Model railroad layouts plans

Dave’s been back in touch with a wonderful step by step video on scenery for model trains.

And best of all, you can see him running his trains at the start of the vid.

The end is quite entertaining too, as you’ll see.

I’ve added pics, but they don’t really get across hoe Dave does his does stuff, it’s wonderful to watch.

(Vidos is below the pics.)

“Al…

I have just uploaded a new video showing step by step how to add scenics to a model Railway.

I tried to speak slower as a few have problems understanding my Yorkshire acent on the last one, but I am sure that they will understand and realise how easy it is to add scenics to a layout.

I have started out with a piece of plain board and built up a Diorama with a hillside, ballasting, adding static Grass, shrubbery, etc.

Its step by step, just sorry it is a bit of a long one but I tried to get everything in to it…

Regards

Dave”

From this..

… to this.

Crumple up newspaper in water to create the embankment.

Add as many as you need for you scene.

Add Mudrock.

Tap it down and leave to dry.

Add base coat for the static grass.

Add the base coat on the front too.

Add ballast.

Even out the ballast with your finger.

Add some brown to the base coat.

Add green and some glue.

Do the same all over the scene.

Add different shades of ground cover.

Cover up the tracks.

And the screw, add glue…

Get busy with the static grass – you can see it stands up nicely.

Hairspray will keep it in place.

Shake on more static grass.

Add brush and brambles to the edges.

Add trees and more brush cover.

Spray on the sleeper grime.

Wipe the rails clean.

Add backdrop.

Add rust pain to the rails.

Touch up with different shades.

The finished scene… but the pics don’t do it justice, have a look at the vid, it’s really worth watching:

A huge big thanks to Dave for sharing his Scenery for model trains vid.

I’m always banging on about making a start and I think a diorama is an excellent way to dip your toe in the water.

A layout, is not different to a ‘large’ diarama. When it comes to wiring, just start simple.

Best of all, a diorama can be anythign you like, an engine shed, a railway hut by some track… anything:

Here’s one from the archives, and another one from Dave:

“Al

I have enjoyed your site for a long time, since I have retired had to find something to fill the spare time, I purchased one of your (Big Bundle Deal) and printed out one of the Engine sheds among many others.

I have created my own version of the Engine shed as shown in the pictures.

With added and above doors are my creation of lamps, LED lights.

Scratch built table and chairs with tools.

Interior detail.

Side walls have ventilation fan vents.

I have dreamed to set up a model railroad layout for a long time and when I started to make it a reality one thing came up after another, like kids, education, weddings and now I have time and room to finish the dream, but not much of a budget.

Best to all talented people like Hall of Fame Dave, talented hobbyists and their many beautiful layouts.

Ryszard”

(You can download all of the engine sheds here, with this bundle deal.)

Now on to the very same Hall of Fame Dave, who has also sent this vid in:

“Hi Al,

just uploaded video showing building that Railway cottage from your site, turned out not bad, and it was easier than what I thought, just a case of getting a decent piece of card to put the print on, then cutting to size.

Dave”

So there you go, if you don’t know where to start, pick a scene, build it, and see if you enjoy yourself. I suspect you’ll find it a lot of fun. Pottering over scenery for model trains is relaxing too, just go at your own pace and enjoy it.

Leave a comment below if you have any tips on making that start, or tinkering with scenery. I’d love to hear from you.

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

Dean from New Mexico has been back in touch with his Atlas track plans:

“My last layout, the Scenic Ridge, is pretty much complete, and it’s time for me to start on my next layout, another small railroad.

Today I’m going to talk about my design process using Atlas Track Planning Software (ATPS) and the design I came up with.

First, here are the design criteria I developed to help in the process:

A standard door size (30″ x 80″)

Lots of action!

Two main tracks so I can run two trains at once unattended

Support for a yard engine to

–assemble cars in a classification yard
–work several industries

Use flex track for better realism

DCC

Here’s how I started the planning process. Many people begin with a simple oval. It’s an easy layout, but it’s kind of boring.

Here’s a second start—adding curves and tunnels or other features makes it more interesting, but there’s not much room for getting in my double line or industrial sidings.

This is another design that I actually built in both G scale and N scale, an up and over layout. If you follow the black route around, you see that it has one main track that comes back on itself.

So back to the drawing board for my future layout. For this I started with two ovals.

In my final design shown below, each of the two loops can have a train running around continuously.

To the two main tracks I added some sidings, two stations (red), a mine (blue), an engine facility with an engine house (red), a classification yard, and several possible industrial locations (green and yellow).

