A dual gauge layout from the master of micro-layouts, Carl Arendt.
Set in a busy industrial district, it models the interchange between a narrow and standard gauge line, with plenty of dual gauge track to keep it compact. One of the benefits of keeping your layout this small is the amount of detail you can add to each scene - in this case the crane is crying out to be motorised in some way.
I have posted two versions of the layout here - only minor differences, though, so please take a look at each version if you’re serious considering building this plan.
The plan was designed for one of the challenges laid down on the Small Layout Design mailling list - to design a layout suitable for a student to build while in college. The challenge required that the trackwork would be basic and inexpensive (so there’s just the one turnout) and the maximum dimensions would be 36 inches by 10 inches.
There’s a sector plate beneath the shops long enough to hold a short switching loco and a box car and operation would largely consist of switching cars between one of the factory spurs and the front siding. The doors to the factory should open, effectively doubling the length of the two sidings.
After choosing to model in HO scale with an American theme - specifically a logging line in the late 1920’s - I started putting some ideas together for the layout. The space I had available was 9′6″ by 6′6″ and it just so happens that this plan fits that space perfectly!
There are my usual double slips and a three way point to allow me to cram in as much trackwork as possible in a very small area, but the part of this plan that I am happiest with is the helix connecting both the logging branch and the short line to the one fiddle yard.
Possible improvements: More length would allow for wider curves.