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I'm constructing Basement Layout 2.0 and am pondering where to place some of the classic postwar operating accessories. I'm not referring to lighted buildings or even trackside accessories (gateman, semaphores). I'm specifically referring to things like the crane, coaling station, operating water tower, unloading platforms for milk and merchandise cars, operating mailman cars, and the vibrating cattle car. I think that covers my inventory of accessories.

In Layout 1.0, I had these in a "yard" that was more for storage and accessories than an operating yard for building and unbuilding trains. Layout 2.0 has a real yard so I don't think these accessories belong there.

So, assuming they don't go in the yard, I'm mainly I'm asking about the pros and cons of putting them along a mainline or an "industrial spur" off the mainline. On a mainline means trains have to stop which creates some activity for the operators but interrupts flow. On a spur, especially thinking in the future with grandchildren, they can play with the accessories without interrupting the flow AND it provides an activity to drop off the cars for unloading.

Would appreciate any thoughts based on your experiences.

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If your layout is large enough, it is very desirable to get them off the mainline onto a spur.  Not tying up the mainline is the main reason (running trains on the main while operating on a spur, also a switching destination).  I have had trains bonk these accessories in the past on the main.   Best is to locate the accessory in an area that mimics where they would be in real life.  I am creating a farm on my next layout and plan the milk, cattle and horse cars there.     A number of these items are appropriate in a small industrial area (coal, cranes, merchandise).  Water tower in engine service area.

Bill

As you can see in the photo, I put them anywhere I can when I put boards up. A switched mainline, or a spur works. Below you can see crossing gates, gateman house, cattle loader, milk car loader, rotating beacon, and crossing bell and lighted yard tower. I did not have room for the log loader or the coal loader on this board. This was 2007 Greg

Trainboard 2007 [3)

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  • Trainboard 2007 (3)

Other FORUM-ites have offered good advice about accessory placement. Since you mentioned grandkids as "future Junior Engineers," here's my advice based on experience with my great grandkids -- Matthew (now 11) and Olivia (now 5).

* Place accessories on sidings located at the edge of the layout within short-arms-length for easy access. Kids may drop barrels, logs, and culverts -- and they'll naturally want to pick them up and put them back in place.

* Place the control button for each accessory on the fascia trim at the perimeter of your layout and in line with the accessory  for convenience of young activators. They'll move around the layout and activate each accessory - a better pattern than standing at a central control panel for all accessories.

* Allow kids to do some "five finger engineering" with accessories -- like moving a car to the exact position over an activation track section. picking up a log fallen off a log loader, picking up an errant culvert, nudging a barrel stuck on the vibrating ramp, etc.  To them, their intervention is "engineering."

* You'll soon discover that kids often prefer the action and fun of accessories to merely operating trains running in endless circles around the layout. Too soon boring.

* Since most action accessories are freight-handling related (instead of passenger related), your layout should favor freight service for their sake.

* On my layout, the most-favored action accessory for the grandkids is the Culvert Unloader and matching Culvert Loader. next-best:  the Lionel Sawmill and Oil Drum Loader.

*  Pricey accessories aren't necessarily the "favorite" of kids, such as:  Rocket Launcher, Nuclear Reactor.

* Sometimes, an improvised "accessory" becomes a hit. I created a Dinosaur Zoo on my layout with adult and juvenile dinos in corrals. The Lionel Dinosaur train parks at that siding and (according to Matthew) picks up animals and transports them to their summer feeding grounds and back.

* MTH iconic operating accessories (Gas Station, Car Wash, Fire Station, Mel's Diner) are clever with sound effects, but they seem to attract adults more than kids -- who may not have a long enough attention span to wait out the time it takes for the operational cycle.  FYI, kids may pay more attention to the firehouse dog peeing on the hydrant than on the action and sounds of the accessory.

Carry on ...

Mike Mottler    LCCA 12394

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  • Dino Pk Overview
  • Lionel Oil Field
  • E-W Platform
  • N-S Platform
  • MHM Layout, Level 1 as JPG
  • MHM Layout, Level 2 as JPG

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