FREMO

Modular layouts H0(USA) - 1/87
  north American prototype

The friends of american railroads in the FREMO have developed a modular system, which is based on the experiances with the older systems.
The general recommendations about layout, materials and construction of a module shall apply. On this page only deviations and special issues are discussed.

Theme

There are two variants to this modular system in order to realize models of all prototypes in north America. The FREMO-US-Modules shall depict a standard gauge single track branch-line from 1950 until 1975.

On each module a specific situation should be modeled that fits into one of these general areas. Each design element should be researched well and the typical american way to handle things should be honoured. There should always the relation between the region and the operating railroad company recognizable.

In the West/southwest of the USA an arid climate prevails. The soil this therefore mainly yellow or red. The groundcover at the end of the modules should be dried grasland. This is defined as a mixture of 2 parts Woodland T43, 1 part T44 and 2 parts T50.
For the representation of dry and sandy spot we recommend fine sand.

A typical southwestern US-module - build and photographed by Wolfram Nicolaus

Many other parts of the USA (and Canada) - the Northeast, the eastern coast, the Middle West and the Northwest - in part also the South, are much greener. The soil is tending to be brown or black and the foliage is dense. In this regions we recommend a mixture of 2 parts Woodland T44 1 part T45 and 2 parts T50.

General Guidelines

For the modules we recommend the following: Ballast on the mainline Woodland B80, sidings and spurs also B83, private sidings: no recommendation.
Telegraph poles should be placed at regular intervals of about 30-35 cm - starting about 15 cm from the edge of the module. Each mast should have 3 traverses.
Perhaps it should be possible to plant the masts on both sides of the track, its is preferred to place the poles at yards and other stations on the side away from the operator. It is not recommended to wire the poles.

Endpanels and height

The height of the tracks is 1300mm above the floor.
The end-panels show a gentle valley, due to the symmetrical form it is possible to connect all modules without breaks in the landscape.

The endpanels are 500mm wide and 130mm high, the underside of the ties (sleepers) are 100mm above the bottom of the panel. Each panel has two 12mm holes, 65mm below the underside of the ties and 150mm to the left and right of the track centre.

Size and geometry of modules

The length and the geometry of modules is free (transportability being the main issue)

Legs

Two legs form a pair. Each pair consists of two 1200 mm long studs of 20mmx45mm, they are braced with two pieces of plywood (multiplex), 400mm wide.
The lower one is fixed with the underside 100mm above the floor and is 100mm hight.
The upper one is 175mm high, of which 75mm are on top of the studs. The top-corners of this upper-brace are squared off.
Two 10mm holes 30mm from the top and 50mm from the side (= 300mm apart) align with the holes in the end panels. Each pair of legs supports two adjacent modules by putting M 8 x 50 bolts through the aligned holes of module-ends and the top-brace. remark 1
The legs have no height adjustment. remark 2

Track

Code 70 (height=1.8mm) according to NMRA RP-15.1 (Shinohara) is recommended, but code75 (Peco) or Code83 (Pilz-Elite) is allowed as well. Preference is give to the smaller sizes.
Roco-Line is not suitable, as it does not support NMRA RP-25 wheels at the frogs.

Minimum radius and turnouts

The minimum mainline radius is 610mm, 1000mm are recommended, minimum # 6 turnouts are to be used in through tracks.
ardtracks minimum radius 460mm., minimum # 4 turnouts.

Rolling Stock

Please observe the following standards:

• Kadee couplers, adjusted to company recommendations.
• wheels according to NMRA RP-25
• wheels and axles of non-magnetic material and no steel on/in the cars (replace weights with lead etc.) are required
• weight of cars: 40ft prototype= approx. 115g, 50ft prototype= approx. 135g - according to NMRA RP-20.1 is recommended.

Electrical system

We have opted for NMRA-DCC and the LocoNet as control system !
For each station (junction) a separate booster should be used. All boosters should be opto-isolated from the Loconet as we do not use common ground.
See our DCC pages

For operation modules with powered turnouts and lights a separate transformer is recommended.
This transformer has to be installed according to the official regulations in force - please inquire locally.
The AC-output of this transformer should NEVER be connected to the AC wires as described at the top of this paragraph. There is the possibility of a fatal shock if more then one transformer are feeding one secondary AC-circuit !

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