Tom’s been back in touch, adding to the kato track plans HO scale on the blog:

“Alastair, thanks for your awesome blog, it’s neat to hear from model railroaders all over the world.

My name is Tom and I live in Colorado, USA. I live near Durango, Colorado, which is home to the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.

I haven’t posted in a long time so this is ‘catch up’!

I started model railroading as a child and have been doing that off and on since then. Now that I am retired I have more time for the hobby. My new layout is in a spare bedroom in my house, which measures 10′ x 13′ (3.048 meters x 3.9624 meters).

The layout has two lift-out bridges at the entry door to ease access. Those were detailed on earlier posts, as was benchwork.

I am modeling two railroads, The ‘Atchinson, Topeka and Santa Fe’ and the ‘Denver and Rio Grande Western’.

The location for these on my layout is Castle Rock, Colorado (with great liberties on my part!) This is one of some of the places in Colorado where both these railroads went through the same town. The era is mid 1950’s, as diesel was replacing steam. It is a switching layout.

To design my layout I used CAD software from AnyRail.com, which takes alot of guess work and measuring out of designing a layout. AnyRail has a library of many different brands of track.

I also use software by Trainplayer.com which runs trains on the Anyrail layout plan. This software catches any place where there is a track problem with the layout design.

This is my layout design done in AnyRail. I started constructing this layout 4 years ago and spent 6 months prior doing the design.

I am using Kato Unitrack HO scale, which is nice to work with and trains run well on it. I am using DCC by Digitrax for the layout. I am using electric turnouts and found turnout controls that I like better than the Kato controls.

The Kato ones stick out too far for the close quarters of my layout, these ones I use are made by RPC electronics and are mounted flush with the facia. They are specifically for Kato brand turnouts.

For securing wiring underneath the layout I use plastic 1/2′′ pipe brackets, fastened with only one screw so they can easily be opened to slip wires into. I use this mechanic’s creeper chair to do the work underneath the layout.

For connecting wires I went with a very easy to use and simple connectors which are CirKits SPL-62 Multiple Terminal Blocks, which are push in cable connectors. (wire stripping required).

I have completed a lot since my posts a long time ago. I will cover some of them here and other’s later. Here are some views of what I have accomplishes over that past four years.

The roundhouse was fun to build and do a nice interior. The boiler house that services the roundhouse and Allied Rebuilders with heat, steam, and compressed air is next to the roundhouse. A Santa Fe Doodlebug is sitting on the turntable.

One of the neat lighting features flashes like a welder is at work in one of the pits. I got that led from Evan Designs in Fort Collins, Colorado

There are workbenches and equipment the train mechanics use to maintain the locomotives.

Kato track plans HO scale

Allied Rail Rebuilders interior work

Allied Rail Rebuilders

Allied Rebuilders at night

Creeper for Model Railroad work

Cirkits wire connector

Front of Roundhouse

Overhead view of layout

Peak into Allied Rebuilders

Peek into Allied Rebuilder’s break room

Peek into Allied Rebuilder’s office

Pipe Clamp Wire Hanger opened

Roundhouse daytime at doors

Roundhouse night pic

Turnout controls & Turntable controller

Allied Rail Rebuilders sits close to the roundhouse. They do a variety of work, services the new diesel locomotives as well as rolling stock. It is outfitted inside with an overhead crane and all the shop equipment needed.

There is an office building that house offices for the Roundhouse, Allied Rail Rebuilders and the Yard. Fully completed interior. Video shows the Doodlebug being turned around and exiting the turntable.

Tom”

A big thanks to Tom for adding to the Kato track plans ho scale on the blog. I can’t wait to see his next update – I do love seeing a layout from the very start.

That’s all for this time folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day you get started on your layout, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

Al

PS More HO scale train layouts here if that’s your thing.

Need buildings for your layout? Have a look at the store.

They are great fun to make and great value too.