Model railroad layouts plans

Dan’s been back in touch and added to the model train displays on the blog.

As you’ll read, there’s a difference between a display and a model railroad:

“Al,

I have found time to show the trains I run during the Christmas season at KeyBank in Martinsville.

One of the visitors, who has been coming to the bank display since he was 2 years old and is now 14 years old, took some video. I have included it with his permission. The TV station video is also on YT.

This is a model train DISPLAY. It is not a model railroad. It must be dismantled after each 4 week run at Christmas. I explain the difference between a display and a model railroad with photos of my home layout. Most visitors just like to see trains run. I have picked up several model railroaders for my club over the 34 years I have been doing this.

The display has features that change over the years. Just certain parts stay the same for the most part.

The track plan for the display. It is basic DC with blocks. I have two trains running all the time and make up trains while they run.

Our area was selected for a ball field for handicapped kids. Here the area for the ball park is being readied.

The finished ball park.

Fans watching.

Four years later the display featured a fair. Here is a working bumper car ride.

The merry-go-round and swing set and Farris wheel were featured for several years.

Another view of the rides.

One year we had carolers singing around a Christmas tree.

Another view of the singers and small band.

I had an expansion of the fair for two years with the coaster The Comet. This was one of the most difficult models I ever built.

Here are some videos taken this year and one that was from a few years ago when the Indiana University PBS station did a feature.

Dan”

(Watch on youtube here.)

A big thanks to Dan for adding to the model train displays on the blog – you can see his previous post on this here:

Dan’s bank train display.

That’s all for this time folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if you feel like you’re missing out on the fun, 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.

Need buildings for your layout? Have a look at the Silly Discount bundle.

Dave’s been back in touch with his HO train layout 3 loops:

“Al

Thanks for posting my layout and thank you to the very kind commenters.

This gives me the courage to follow up.

One of the things mentioned was a track plan. I meant to include it, but here it is:

There are three main sections with 2 reverse loops. On the right side is basically a reimagined Scenic Ridge. The roads shown didn’t make the final cut.

This section has my mountain and the suburbs. My original intention was for the road to connect up with the center section. Once I modeled the mountain, lake and river I found I painted myself in a corner and had a road to nowhere.

So I continued the road from the bottom and into the right hand reverse loop which then connects virtually to the center section.

The right hand reverse loop is my rural area with roadside shops, cabins and trailers. Kind of like you might see in northern Michigan.

The center 3 x 8 section is farmland leading to the city.

The left hand 3 x 8 section and the left hand reversing loop are industrial. Just getting started on this.

I control the layout via JMRI using a TV as the monitor.

I can run 4 trains in loops unattended and control the turnouts by clicking on them. I also set up the turnouts to operate in pairs where it makes sense (sidings and crossovers). Part of the fun for me is fiddling with the electronics. I have 4 arduinos in various spots under the layout connected to the computer via serial cards. These control the servos driving the turnouts and the crossing signals.

I took static Osborne model crossings and added tiny LEDs to them so they operate when a train passes. I use optical LED detectors as Arduino inputs to operate them.

There were a couple of comments on my bridges and I thought there might be some interest in how I constructed them.

The arch is a catenary arch. Basically the curve you see on suspension bridges turned upside down. I got the formula for this curve and put it in a spreadsheet. Then played with the parameters so I got the span I wanted as well as the height I needed to allow trains to pass.

Then I laid it out on a foam sheet.

Put down wax paper and insert pins where the curve goes. I used 1 inch horizontal intervals.

Next, soak 1/16 x 1/16 balsa in water to make it flexible. Stretch the first one along the pins then apply white glue to it. Repeat with a second piece, clamp and let dry completely. This forms a lamination and it will hold the shape. Then add bottom bridge deck side. Then the drops every inch.

Repeat for the second side.

Unfortunately, I didn’t take photos of the rest of the assembly, but it is pretty straightforward.

