Why build Modular Railroads?

By hagen

For me, there are three main reasons to build modules instead a home layout: Space, flexibility and they are achievable.

Modules take up less space

Looking at 10 m of straight N-Scale track.
Looking at 10 m of straight N-Scale track.

Modules are flexible

There are two aspects to this: The layout itself and the focus of your modelling interest.

Schuppen Eins in Bremen in 2017
Schuppen Eins in Bremen in 2017

Schuppen Eins in Bremen in 2020: Same room, different layout
Schuppen Eins in Bremen in 2020: Same room, different layout

If you like this flexibility, building modules and joining a club might be a thing for you.

A Module can be finished

Bringing unfinished Modules to a meeting may force fellows to do the work for you.
Bringing unfinished Modules to a meeting may force fellows to do the work for you.

We can setup a rail-fanning layout and run 70 car trains. But we prefer operations.
We can setup a rail-fanning layout and run 70 car trains. But we prefer operations.

There is even more

I consider these factors as significant, but there is more. Attending a modular meeting is a lot of work and it even is exhausting. At least for me, making friends and having fun with them is even more important than working on the modules itself.