0the common misconceptions of:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Small layouts are too simple to be any fun.<\/li>\n<li>Most small layouts are just switching puzzles.<\/li>\n<li>Small layouts can&#8217;t be operated like the prototype.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For those who still aren&#8217;t convinced of the ignorance of this assertion, <a href=\"http:\/\/carendt.com\/scrapbook\/page103\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">read on here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Large Scales in the Small World<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Another misconception about small layouts is that you must use N Scale to get as much in the small space as possible. A quick look at some of the best micro layouts\u00a0dispels\u00a0this myth quickly.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_120\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-120\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/carendt.com\/scrapbook\/page32\/index.html\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"120\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/consider-the-small-layout\/ledsam2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/ledsam2.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"310,208\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"O scale layout by Colin French\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;O scale layout by Colin French&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/ledsam2-300x201.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/ledsam2.jpg\" class=\"size-full wp-image-120\" title=\"O scale layout by Colin French\" src=\"http:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/ledsam2.jpg\" alt=\"O scale layout by Colin French\" width=\"310\" height=\"208\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/ledsam2.jpg 310w, https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/ledsam2-300x201.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 310px) 100vw, 310px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-120\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">O scale layout by Colin French<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gn15.info\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gn15<\/a>\u00a0has quickly become a very popular scale, especially for small space layouts. Proponents of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gn15.info\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gn15<\/a>\u00a0claim its large size makes detailing a pleasure, and its heft makes running a delight. For more on this scale\/gauge combination, check out <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gn15.info\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gn15.info<\/a> and the <a href=\"http:\/\/forum.gn15.info\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GnATTERbox<\/a>. Other popular large scales for micro layouts include <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/On30\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">On30<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/o14group.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">O14<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_117\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-117\" style=\"width: 360px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/carendt.com\/squarefoot\/index.html\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"117\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/consider-the-small-layout\/sqrfoot-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/sqrfoot1.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"360,425\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Carl Arendt&amp;#8217;s Squarefoot Estate Railway, G scale in one square foot\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Carl Arendt&amp;#8217;s Squarefoot Estate Railway, G scale in one square foot&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/sqrfoot1-254x300.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/sqrfoot1.jpg\" class=\"size-full wp-image-117\" title=\"Carl Arendt's Squarefoot Estate Railway, G scale in one square foot\" src=\"http:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/sqrfoot1.jpg\" alt=\"Carl Arendt's Squarefoot Estate Railway, G scale in one square foot\" width=\"360\" height=\"425\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/sqrfoot1.jpg 360w, https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/sqrfoot1-254x300.jpg 254w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 360px) 100vw, 360px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-117\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Carl Arendt&#8217;s Squarefoot Estate Railway, G scale operation modeled in one square foot<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Attracting New People to the Hobby<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Small layouts can be used to entice more people into the hobby. The old\u00a0arguments\u00a0about cost, space and time do not hold up. Costs for everything to assemble a small layout are just that, small. No need to collect a few hundred\u00a0pieces\u00a0of rolling stock or a fleet on locomotives. Actually, you can spend a little more for the finer item since you only need one or two. Scratch building also becomes viable\u00a0because\u00a0the scope of the project is small and the time can be afforded.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_121\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-121\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/carendt.com\/shoebox\/trio\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"121\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/consider-the-small-layout\/sabots1\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/sabots1.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"310,236\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Shoebox size, Sabot&amp;#8217;s Wharf  by Chris O&amp;#8217;Donoghue\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Shoebox size, Sabot&amp;#8217;s Wharf  by Chris O&amp;#8217;Donoghue&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/sabots1-300x228.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/sabots1.jpg\" class=\"size-full wp-image-121\" title=\"Shoebox size, Sabot's Wharf by Chris O'Donoghue\" src=\"http:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/sabots1.jpg\" alt=\"Shoebox size, Sabot's Wharf by Chris O'Donoghue\" width=\"310\" height=\"236\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/sabots1.jpg 310w, https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/sabots1-300x228.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 310px) 100vw, 310px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-121\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shoebox size, Sabot&#8217;s Wharf by Chris O&#8217;Donoghue<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Even the smallest\u00a0apartment\u00a0or flat can have a micro layout (or three or four). Micros are so small they can be anywhere, even part of the furniture. Some of the fun sizes include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/carendt.com\/shoebox\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Shoe boxes<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/carendt.com\/microplans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A sheet of paper<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/carendt.com\/squarefoot\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A Square foot<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/carendt.com\/microplans\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pencil box<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_124\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-124\" style=\"width: 240px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"http:\/\/carendt.com\/squarefoot\/guess.html\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"124\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/consider-the-small-layout\/lamp\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/lamp.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"240,320\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Carl&amp;#8217;s finished Squarefoot Estate Railway displayed in his home.\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Carl&amp;#8217;s finished Squarefoot Estate Railway displayed in his home.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/lamp-225x300.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/lamp.jpg\" class=\"size-full wp-image-124\" title=\"Carl's finished Squarefoot Estate Railway displayed in his home.\" src=\"http:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/lamp.jpg\" alt=\"Carl's finished Squarefoot Estate Railway displayed in his home.