Tom’s been in touch – he’s been busy on a module for the Northwest model railroad club:
“Well. Alastair, from one old man to another, there is nothing that makes me happier than showing my model railroad photos and my track plans formerly drawn with WinRail and MS Paint but currently drawn with WinRail and Paint.NET.
Here is a selection of attachments including progress on the Northwest Crossing MRRC Parker module and progress on the crude and vacuum unit that caused so much trouble but is due to bring so much glory when it finds its place on the Northwest model railroad club Free-MoN modules dedicated to petroleum transport, refining, and general handling on or near Houston’s own ship channel as seen from Google Earth.
Tom”
Plan is clickable!
“Hi Al just posted this one , new Loco I have just acquired , the Deltic , one of the favoured ones in the UK for all the railway fans and hobbyist , she needs a re blow on the sound , but what a beautiful Loco …
Regards
Dave”
A huge big thanks to Dave and Tom.
That’s all for today folks. Until tomorrow!
Please do keep ’em coming.
And if today is the day you stop dreaming and start doing, the Beginner’s Guide is here.
Best
Al
PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.
Tom
What a marvelous layout, the oi refinery has so much detail it looks like it might actually produce motor spirit.
BOTH SIGHT AND SOUND OF YOUR FANTASTIC LAYOUT GIVE THIS OLD MAN A THRILL, FROM WHAT I SEE OF THE BUILDINGS IN THE BACKGROUND, CAN I ASSUME YOU ARE IN “GREAT BRITTAN”? THANK YOU FOR SHARING WHAT THE LONG AND SOMETIMES TEDIOUS HOURS OF WORK YOU HAVE DONE BUILDING YOUR LAYOUT HAVE PRODUCED, I NEARLY EXPECTED TO SEE THE PEOPLE MOVING ABOUT…
DUANE HAMPTON
Very impressive !
thanks for the tips…i adjust them to my O scale lay outs, where i can…you have so much talent…
I have seen a lot of kit bashing but never anything close to that great structure you created. Wonderful job on the refinery and your landscaping.
Very nice and the layout is exceptional. Job well done. I never thought to use Google earth to recreate an area. Thanks for the idea.
Hi thanks for sharing your layout with us. What are the dimensions of your layout. Thanks, John (Yuma, AZ)
Some great buildings you have constructed there Tom from Google Images ..well done Sir .
Tom, great layout with wonderful detail. What scale is your layout and the size in feet?
Wow! You really have created a masterpiece of a layout. I am so impressed with your work and attention to detail. Very amazing working! Thank you for sharing it!
well done so realistic
I am stunned by the amount of detail! Superb effort Tom! Thanks for sharing.
I love to see masses of track packed into the available space; and this is the best example I’ve seen. Fantastic! Well Done. Need a lot of stock to populate all those sidings and turntable slots, how wonderful!
NICE VIDEO LOVELY TO WATCH,
What a fantastic layout Tom.
Yours is the best sculpted, detailed hillside that I have about ever seen! Rocks and soil are very realistic and I love the way you have a road cut between hillsides. Great work.
just love what you have none
how long have you been doing this layout
regards keith
YOUR LAYOUT IS LOOKING BETTER ALL THE TIME.
Nice Very Nice
Question on the layout picture
Upper right has two mains line crossing 4 main lines
Is this a over under or a massive X crossing???
Can you send me the elevation details?
Thanks
RG
OUTSTANDING.
Nice work, I worked in oil for 30 years. Pipelines, terminals, tank farms. Like what you have done.
Dave I wanna see a driver in that cab please! LOL!
JohnE UK
Thanks for the track plan. What is the size of the layout?
Hello, what scale is it and what are the dimensions of your layout. It looks like N-scale on and 8’x7′ plan? Many thanks for sharing.Chris
Hello Tom – I really like your layout so could you please give me the actual dimensions of it.
Kind regards and happy modelling,
Les ( in Melbourne)
This looks great very awesome a lot of guys really go to lengths to be detailed
Tom,what an AWESOME layout!! Very nice work!! Craig,Vt.
Tom,
Great layout. What scale is it.
Tom, looking at your work reminds me so much of driving along Hwy 225, and over the ship channel bridge in Houston! Brings it all back again after a lot of years away. Wonderful work. Thank you for sharing.
