Model railroad layouts plans

Ben’s been in touch with his model train large trees – enormous ones in fact:

“Alistair,

I am starting a HO scale layout of Pacific NW logging using around 1900 as the time I want to represent.

I have started making Giant Redwoods and Giant sequoias for this. I have found that many confuse these trees as being the same and model them incorrectly.

It turns out they are completely different tree species. I have a prototype model of a Giant Sequoia found in Oregon and sometimes in California and I am working on a prototype for a Giant Redwood found in the northern coastal region of California.

This shows on the left the basic structure of Giant Sequoia w/o foliage; center right is smaller completed Giant Sequoia.; on the left is the trunk of a Giant Costal Redwood. Note differences in bark and trunk configuration. Can send building details if desired.

On the left, trunk and limbs of Giant Sequoia before foliage and on the right are two Giant Sequoias with the smaller of the two in the foreground. Details if desired.

This is a scratch build Giant Sequoia. 24” tall, so 174ft. in HO scale.

Thanks,

Ben USA”

Model train large trees? They look enormous, just like the real thing! A bog thanks to Ben.

There’s lots of tree posts on the blog – Rob’s how to make trees springs to mind.

“Hi Al,

Just uploaded this video showing what changes have been done so far.

Mainly showing the incline now added and the plaster cloth added, a test run going both forward and reverse over it, and well all I can say is well chuffed, it runs so smooth now ….

The downside is I am not sure when I shall be able to complete it all, I had a bit of a fall in the garden Saturday, more a trip up on a step, but did something to my knee.

It could be some time before I can continue and send more videos.

Regards

Dave”

Poor old Dangerous Dave. I hope he gets well soon.

When it comes to inclines, I’m always reminded of Bruces’s incline post.

Now on to Marvin:

“Al, attached is a photo of logs from an upper Midwest weed called “Common Mullen”. Besides log cars, a 7 footer makes a great walking stick.

Marvin”

Now to Jeff:

” Hi Al

I took my layout down last week for cleaning purposes. Putting it back up is like a jigsaw puzzle. I am suggesting seeing my layo0/uts are basically one dinemsional and I have space for a 8.5 (9×9) x 8.5 ft equivalent. If i did not have furniture in my living it could be as big as 12×12 and still able to walk about it.

For any novice, veteran, expert I pass along these tidbits having toiled in the ho scale for forty six years now.

Some common sense items: strip outlets with surge protection. Alot of people do not realize how much power juice a non battery operated train set takes to run and use. A lot of fires could start of be prevented by not using these.

Common safety tools: Safety glasses and needle nose pliers I find invaluable when it comes to handingly the track joiners….If at all possible have one of the rolling magnets handy you will not believe what they pick up.

When it says age seven and up, make sure adult supervision is a must. Anything under seven, there are too many parts pieces for infants to young children to get hurt cut or even swallow pieces of trains.

If you find this useful thank you and please pass along to your readers. If you would like pictures of my newest endeavor with my trains ill pass them along.

Thanks for now.

Jeff”

And lastly Larry has a question:

“Hi Al,

I’ve enjoyed all of your pictures and articles. Like many I’m no spring rooster and decided to get back into the hobby.

The question is that I have brass tracks and I would like to know how to keep them clean? In so many of the pictures the track looks like brass unless that’s just how they look in the pictures.

Can you guys give me any advise.

Thanks,

Larry”

Over the years, there have been many, many posts on track cleaning.

For me, the one that sticks out the most is Kim’s track cleaner.

A big thanks to Ben for sharing his model train large trees, and to Larry, Jeff, Marvin and Dave.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day you join in on the fun and start your layout, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

Rob’s been in touch with more pics on his European model railway:

“Hello Alastair:

Several weeks ago you reran an item I submitted earlier about my Swiss/German railway.

In that article there was a call for more info and additional images.

Below is the text of my next submission.

Thanks for everything you do and all your highly anticipated morning emails here in Michigan.

A little background on the St. Goar & Murren scenic railway.

My wife and I went on a vacation to Germany and Switzerland in 2009. Both of us, being of German/Swiss heritage, loved it. We’ve been back several times since.

The one thing that impressed me was the rail system and the number of people into model railroading in those two countries.

I was a model railroader as a young adult. I even had an N scale layout in my 20s. Fifty years later I decided to give it a go again, this time modeling the places and events we saw on our trips.

The rail line name is a mixture of the first town we visited in 09, St. Goar and the place we found most beautiful, Murren.

We live in the north central part of the US, Michigan, the state that looks like a mitten. Here we have large basements under our houses (I feel a bit of UK envy there) so having a larger layout is a relatively easy task.

Like most things in my life, I decided to do things organically, adding in sections and areas as the mood suited.