\" width=\"240\" height=\"320\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/lamp.jpg 240w, https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/lamp-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-124\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Carl&#8217;s finished Squarefoot Estate Railway displayed in his home.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In Europe, train shows are not run as flee markets with just a couple local modular clubs setup for running. They are \u00a0showcases for the modelers with layouts designed for display to the public.\u00a0Shows like this would go a long for the hobby in North America. There has been much activity in the <a href=\"http:\/\/groups.yahoo.com\/group\/small-layout-design\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Yahoo Small Layout Design Group<\/a> to try and put\u00a0together\u00a0such a show somewhere in North America. I wish them luck on putting it together.<\/p>\n<p>For more information on small and micro layouts see the following links:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/carendt.com\/scrapbook\/linkindex\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Small Layout Scrapbook<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/groups.yahoo.com\/group\/small-layout-design\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Yahoo Small Layout Design Group<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NOTE: Many of the sample layouts featured in this article were borrowed from\u00a0Carl Arendt&#8217;s web site. Links back to appropriate page on Carl&#8217;s site have&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":117,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2],"tags":[41,44,43],"class_list":["post-108","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles-on-small-layouts","tag-modelrailroad","tag-modelrailway","tag-smallmr","wpcat-2-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/sqrfoot1.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4e6yk-1K","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":500,"url":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/carlarendt\/","url_meta":{"origin":108,"position":0},"title":"I Miss Carl Arendt!","author":"Marshall Stull","date":"September 14, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"I miss\u00a0Carl Arendt! His writings on small and micro layouts at\u00a0http:\/\/www.carendt.com\/\u00a0changed my view of Model Railroading forever.\u00a0 Over several years I had attempted to build a few different layouts and all ended with a semi-constructed \"plywood central\" that did not satisfy or keep my attention. Each time I would get\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Layout Spotlight&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Layout Spotlight","link":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/category\/layout-spotlight\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"I miss Carl Arendt!","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/peek240.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":860,"url":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/the-4x8-layout-a-right-of-passage-for-the-model-railroad-rookie\/","url_meta":{"origin":108,"position":1},"title":"The 4&#215;8 Layout &#8211; A Rite of Passage for the Model Railroad Rookie","author":"Marshall Stull","date":"July 5, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"I have been a model railroader for many years. My first layout was the classic 4x8 sheet of plywood. It was placed on top of an old pool table that was no longer used. I built several track arrangements on the surface and learned a lot about what works and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Small Layout How To Articles&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Small Layout How To Articles","link":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/category\/articles-on-small-layouts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The St. Louis Central Railroad is a project railroad from NMRA Gateway.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/history-museum-layout-overhead-view-640x326.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/history-museum-layout-overhead-view-640x326.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/history-museum-layout-overhead-view-640x326.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2125,"url":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/all-the-model-rail-layouts\/","url_meta":{"origin":108,"position":2},"title":"All the Model Rail Layouts","author":"Marshall Stull","date":"September 2, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"While showing layouts as part of free-mo, I am often asked about my home layout. My response is often \"which one?\" At any given time I have at least four layouts in process (six right now). These layouts are always at various stages of completion and represent several scales, gauges\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Modular Layouts&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Modular Layouts","link":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/category\/modules\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/DollyVardenDock_1000.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/DollyVardenDock_1000.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/DollyVardenDock_1000.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/DollyVardenDock_1000.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1490,"url":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/a-trip-to-trainfest\/","url_meta":{"origin":108,"position":3},"title":"A Trip to Trainfest","author":"Marshall Stull","date":"January 9, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"2015 marked the first time I had ever been to Trainfest in Milwaukee Wisconsin. I took the family and we had a very good time at the show even though some unplanned events kept us from seeing all of the show. \u00a0The following are some images of the layouts I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Layout Spotlight&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Layout Spotlight","link":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/category\/layout-spotlight\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/IMG_3699.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/IMG_3699.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/IMG_3699.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/IMG_3699.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":765,"url":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/765\/","url_meta":{"origin":108,"position":4},"title":"Train Show Small Layouts","author":"Marshall Stull","date":"January 29, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"It is that time of year when train shows abound. Whenever I go to a train show or event, I am always on the hunt for small layouts. This months episode looks at a few that I found recently. Most shows in the U.S. are more flea market than train\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Small Layout How To Articles&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Small Layout How To Articles","link":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/category\/articles-on-small-layouts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/UnderWire_small.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":398,"url":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/layout-composition-and-design-concepts\/","url_meta":{"origin":108,"position":5},"title":"Layout Composition and Design Concepts","author":"Marshall Stull","date":"September 22, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"This post marks the one year anniversary of the Small Model Railroad web site. The first post \"I Miss Carl Arendt!\" was a tribute to Carl\u00a0Arendt who had recently passed away. Those of you who have read the site know that his site and views on the hobby changed my\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Small Layout How To Articles&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Small Layout How To Articles","link":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/category\/articles-on-small-layouts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Carl's Sap Line","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/sapline.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/sapline.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/sapline.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/sapline.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=108"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1908,"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108\/revisions\/1908"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/117"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=108"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=108"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=108"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}