Part 2: Passenger Service is Prototypical on Small Switching layouts

Small, freight-oriented switching layouts are an extremely popular modeling subject. But few are aware of a dozen fully-prototypical examples of freight switching lines hosting frequent passenger service. Further still, recent DCC-Sound product offerings now make it possible to realistically model these prototypes.

This clinic describes Diesel Multiple Unit transit systems, alternatively called Hybrid Light Rail, an infrastructure-light mode of frequent passenger service that shares the same rails as freight trains. It analyzes all existing examples of DMUs and demonstrates their general characteristics, station design, and operating patterns with two prototypical track plans for a 12’x13’ spare room. Much like their real-world counterparts, model DMUs can be added to existing layouts of any size with minimal modifications, and, whereas passenger trains throw a wrench into the plans of dispatchers, the high frequency of DMUs lobs toolboxes.