Shown above is a design for a proto-freelance, removable module extension to the current LAJ layout. Sweetener Products is no longer rail-served under this plan, and its spur serves as a lead into Arrow Reload, a logistics/team facility.
In my June 21st blog, Time For A Change, I wrote about feeling “stuck”. Both my primary layout (The Downtown Spur), and the two smaller ones (East Rail 2, LAJ), were finished. With no compelling projects in front of me, I was drifting and not getting much modeling done outside of work.
Thinking about my options, one was to take a crowbar to The Downtown Spur and replace it with a modern BNSF, Harbor Sub. theme. I also have a really nice, unfinished loft above my shop, which could be finished for about 5k and house a fourth layout.
I decided to reach out to my informal “board of directors,” grizzled veterans who are extremely experienced and have been around the block. A few were in the same position I’m in. Opinions varied from “go for it, build a new layout” to “go slow and think about it”. The loft idea? Pretty much a unanimous opinion that I was totally insane for even considering building a fourth layout. Okay, guys, point taken.
Although The Downtown Spur is totally done, I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m not ready to take it down. So much work went into it. It holds many fond memories, and it’s great for operations. All of this put me back to square one.
Off and on I’ve considered extending the LAJ layout. The problem there is that the room conversion and renovation to a mid-century modern sunroom and mini-library was very successful. I’m not interested in breaking up that experience with an expanded layout hatchet job.
Adding all of that up, it brings me to what is admittedly a temporary path. I’m going to follow the advice of “my board of directors” and go slow. For the time being, I’ll spend my time building up my fleet of modern era BNSF/LAJ rolling stock.
Although I don’t want to disrupt the LAJ layout room, after much thought, I decided that I could expand the layout “IF”, the expansion was a removable module. Extending the layout about four and a half feet to add a team track inspired by Arrow Reload vastly improves the operational potential and gives me another six months or so of projects to keep me busy while I think things through.
The LAJ/BNSF extension. This particular window frames the sunset and bathes the room in sunlight. I don’t want to permanently block it with a layout extension. The solution is to make the extension easily removable.
The extension is supported by a small shelf on the left and a removable shelf bracket on the right.
I needed for the shelf bracket mount to be totally hidden behind the blinds. The solution was a sidemount design.
In order to be viable, the extension module needs to be both strong and extremely light. I came up with a design using 1.5″ thick extruded foam framed by 1/4″ by 2 1/2″ lattice.
Will this expansion prove to be viable? Will installing and removing the extension prove to be too cumbersome? Who knows. It does buy me some time while I consider my options.
P.S. Prototype sidenote. Between my own site visit and a number of YouTube videos, it seems at least for now that switching operations around BNSF’s Malabar Yard are very intense as they serve Arrow Reload and Exxon Mobil. LA Rail Productions released a new video today in which the first segment documents pulling a cut of cars from Arrow. Note the ragged caboose tucked in behind the power!