Northwest Crossing – just stunning!
The lighting really makes it! That is exceptional – you should be very proud of your work! Well done!
Tom,exceptional work.Love the fact the layout is not needlessly cluttered,very realistic.The tower is just SWEET.Nice work
Awesome refinery, I am looking at a chemical plant, what kit did you use?
NICE work guys!!!! WOW. that refinery is impressive!!!!!! LOVE the lighting!!!! ~Hemi
The oil refinery is truly impressive. Dave’s layout is always impressive. A true hobbyist. I always look forward to seeing Dave’s layout and the new creations he comes up with! Farmer AL
I can only reiterate the many other requests and ask the scale and the actual size of the layout. I am in the middle of planing my layout for 00 and that is exactly what I want with the exception of the two turntables. Pleeeeze?
To Dave, luv your layout and I can only dream. One thing if I may, I notice your centre platform has a down ramp leading to the grass between the tracks. Shouldn’t that have a dead end there with a barrier “do not cross” – you know for safety? I would hate to see one of your passengers go down that ramp and try to cross the tracks instead of using the overhead stairs and get run over by your new loco class 55!
Al
Am back into MRR after being out of it for 50 yrs. HO Scale is my thing and have 50 yrs of cars, tracks and etc.
Enjoy your site and a suggestion that I think everyone would go along with.
Great site!
ParDean1
I am so humbled by the work displayed on this site. You guys have so much talent, ability and ambition, it has created a huge barrier of inertia for me to start my on railroad. I recently rediscovered my 1950’s 027 Lionel trains and want to start on my own project but am having a hard time getting started. Afraid to fail, but if you never start, that is failure in and of itself. Keep on railroading and impressing the rest of us with your work. Thanks Alastair for these postings.
Great modelling skills Tom, well done.
Tom, Great photos and such wonderful details in your refinery models. The photos look like they are of a different layout than the included track plan. Am I missing something?
Dave, Glad you’re enjoying your new class 55 loco. Your videos are always a treat. Keep up the great work!
An amazingly detailed cracking tower! Have never seen such detail on any model I’ve ever seen! Have you worked at a refinery?
I remember seeing these towers often when i lived in southern California near Long Beach!
The track plan is one of two versions of nearly identical track planning ideas: 1.) very slight grades restricted to specialized transition tracks and 2) no grades (hence track crossings).
These are twice around double track with stations at both ends inside loops. They have nothing to do with anything I have ever built.
Great work!! No, FANTASTIC work!!!!
It must be a blast running your layout.
Like some of the others have asked, what gauge is this and is there a dimensional plan? I also am starting a U shaped layout but with a longer straight away and if your working in HO, I would love to know the dimensions and the rail radius’ on the ends.
Pete
The man who works with his hands is a laborer
The man who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman
The man who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist
Tom, you are definitely an artist! Thanks for sharing your works with us.
I liked the contrast between the first photo and the second as well among the rest. We have a modern look along with a more late steam or early diesel look. Most railroads have a coal facility or a maybe an old logging business to mark the history of the layout.
That first photo is amazing, but the tower is cool with the lights. Made think of the movie “Armageddon”. And your scenic layout sets a nice background for all your buildings and facilities. The terrain features, the track placement and the bridges are all very interesting.
Dave, well that a nice looking engine.
Frank in Orlando
Pretty epic!!!!!!!! I hope mine well turn out that good.
I am planning a similar “U” shaped table. Some of your track layout is interesting, but mine will not have nearly the amount of track as it will be based on late 19th and early 20th century western US. I would like to know dimensions of your table so I might adapt some of your ideas for my track layout.
Regarding the oil refinery. It is sad to see a shrine dedicated to the destrucion of the environment..
loved the lighting on the tower
Tom……WOW…….awesome
Thats pretty outrageous alrighty .
Tom
The Northwest Crossing MRRC must be a real fun group to be in. Astounding layout, artistry and craftsmanship. The tower is spectacular and had to be a bear to replicate but you fellas have the only one and must display it proudly. Very impressive plan and refinery. WOW.
D. D.
Sweet addition to the layout. Have fun & be well.
Big Al
Had a lot of work with this one. Thanks. Best.