When I was 7, my father introduced me to model railroading when he brought home an HO engine and a few boxcars.  I was hooked and over the next 5 years we built a layout in our basement. Then my father was transferred halfway across the country and we left the layout behind. I can't remember if we couldn't get it out of the basement or if there wasn't room in the moving van. I haven't played with trains in the 45+ years since.  But I've wanted to...

 

I'm retired now and have the time and space for a layout. I developed in my mind what I thought was a good solution to the problem of a monolithic layout that was a permanent part of the house. I would make the railroad in sections that I could attach to each other and later disassemble to move to a new house if needed.  I started watching videos and researching it.  I quickly found out that my idea of a 'modular' layout was not new. I was also amazed by the new technologies like DCC. I've probably watched over 100 hours of YT videos over the last 2 months.

 

Two weeks ago I dove in.

 

With some leftover plywood, I started my first module.  I decided on the dimension 26x46".  I had just enough plywood and I figured it would be small enough for 2 people to carry it through a doorway.

 

I'm calling it Boxcar Gulch.

 

I found a bridge and abutments I liked.

 

A torsion box type of base should keep it rigid

 

Pink foam!  This is a new approach that I don't remember being used in the 70s

 

Elevated the road to match the foam

 

I scratch built the drainage pipes and steel plates (not sure what they are called)  to the abutments. The abutments need weathering at this point.

 

 

It's been a lot of fun so far. I'll post more as I progress...