Yes, I do envy the great track planners I’ve seen on this site, it’s just not me. Most of the track is HO three rail, so that standard and narrow gauge trains can run on it. Europe has a lot of three rail. The best place to see it in the US is Colorado.

It is DCC with the layout lighting being powered off my old dc transformer. I’m not much of an engineeer and rolling stock collector, preferring to work on buildings and scenes. But I’m feeling the tug of a desire to run trains especially after seeing so many Dangerous Dave videos.

This installment deals with an addition to the main layout of a wing containing a helix, a flattened hill and an open gorge area.

I decided to add the wing because my wife asked what that open area of basement was going to be used for, and because my chief structural engineer: Ed (the guy with all the power tools) is getting into his mid 80s.

Since time waits for no man, I got Ed to add on the basic table wing. It’s shown in the first picture at the end of the current layout table by the shelving unit.

The next few photos show the beginning of the helix install, the open gorge hole and some of the beginning plaster and shaper sheet work.

I added in a river with rocks from the local golf course. Also added two streams that will run under the main bridge. Then placed a small Swiss village on the upper valley side with winding paths.

I included a couple images of the mostly finished product (I know, nothing is ever finished on a model railroad) one showing a classic steam train with 19th century coaches on a rail fan holiday outing going over the bridge.

Then I added, to the left of the gorge, a farm scene that resembled one we viewed near the Matterhorn in 2019. I was amazed how the cows can just scamper up those hillsides.

The following pictures show the base for the hill and tunnels, interior superstructure, and the area with plaster cloth on it. Then the nearly completed farm main buildings from the side, as well as an end view.

Then to the left of the farm, down the hill toward the city, I added an archaeological dig (my oldest daughter is an archaeologist) of a Roman villa, note the tiled floor they uncovered. And yes, UK readers, those are Time Team logos from the famous long running TV show. I think, Mick Aston and Tony Robinson are there somewhere, along with my daughter.

My next idea, at the opposite side of the layout, is a city extension with the entrance to Octoberfest.

A special thanks to all the others who post on this site for their unending inspiration, and to Al for all his hard work. Ok, a tip of the hat to Dangerous Dave, for all his wonderful videos!

Please let me know if you need anything else or have any questions.

Rob
St. Goar & Murren Scenic Railway
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA”

A big thanks to Rob for sharing his Eurpoan model railway.

I’m always banging on about making a start. But a close second would be ‘pick a theme’.

I love what Rob has done with his theme – he’s really made his layout ‘his’, and I thought adding the ‘Time Team’ TV show was the icing on the cake.

It’s funny how just the simplest of references to your own life and experiences add so much to the enjoyment of a layout.

That’s all for today. A huge big thank to you Rob – I really enjoyed his narrative and pics.

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.

ken’s been back in touch. He’s been busy with his HO scale risers, laid track and now he’s running his trains:

“Hello Alastair,

Thank you for what you do for this hobby and for keeping this site going.

I really enjoy the daily emails and have learned a lot from other modelers.

I am sending an update to my ho scale layout and also attached some previous pictures to show the progress.

I have now added a branch line and switching (fiddle) yard. I started this layout in 2016 but progress has been slow due to work and other circumstances.

I am now retired and have more time to spend on this project. In the future there will also be mountains and tunnels added at both ends of the layout.

Ken”

A big thanks to Ken, it reminded me of Paul’s post: HO scale track risers.

“Hi Al…just uploaded a new video showing my way of making trees on the cheap, and also my A4 Loco back working again with some great sounds on it.

And of course a running session with our old Friend the Ginger bread Man making an appearance…

Dave”

“Dear Alastair,

You may or may not consider what I have written below as worth sharing.

A few posts ago, you published something where Steve mentioned using an Atlas bumper for installing fishplates.

I began to think and came up with a ridiculously simple idea which could have simplified my life over the years.

Others might find it of use (if they haven’t already come up with a similar solution).

All I did was to take an old screwdriver and file a slot in it the width of the rail head. It’s simply a matter of putting the screwdriver over the rail and sliding the fishplate into place.

I had to replace a heat-damaged point in a difficult situation. I inserted the fishplates so that they didn’t protrude, placed the point in position and then used the new tool to easily slide the fishplates into position. Simple!

Best wishes, and thank you for all you do for the hobby.

John”

Now on to Gary, who asks the question below.

As there is no ‘right’ answer for this, I thought it would be fun to post – I’d love to hear your answers. Please do leave a comment below if you can help:

“How much minimum table space do you think is necessary for a decent small track layout for HO SCALE?

Thanks, Gary”

A big thanks to John, Dave and to Ken for sharing his HO scale risers and track progress.

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.