Model railroad layouts plans

Dean’s been back in touch with his small N scale track plan :

“Al, greetings from Dean in New Mexico,

A couple of weeks ago I sent in a blurb on the planning process for my next small N scale railroad.

After I saw it published, I realized I had only done half of the planning process.

Things I didn’t include: the towns and industries the railroad served, where it was located, and even its name.

So here are those details I have decided on.

My railroad is placed on a real river valley in southern Colorado, the Conejos (rabbit) River.

It connects with a still-active spur line of the Denver and Rio Grand Railroad that runs between Alamosa and Antonito.

Note that the very popular narrow gauge tourist railroad, the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, also starts at Antonito.

My fictional Conejos Valley Railroad runs from Conejos, through Fox Creek, to Platoro and serves the town of Romeo.

All these towns exist and (except for Romeo) are situated on the Conejos River.

My video includes more information on the history of the D&RG RR, its relationship to the Conejos River RR, and the influence of the Spanish migration from Mexico to the Southwest of the US.

Here’s what’s real: Platoro once had several thriving mines, but they shut down before 1900, and Platoro is now mostly a ghost town with no mining. Conejos, Colorado is only a few houses, and Fox Creek is a small tourist town serving campers who visit this area.

Here’s a map of the real towns along the D&RG RR between Alamosa and Antonito.

On my imaginary railroad, Platoro is still a very active mining town and the towns of Conejos and Fox Creek are enlarged. I moved Romeo and turned it into a lumber center. Below is my track plan, reproduced from my earlier article. The siding at the lower right is the interchange to the D&RGW which can be used as a fiddle track to add and remove cars.

Below is a 3D view of the plan which shows the elevation changes of the outer loop. (Rendered with the Atlas Track Planning software.)

Here is my new plan for the Conejos Valley Railroad (In green) which shows the actual D&RG RR (large red line), and Cumbres and Toltec (small red line).

It’s important to include realistic buildings and industries in your mythical railroad, so here are photos of existing buildings that I will add to my railroad (taken with Google Earth).

That’s it for now. Cheers!

Dean”

A big thanks to Dean for sharing his small N scale track plan.

When it comes to your layout, a little planning can go a long way.

But in the same light, I know some of you wing it all the way, and still end up with a fabulous layout.

Just me, but I think as long as you have a theme, your layout will turn out well.

Now on to Tom, who has made that all important start:

“I just started this layout in January this year. It’s on two 4×8 sheets off plywood and foam.

Tom”

I always get mails asking why I post ‘half built’ layout. It’s because I like seeing them come to life, and also, making a start is the most important part…

A big thanks to Tom and Dean.

That’s all for today 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 Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

PPS More N scale layouts here if that’s your thing.

Dana’s been in touch with his HO scale layout 5×14.

Like most of us, his layout grew and grew… but that’s all part of the fun:

“Hi,

Have enjoyed your site for years.

Anyway, thought I’d send a few photo’s of my new, currently under construcution layout, in HO scale.

I’m 80 years old so it’ll probably be my first and last layout. I am trying to do my best after obtaining many, many HO items these past years.

It started out as a 4×4 and soon went to 4×8.

This then went to a 5×8, then 5×10 and until I have now a 5×14 to work with. Funny how one always needs more space!

Instead of just doing one thing and then another I’ve decided to finish one end first and then the next section and so forth. It’s not correct but like the old saying goes,
“It’s my railroad and I’ll do what I want!”.

I’ve laid the outer main down and soldered the sections together. I tested it with a loco I have and everything worked fine.

Then I placed 2 inch and 4r inch risers, covered them with plaster cloth, thin coat of Plaster of Paris and painted that section brown.

I temporarily placed some buildings on it just for fun. They still need lighting and some detail work (people, interiors, cats and dogs, etc).

Even your buildings will get lighting after using poster board as supporting material. I’m even thinking of cutting out the windows and doors and installing Tichy items in their place.

I do my own decals to help keep costs down. I just finished a fleet of semi-trailers for a major carrier in the 50’s, Navajo Freight Lines.

I’ll be building a freight terminal to place them loading and in the yard. . I also stenciled a tee-shirt with my favorite railroad, The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad.

I hope your readers can forgive an old man his mistakes as I go along with the build.

It’s such an enjoyment to spend time doing this.

If, by chance, you wish to publish this, please feel free to edit as you please.

Thanks,

Dana

So. California”

A big thanks to Dana for sharing his HO scale 5×14 layout.

There’s one particular line in his narrative that I absolutely love:

“It’s such an enjoyment to spend time doing this.”

That’s what it’s all about – otherwise what’s the point?

That’s all for today folks.

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.

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

“Al,

I enjoy seeing the info you share, but I have never shared my layout with you so here are some pics.

This is a 4×8 that has been in the works for 10 or so years.

I now have it in a loft that is 16×20 and I am building a new layout and this 4×8 will not work into it well at all, so I will be dismanteling it in the next few weeks to get started on the new one.

I thought I would share some of it with you.

Thanks,

Frank”

A big thanks to Frank.

That’s all for today 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 Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

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