Your Model Railway

International Module Standards

REV A 30 June 2009

Remember:
Keep it Simple;
Simple to connect together
Simple to operate
Simple to trouble shoot

What is a Your Model Railway International Module?

A YMR International Module (YMRIM) is a small portable layout capable of being connected to
other small portable layouts to produce a bigger layout.

A module can be built to fit into a home layout, as a standalone layout with or without fiddle
yards at one or both ends or; specifically for joining together with other modules around the
world to form a larger layout.

Anyone or any group of modellers can make a YMRIM.

Any scene, prototype or imaginary, can be modelled.

YMRIM allows individual railway modellers scattered around the world to work together to
showcase the Model Railway hobby through their creativity and modelling skills.

Scale
00 – 4mm per foot on a track gauge of 16.5mm

DC or DCC
Either… but not together (see Electrics and Operation)

Getting it together
However it works best for you.
From a night with other local modellers meeting in your garage, to a major exhibition of
YMRIM from around the globe.
Make up a module, show and tell on the forum what you’ve done and see who else will join you.
Baseboard

1. Baseboard width. Min 12" max 24"

2. Baseboard length Min 12" max 36"
3. Baseboard material – Minimise weight, maximise strength. You may wish to air freight it
sometime in the future.
4. Backscene height Max 16" from the base of module (max. 12" above rail level)

The backscene should stretch along the rear and wrap round both ends to close the module in
scenically.
Unless the module is a multiple unit in which case the backscene wraps around either extreme
end of the multiple unit module.
Track
1. 00 gauge Code 100 only.
2. Front edge to front face of most forward rail at baseboard ends 4"
3. Twin track spacing 2" centres. This spacing could be increased on corner modules as per
clearance diagram.
4. Top of rail 4” from bottom of module.
5. The UP and Down Main track should be flat throughout the module, that is, no grades or
inclines.

Note: Code 100 Peco 00 gauge track is 0.186” from base of sleeper to top of rail.
If you use cork, foam or something else as a roadbed remember to include the thickness of the
material in your calculations.
Joining the modules
1. Bridging section length 4".
2. The track on the bridging section will have fishplates attached for alignment with the
track on the module at each end.
3. Fishplates should be soldered to the bridging track.
4. Track on the module will have the rail fixing on the sleepers cut away to accommodate
these fishplates.
5. Crash barriers. To protect valuable rolling stock bridges to have 2" high crash barriers as
shown.
6. Each submitted module to have 2 bridge sections with it for one end.
Electrics

Track wiring
1. Plan for both DC and DCC operations. Keep it Simple!
2. 4 x Terminal (Chocolate) Block connector on rear face, right hand end, with 18" wires
attached. 4 x Terminal (Chocolate) Block connector on rear face, left hand end, without
18” wires
3. Red wire = front rail
4. Black wire = rear rail.
5. One set of wires for the front (DOWN) track, one for the rear (UP) track.
6. These Terminal (Chocolate) Block connectors will act as back up for the fishplate
connections.
7. These Terminal (Chocolate) Blocks can also be used as Controller connection points.

Isolation of non-main line tracks/yards/sidings.

(See also Operations Concept)

1. Crossovers between mainlines and tracks leading from mainlines to other trackage on the
module shall have BOTH rails gapped (insulated).
2. Track gaps; insulated material or PECO insulated track joiners should be used. No air
gaps allowed.
3. Sidings and Yards must be capable of being isolated from the main line.
4. Powering of local tracks, switch machines, building lights, etc, is the responsibility of the
individual builder and should be separate from circuits which interface with other
modules on the layout.
5. Power sources, other than that for the Up and Down main lines may not be available at
the exhibition/layout venues.
6. The layout co-ordinator will allocate any spare available power as they see fit. Be nice to
them.
Clearances
Operation
Under Construction

1. Two main lines in operation only. Keep it simple.

2. Front track as Down Main.
3. Rear Track as Up Main.
4. Each main line with a separate controller/throttle.
5. Controllers connected to modules via Terminal block in selected module/Fiddleyard as
determined by Layout Coordinator.
6. DC or DCC but never both together.
7. Layout Coordinator to determine an appropriate time for operating DC of DCC
depending number of operators and stock available.
8. Individual module "yards" may be operated separately from the main layout if there is
power available.

Corner Modules
Under Construction

1. 00 gauge Code 100 only.

2. Front edge to front face of most forward rail at baseboard ends 4"
3. Twin track spacing 2" centres. This spacing should be increased on corner modules by
5mm as per clearance diagram.
4. Top of rail 4” from bottom of module.
5. The UP and Down Main track should be flat throughout the module, that is, no grades or
inclines.
6. 3" of straight track must start and finish mainline sections on corner modules.
7. Minimum mainline radius should be 36", it is recommended that a larger radius is used
on corner modules
8. No backscenes on corner modules. This will allow the module to be used either left or
right.

Uncoupler Magnets

1. If uncoupler magnets are used on the mainline they should be of the electromagnet type,
not the permanent magnet type.

Fiddleyards boards
Under construction

Push to make button CRASH preventer, but allows stock to be returned up the line. Requires
operator to push button.

Frequently asked questions

Under construction