Happy Day!

The last time the contents of these paper ream boxes had seen the light of day I had setup a point-to-point layout atop a hollow core door featuring a roundhouse and yard. This temporary door layout was used as a DCC learning and testing facility. I had invested in a Digitrax DCC system because it could easily control multiple locomotives and provided a single interface for switching turnouts; a perfect solution for operating a roundhouse facility and rail yard (to me). I was especially pleased with tidiness of DCC, but DCC wasn’t without challenges. The older locomotives I had required soldering decoders, I learned about auto-reversing circuitry of a turntable, and I remember just being annoyed by the overwhelming number of power feeders required for each branch of the roundhouse and each leg of the yard.

(wish I had pictures to share, but I don’t)

Okay, back to present day. I took a staycation, an at-home vacation, this fall (2025) to plan a layout. I knew I wanted the layout to:

– Use KATO Unitrack

– Use DCC for control

– Track must have elevation changes

– Be transportable

– Track plan must allow continuous operation with the option to run routes.

I spent the week totally geeking out on Unitrack, everyday was a different layout. I recreated the aforementioned point-to-point door layout from years ago, I created a massive 6’x10′ triple line interweaving monster, and I laid a few of the standard 4×8 plywood layouts from the layout idea books. I didn’t like the feeling of recreating a layout from a book, I wanted it to be an original creation while incorporating features and designs of inspiring examples; not exact replicas. I didn’t want to use layout planning software because I was taking a break from screens and genuinely wanted an organic experience; embracing my inner Bob Ross.

I decided on a ~4’x10′ by week’s end, this size allowed for space amongst layout features, didn’t feel too intimidating to model, and could be moved by two persons. Over the next few weeks, I headed to the wood shop and milled some local cherry to frame the 2″ foam insulation boards. The outside dimensions of the cherry frame are 4′ x 9’10” x 4″; I wanted 4′ total width so it would lay flat inside a pick-up truck or trailer, I wanted it just shy of 10′ so it would fit inside a “standard” American 10’x10′ bedroom, and I made it 4″ tall to accommodate foam board / hide electrical components. I still have intentions to create a beer ledge on the front for controls, arm rest, and well, coffee mugs.

-Hububba

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