Free-mo (or freemo) can be thought of as a "free-flowing modular" model railroad layout.
The concept began in Europe and has been imported into North America by clubs in the United States and Canada.
It has started to make its appearance at national and regional train conventions.
A few modules were on view at the Canadian Association of Railway Modellers (CARM) meeting in Hamilton in 2008. Our club, the Nottawasaga Model Railroad Club, is building several modules to interconnect between our club railroad and modules others bring to shows.
What makes Free-mo different?
A basic module has one track that must exit at both ends exactly in the center of the module lengthwise.
Basic module endplates are 2-feet wide. What you do between the ends is up to you. Track can run straight or curve with or without turnouts. There is also provision for a double-track mainline.
Corner-type modules also have the centered track. The modules, therefore, can be rotated 180 degrees and this will change the entire look of the railroad.
The layout can wander all over the place depending on who brings what to the shows.
The main idea is to allow the freedom to faithfully model prototype trackage (or freelance if that is your desire). You're free to build an odd-sized module that even includes grades. Our club's modules will need to be just shy of six feet in order to fit end-to-end inside the trailer we use.
The practice is to advise the show organizers the size of your modules so they can work out a track arrangement. There already have been some amazing set-ups.
Modules can be any length.
Many range from 6 to 8 feet. Some are as short as 2 feet. It depends on how you are going to transport them: car trunk, van, trailer, etc.
Track standard is Code 83 on the mainline with a 1" setback from the endplates.
2" track filler pieces join modules. Sidings can be Code 70 or even Code 55.
Mainline radius is 42" with 36" on branchlines.
Height to rail top from the floor is 50". Legs should be adjustable.
Track power standard is Digitrax DCC.
If your home railroad is wired with another system, as mine is with Lenz, it is necessary to make provision for a Digitrax plug.
There are other standards for electrical that must be followed so all modules can be easily hooked up.
There's a provision for a modular signal system.
Standards for painting and scenery have been set down.
Personally I've seen modelers taking some license with these instructions so I'm not sure how this will hold across the continent.
For more detailed information, go to www.free-mo.org.
We plan to follow the standards adopted by the Alberta free-mo group. Check out their website.
There's a photo showing what a free-mo layout can look like. http://www.calgaryfreemo.ca/AlbertaFreemo/
The junction between my permanent layout and a free-mo module under construction. This end joins the main layout via a double-track mainline.
The left end of the module has only a single track at the center. The near tracks are used for Canadian Pacific (CP) classification.
The rear is for Canadian National (CN). A CP box car has been spotted by the ShipIt program on a spur that will have an industry added (once it's built!).
The two center tracks serve as an interchange with my fictitious Utopia Northern RR.
This is a view up one leg of the wye from Mintwood to the module called East Utopia.
The other leg is the mainline to Utopia, the principal industrial area of the city.
The small station on the right is the first kit I ever built back in the late 50s.
Below are some work-in-progress pictures by our Nottawasaga Model Railway Club and others taken at the Holland Centre train show in September, 2008.
Steve Hoshell brought some new free-mo modules to the 2008 train show at Holland Centre.
This gives a good idea of how the track looks at the center of the end plate. Module configurations are endless because the track always lines up with the centerline.
This was the first attempt to connect to the Ontario Chapter of the Canadian Association of Railway Modellers (CARM) portable HO layout. The layout has an 1-foot extension on each end to increase its size to 5 X 10 feet. Currently built with Code 100 rail and DC, it has added the facility of interchange to free-mo. The layout is used to teach railroad safety to youngsters at train shows, cub meetings, and the like.
These central legs support the modules by fitting between two stringers. As constructed, they are lightweight and easy to transport and put up.
A masonite stiffener slips in between the two sets of legs to provide longitudinal stability. Lateral stability is provided by the triangular plates and the crosspieces under the module's top that lock the legs into place.
Some new free-mo modules appeared at the Brampton, Ontario train show, October, 2008.
Below are turnouts under construction using FastTrack templates and Micro Engineering tie and spikes.
Fast Track switches under construction
Here's another view of the work-in-progress.
Credit Valley Free-mo exhibit
At the Brampton 2009 Train Show in October, the Credit Valley Free-mo group had a group of modules in various stages of completion on display.
Credit Valley Free-mo is an HO scale model railroad group of modelers that was started in 2007. More information is available at their website http://cvrfreemo.hobby-site.com.
I videotaped some of the action during the show, including an operating terminal crane that Paul, of the Credit Valley Hobby Shop, demonstrated for me. Have a look.
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