Note that the long branch line to Romeo can be used by the yard engine to work the classification yard and industrial areas.

The yard engine can be working the yards and sidings, assembling and disassembling trains while the two trains on the mains keep running by themselves.

There is a complication for the local yard switcher that makes operations more interesting.

The local needs to dodge around the two main-line trains to work the industrial sidings at Fox Creek or the mine at Platoro. This siding at the lower right, representing the interchange to the D&RGW can be used as a fiddle track to add and remove cars.

In my plan, I have added two tunnels, a large mountain (dark gray) on the upper right, and lower hills (light gray). To help separate the two towns, I added a river (blue) and a central hill (gray).

To see more details on my planning process and final design, please see my youTube video at

Right now, I am calling this the Conejos Valley Railroad. The Conejos River valley exists in Southern Colorado, Platoro and Romeo are real towns, but Conejos is fictional.

In my mind the railroad connects with the Denver and Rio Grande Western in Alamosa and runs from Conejos, through Fox Creek, up the river to Platoro. FYI, conejos in Spanish means rabbits, and Platoro is a combination of plata (silver) and oro (gold).

I think my plan is more representative of what I call the “British” model. Great Britain has a much more extensive railroad system than in the U.S. with many more trains, both freight and passenger.

I think of the British layout as having 2 or more concentric circles of track (I’ve seen up to five loops) and lots of details–buildings, people, autos– completely filling the space.

In the U.S. we have far fewer passenger trains and long trains passing through varied landscapes. Except for the Atlantic coast, there are few passenger lines. For example, Amtrack serves only a few cities in my state with only two trains running per day.

Thus, U.S. model layouts tend to have a longer single main line, with more scenery between towns and few passenger trains. I think of the folded loop layout above as “American”.

Here’s an interesting, but unrelated, story that Al might want to pull. Thirty years or so ago, my wife and I were traveling around England and had spent a day in Windsor seeing the castle and town.

We had traveled down over the short stub line from Windsor to Slough and were waiting for a train back to London. After a bit, several police in flack jackets showed up on the platform across from us and directed everyone there to leave.

Suddenly a long black train with royal markings silently pulled into the station. “The Queen?” Unfortunately, no.

Several people (Royals?) got out of the train and were led up to waiting cars where they were whisked away, presumably to Windsor. Very exciting to us!

Dean”

Now on to Hugh:

“Hi Al

I think some of the American Flyer die cast Locos are nearly as detailed as mid 1930s Lionel. So for Kid Proof Christmas displays I have used a couple AF 420 shells with Marx motors. Some shells are broken and cheap but if they have all the trim the bodies can be fixed with products like JB Weld epoxy.

This red one is a mixture of many spare bits.

The tender is a Marx wedge with post war Lionel trucks.

The flat car is prewar Lionel with post war trucks and the PRR caboose is the last tin plate one that Lionel made in the late 1930s and continued into 1946.

The next to the last image is a modern era Lionel powered AF loco set up to pull a 1934 Lionel North Shore set.

Hugh”

A big thanks to Dean for sharing his Atlas Track plans.

I also like the way Hugh ‘kid proofed’ his locos.

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.

Henry’s been back in touch with a wonderful back story of his Scratch built locomotive:

“Hello Alastair

A little different submission from me this time. I know that you are very keen for people to make a start on their layouts, and rightly so.

However, this post is about making a start and finishing it.

During the 1980’s there were very few South African Steam locomotives on the market. The ones that were on the market were white metal and brass kits, that cost an arm and a leg. (Many of them are still being manufactured today).

An alternative to spending a huge amount on a single locomotive, was to scratchbuild or kitbash. This is the story of one such a project, started by my late dad.

He bought locomotives with the same wheel arrangement as the prototype, and then proceeded to strip everything down, leaving only the mechanism running. Then began the process of rebuilding, using plans, photos and other reference material.

Sadly, when my dad died in 2006, he left about 4 South African Steam locomotives unfinished. I inherited them, and packed them away for one day…

Well, for one of those locos, the one day has arrived. It is a South African Railways class 16 DA with a narrow firebox.

I include a few photos as well as a link to a youtube video showing the build process.

The Green loco was the starting point for this build. Now, I have completed what my dad had started 35-40 years ago.

Henry”

A big thanks to Henry for sharing his scratch built locomotive.

I really did enjoy his narrative because there’s always something special about posts that give a nod to the loved ones who got us involved in this hobby.

Please do leave a comment below if you have similar memories – I’d love to hear them.

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