MiniRails - Modules

Modules

Why modules and what is a module?

Let me start with the last part of the question:
Simply said, modules are pieces of a puzzle that later form the layout. Modules are generally built according to certain norms. The chosen norm determines in which partner or guest layouts a module can participate. Which already leads us to the first part of the question; the ´Why?´.

Building a staionary layout means investing a lot of time until the first locomotive can actually run; just think about the benchwork and the wiring that have to be completed and tested... On a module, one has a comaparably small amount of tracks and so the benchwork and wiring are done with in a realtively short period of time. Another reason for building modules is that it is quite difficult to transport a stationary layout to meetings with your buddies. A module, on the other hand is quickly loaded into the car (or can even be taken with you on a train ride!), and it is quickly integrated into a layout at a meeting. The norms make that possible... There are quite a few norms out there, some of which are recognized Europe-wide (like the Fremo) or even world-wide ( like NTRAK). In this workshop, I will stick to the NTRAK-norm.

There are only a few things normed in the NTRAK - standards:

1. Length and width of module comply to a 2-foot grid (610 mm)
2. the location of the tracks at the module´s heads
3. the basic electric
4. Minimum radii
5. the transition from one module to another
6. the track elevation from floor level
7. minimum requirements of the used track system

Everything else is entirely up to the module owner.
On my modules, I use Peco code 55 track. The transition tracks from one module to the next one are normed and comply to an Atlas code-80 sectional track of 5"(125 mm) length. You can also make your own transition track by using a suitable sectional piece of track made by Roco. Peco and Atlas track should be available in any good hobby shop.
In NTRAK-standards, we have three completely separated cabs (or electrical circuits) for trackwork:
Standing in front of a module, they are represented by the colors red, yellow, and blue (from front to back). If I wire for analog operation, I stick to this color code where ´ground´ is always black. The "plus" wire is always attached to the rail facing the viewer. This means that from front to back, we have the color pairs

Red - Black
Yellow - Black
Blue - Black

More information to this can be found in the Wiring-chapter of these pages.

What else is there to say in general?
Not much, really, except that it is a lot of building modules and even more fun to operate them with a bunch of buddies!

I find it a lot more comfortable to build a module than a huge stationary layout because I

a) work on an easily to overview area,
b) can test new techniques without having to re-build,
c) achieve a presentable result in short time.