Unclealex Posted July 23, 2019 Share Posted July 23, 2019 Hi all, here's an interesting theory: I'm planning to build a micro layout based around the much loved "inglenook" style shunting puzzle. My question. Is, can there ever be too many of these shunting type layouts? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
1722 Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 5 hours ago, Unclealex said: Hi all, here's an interesting theory: I'm planning to build a micro layout based around the much loved "inglenook" style shunting puzzle. My question. Is, can there ever be too many of these shunting type layouts? Put simply... No. 2 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sb67 Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 I love em' Steve. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted July 24, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 24, 2019 As said, No. Because although the track plan is essentially the same, the surrounding scenics make them all individual. Tinner's Forge is an inglenook, The Stores part of the next layout will also be an inglenook, but they will be completely different. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc smith Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 Again, "No" has to be my answer. Actually, I was going to add pretty much what Stubby47 says above..... I've seen many over the years, and yet each one has had it's own "look" or sense of place etc In fact, there are adaptations you can make to the basic design anyway. If I were planning to build one - I'd probably be looking at doing some sort of modification to the basic plan Good luck with your build 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff_nicholls Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 I'd love to see someone build a modern image micro layout. When staging "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" in a local panto, there are actually only half a dozen thieves with different hats. If the view of the layout is severely restricted to, say, a junction with signals, a container train or express might only need a few wagons or coaches. Quite a show could be achieved with the sounds, lights and smoke possible courtesy of DCC, and the amazing detail of the models we see at exhibitions. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium HillsideDepot Posted July 24, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 24, 2019 Another "no" here. My "inglenook" Drew's Sidings has no points, is based on a real place, and uses additional wagons (a CCT with tail lamp, and a crane & match) as scenery to get the siding lengths correct for the puzzle. I have operated the layout for a day at an exhibition without driving myself totally mad, although my lunchtime relief operator, a professional railwayman commented "thankfully my trains are prepared for me" at the end of his spell. The great thing about an inglenook is the wide variety of scenes it can be set in. A layout in itself ; the goods yard of a larger layout; private sidings adjoining a bigger yard; shunted by the train engine, a yard pilot, or one of the many delightful industrials now on the market. Whilst there is nothing wrong with the simple inglenook plan, finding ways to "disguise" it certainly adds variety to the genre. And whilst its not exactly an inglenook, there is an interesting US live feed from Virtual Railfan, available on You Tube which shows a foundry where the local shunts, sorry switches, during the afternoon. Like all such workings times vary depending on the work to be done, but sometime between 19:00 and 21:30BST 7 days a week you should see it at work. And You Tube has a 12 hour rewind, so if the empties are by the exit (they are shunted out by a road/rail shunter) the local hasn't arrived yet, if they've gone rewind a bit. Its not exactly an inglenook, but close enough to get an idea of how they really work. Maybe I should dust off my Civil Engineer's stores inglenook plan.... 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold john new Posted July 24, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 24, 2019 (edited) Another no. Ideal starter or practice piece. Low cost (relative term) compared to something much larger. That, however, comes with the caveat that you have to be the type of person to enjoy shunting it when it’s done; if you aren’t then perhaps other options are a better bet. I’m currently building one as I have no space for anything bigger - time will tell if I find the post-build running as interesting/challenging as the build phase. Edited July 24, 2019 by john new 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulBee Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 (edited) No. For me, there will never be too many shunting type micro layouts. I just wish I could get one up and running. I'm on my third attempt in 5 years, but I think this number 3 could be the one (so to speak). I'm just reluctant to post my endeavours until I'm sure I'm going to see it through. Edited July 24, 2019 by PaulBee 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HonestTom Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 There was a chap some years back who built a mainline terminus micro. The trick was that he only portrayed one small corner of the terminus, with a footbridge a la King's Cross as a scenic break. Thus, he could have top link expresses represented by a locomotive and a single carriage. I'm sure you could apply the same thing to modern image. Re Inglenooks, there are so many possibilities that I'd say no, there can't be too many. I myself have two - one is a narrow gauge box file based around a Lincolnshire agricultural railway and the other is a run-down suburban goods yard. Same basic track, two totally different layouts. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodshaw Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 I would say the only determinants of not building a small shunting layout are if you don't like shunting or you've built so many you're bored with them. I don't know of anyone not building one because they think there are too many around. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazmanjack Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 One good thing about an inglenook is that it isn't too big of a layout and if you want a change of pace, simply just change the scenery and rolling stock. After all, it won't cost an arm and a leg to play around with scenery, buildings etc. I have built two inglenooks, one British (Linden Ford : 53" x 22") and one New South Wales - Australian (Tomlins Creek : 72" x 15 3/4"). Both are fun to play with and both have been exhibited in the past and they garner interest every time. Cheers, Gary. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