The result was a pretty bridge (IMHO), that is functional. It doesn’t flex at all when a 2 locomotive consist goes over it.

Thanks for all you do and thanks to the commenters.

Dave in Strongsville Ohio.”

A big thanks to Dave for sharing his HO train layout 3 loops – if you want to remind yourself of his last post, it’s here:

How to run multiple trains on one track.

That’s all for this time folks. Hope you’re having a very merry Christmas.

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.

Need buildings for your layout? Have a look at the Silly Discount bundle.

Bob’s been in touch with is Christmas truck, which really made me smile:

“Al…Happy Christmas from Bob in Texas.

It’s been a while since I contributed to your blog…but here is a Christmas contribution that I hope you all enjoy.

If you recall, one of my other hobbies, in addition to model railroading, is restoring vintage cars or, in this case, a vintage truck.

So, in the spirit of Christmas, I decided to combine both hobbies.

A vintage red pickup truck with a Christmas tree in the bed has become a ubiquitous Holiday symbol in the US. One can be seen in any number of made-for-television Christmas movies.

The image can be found greeting cards, T-shirts, Kitchen towels, pillow covers, door mats, and even shower curtains. And…I expect a vintage red pickup truck ornament to adorn most Christmas trees in the US.

I am fortunate to own a genuine vintage red pickup truck…a 1950 Chevrolet Three-Window 3100 pickup truck (we do love our pickup trucks in Texas).

These trucks were mostly purchased by farmers and ranchers who used them for work. When they finally came to the end of their useful lives they were left outside to rust away. Little thought was given to their resale value. If the original owners had known how popular these trucks would someday become they might have taken better care of them.

Fortunately, my truck, which was originally purchased by a farmer in Kentucky, received better treatment. It worked hard but was well maintained.

It was originally powered by a six-cylinder engine that produced about 85 horsepower and it had a three-speed manual transmission. Certainly by today’s standards rather spartan…no power steering, no power brakes, no air conditioner, no seat belts, and no radio.

My truck would now be classified as a restomod…a term used to describe a vintage car/truck restored to closely resemble the original vehicle but modified with numerous upgrades to make it more driver friendly.

It is now powered by a fuel-injected V-8 that produces in excess of 300 horsepower. It has an automatic transmission, power steering, power brakes, an air conditioner, set belts, and a modern sound system…a restomod.

During the Holiday Season, I typically park the truck with an illuminated Christmas tree in the bed in front of our house. And…it does attract lots of admirers.

This year, I decided to substitute a Christmas tree with N scale trains and a lighted Christmas village. I was inspired by the popular Thomas Kinkade Christmas Tree sculpture.

The tree is constructed of foam board, Styrofoam, and paper mache. It measures 4 feet tall, and has three levels.

The top level is 24 inches in diameter and the two lower levels are each 32 inches in diameter. The tree is decorated with garland, miniature trees, and artificial snow. I found the Santa Clause tree-topper in a Christmas catalog. My lovely wife and I recently took a Danube River Cruise and I purchased many of the village structures at Christmas markets in Germany, Austria, and Hungary.

An N scale Bachmann Brill trolley car circles the top level on Atlas Flex Track.

An N scale Bachmann Merry Christmas Express and an N scale Bachmann Spirit of Christmas travel the two lower levels on Bachmann E-Z Track.

I display the tree in the bed of the truck in front of our house weather permitting. And…it also receives lots of attention from our neighbors. Otherwise, it sits on a table in our living room.

I hope your readers enjoy my combination of Christmas icons and please have a VERY HAPPY HOLIDAY. Thanks, Bob in Texas

Thanks,

Bob”

A huge big thanks to Bob for sharing his Christmas truck – hope you liked it as much as me. It really did make me smile.

You can see Bob’s 1951 Mercury coupe here (If you’ve got an old classic please do mail me. I’d love to post it).

That’s all for this time folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day you blow the dust of your old locos and find some track too, 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.

Need buildings for your layout? Have a look at the Silly Discount bundle.