298 Posted July 28, 2019 Share Posted July 28, 2019 Is it ok to have a layout that is essentially an Inglenook, but with an additional siding added on...? 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted July 28, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 28, 2019 4 hours ago, 298 said: Is it ok to have a layout that is essentially an Inglenook, but with an additional siding added on...? Absolutely. Rule 1 applies. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveyDee68 Posted July 28, 2019 Share Posted July 28, 2019 Never too many! I find the different settings inspiring! When planning my dockside layout, I had in mind two opposing inglenook plans to provide shunting challenges (then realised the complexity of wiring up for two interchangeable controllers and thought 'one engine in play until I switch to DCC!'). The shortening of longer sidings by the placement of non-moving stock as per Hillside Depot's Drew's Sidings is a brilliant way of disguising/setting up the 5-3-3 formula in longer sidings - that is what I plan to do on my (eventual) layout! Also, I plan to have an inglenook set up "buried" in a loop off an oval for my cousin's boys to play with: 3 wagon plus loco "headshunt", 5 wagon loop length, two 5 wagon sidings but reduced to 3 wagons by crane placement, cattle dock/van unloading etc. That way, a train can be left looping whilst shunting takes place. The younger boys will simply play trains, the oldest can be given the inglenook challenge to complete! That plus a loco shed lane - there's three boys, and each of them has their own loco! Good luck with your layout - make sure you share! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
37114 Posted July 28, 2019 Share Posted July 28, 2019 On 24/07/2019 at 16:23, HonestTom said: There was a chap some years back who built a mainline terminus micro. The trick was that he only portrayed one small corner of the terminus, with a footbridge a la King's Cross as a scenic break. Thus, he could have top link expresses represented by a locomotive and a single carriage. I'm sure you could apply the same thing to modern image. Re Inglenooks, there are so many possibilities that I'd say no, there can't be too many. I myself have two - one is a narrow gauge box file based around a Lincolnshire agricultural railway and the other is a run-down suburban goods yard. Same basic track, two totally different layouts. I did the same when I built Peafore Yard, I modelled part of Bristol Temple Meads using the old parcel elevator as a scenic break. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
long island jack Posted July 28, 2019 Share Posted July 28, 2019 No, the only limit is your imagination! 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
1722 Posted July 28, 2019 Share Posted July 28, 2019 2 hours ago, long island jack said: No, the only limit is your imagination! Love that layout! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HonestTom Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 On 28/07/2019 at 01:50, 298 said: Is it ok to have a layout that is essentially an Inglenook, but with an additional siding added on...? Yeah, it's your layout, your rules. Actually, as I recall, A R Walkley's 'Layout in a Suitcase,' which some consider to be the first Inglenook, incorporated an extra siding with a loco shed. I've built an Inglenook that had a fourth, short siding where I could keep another engine. One "main line" engine would bring the wagons in, the shunter would emerge from the siding and arrange the wagons, then the main line engine would return to collect. Or I could keep a brake van on the siding, or a crane, or whatever took my interest. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold john new Posted July 29, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 29, 2019 Mine has off-stage extras but not to alter the 5-3-3 shunting. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
298 Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 (edited) On 28/07/2019 at 06:09, Stubby47 said: Absolutely. Rule 1 applies. I don't really subscribe to rule 1, it's often used as poor or arrogant answer to badly phrased point. I've found that I'm quite capable of enjoying the hobby without being so dismissive- on both sides.... The advantage I've found of adding additional track to an Inglenook plan is it allows room for additional stock storage on the layout. Edited July 29, 2019 by 298 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted July 29, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 29, 2019 Fair comment, but I wasn't trying to be dismissive. 'Rule 1' can get over used, but adding an extra siding, or sidings, is entirely at the discretion of the layout builder and shouldn't need 'approval ' from anyone else - it's their trainset. As has been seen above, an inglenook can quite easily be merged into a wider trackplan and brought into play with the strategic placement of rolling stock which is not involved with the puzzle - this something I'm intending to do with my own latest inglenook, The Circle and The Stores (TCATS). 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HonestTom Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 I think I'm right in saying that the original Inglenook Sidings started out as part of a larger oval layout, so "extras" are entirely in the spirit of things... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastworld Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 On 28/07/2019 at 01:50, 298 said: Is it ok to have a layout that is essentially an Inglenook, but with an additional siding added on...? Who might it not be okay with? Stu 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnarcher Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 (edited) I am wondering about combining the good old inglenook with the 'part of a station' approach. It could be the goods yard beyond the platform, as at Fairford, or if one took Plowden (Bishop's Castle - plan attached if it works) and chopped it in half at either edge of the station building (looking from the approach) you'd basically have an inglenook, with the large building as a view-blocker. Has anyone used the puzzle in such a way? Edited July 30, 2019 by johnarcher 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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