Model railroad layouts plans

Shotgun Tom model railroad – he’s been busy adding bits to his layout and playing with real trains.

In his first post you can see how his layout was created.

“Al

The California state Railroad Museum in Sacramento pulled my Fathers 347C Santa Fe F 7 Red Warbonnet engine out of the Museum and put it in a consist.

The 347C is the last one in the world.

The Museum let me take a ride on this historic engine on for 17 miles.

Take a look at this professional video and ride with me and hear the story about my Dad John G. Irwin The Santa Fe Engineer from 1947 to 1973.

Here’s a shot of my Dad’s two Diesel engines on my Layout. The 347C and his switch engine the 2357 as seen in the video.

Also The steam engine that my Dad brought President Harry Truman in to San Diego in 1948 on a whistle stop tour.

As for my Layout I’ve made a few additions like this old Timey water tank in the industrial area of my Layout.

And I’m in the process of putting up telephone poles with high-voltage wire going up to my television transmitter on the mountain. Note the balls on the powerlines so helicopters won’t fly in to those lines.

I also put in a New power utility station for my Power lines.

All in All having lots of Fun with my Layout.

And lastly, I put in a Woodland scenics Gas Station in on the Layout.

Merry Christmas

Shotgun Tom
Aka Tom Irwin

A big thanks to Shotgun Tom model railroad update – hope you enjoyed it as much as me.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

Don’t forget, the Beginner’s Guide is here if you want to get going on your model railroad.

Best

Al

PS And to say thank you to you all, here’s a silly offer on the print out buildings I’ve put together, just for a day or so.

PPS How silly? Just $1.45 per building.

Lawrence has been back in touch – he’s “finished” his O scale track layout.

He’s also answered a few questions.

If you want to get up to speed, his last post is here.

But if you want a bird’s eye view, his track plan pics are here.

“Al

I am answering a couple of questions asked from one of my previous up loads to you. This is in reference to my lift up bridge.

I am running four train lines for O scale DC (not DCS). I am using four separate transformers for this, one for each track.

(BTW – I refuse to work on a layout wider than three feet and to work the wiring from under the layout.)

The cable housing, I am using for the power distribution is the same stuff I used when building electronic cabinets for major companies before I retired. It is a flexible split one half inch housing used for cable lines.

The wires for the distribution are all 12 gauge four colors. As you an see from the outputs of the transformers (picture 1) and at the cable distribution connections (picture 3) the red and green (tracks 1 & 3) and the black and white (tracks 2 &4) are for each track. One red/green and one black/white pair runs in each cable housing.

All the cable runs are on the facing on the side of the track. All the drop wires are pulled forward from under the track and are connected to the power distribution on the facing connections.

Picture 5 displays the power connections from the transformers to one side of the track and to the lift bridge itself.

The four tracks on the side away from the lift bridge are all isolated for the three feet from the bridge connection when the bridge is lowered. The last picture displays the micro switches that are engaged when the bridge track is lowered.

The power enters the micro switch on the normally open connection. The isolated track is connected to the common on the switch. When the bridge is lifted there is no power on the three feet of track to the open end of the bridge. When the bridge is lowered the micro switch is now in the normal closed condition and the power is applied.

NOTE: when testing this method – run the engine (only) slowly toward the open bridge and stand next to the engine to ensure the train stops before getting to the end of the track. Then rerun the engine with the bridge down and the engine should run across the bridge normally.

Lawrence”

Is a layout ever finished? And even if it is, you can always start another one, which is exactly what Lawrence has done.

He’s decared his O scale track layout finished. I know this because shortly after the above, this landed in my inbox:

“Al

My O scale track (at a level of 18” of the floor) has been DECLARED finished. I know you can always add more stuff to a layout. But as they say “enough is enough”.

I am starting my HO scale layout at 40” from the floor, above the O scale layout. Attached is a picture of part of the framework for the HO. Notice the 1X2s across and under the framework in the front of the picture.

The problem of seeing the O scale layout with the HO above it is solved by the addition of LED string lights attached to 1X2s under the HO framework.

The second two pictures display the 1X2s with the string lights attached. Not too worried about the wiring here as this is the only wiring that will be located under the framework.

Lever-nuts was used to connect all the wiring, VERY EASY to use and rewire as needed. LED lights do not light if wired backwards. Lift up the levers, switch the plus and minus between the two lever-nuts and close the levers. Lights now working.

Have not put the purchased the plywood yet but got the foam sheeting. Cut and molded the sheeting to the framework size. The foam is a lot lighter and easier to size. The sheeting will be used to trace the size on to the plywood for exact fitting. Painted the sheeting to get rid of the green color.

With the sheeting on the framework the O scale is very dark and hard to see. But I am using a computer power supply for my DC accessories. Turning on the lighting for the 12VDC LED strips shows up the O scale layout nicely as shown in the last picture.

Further updates (track layout) in upcoming emails.

Lawrence”

A big thanks to Lawrence for his O scale track layout. I do enjoy seeing a layout from start to finish, so I’m really looking forward to his new layout updates.

Talking of O scales, I’m always reminded of Martin’s O scale.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide is here if you’re tired of sitting on the side lines.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

Bob’s been in touch again with a great tip on how to ballast model railroad track:

If you want to get up to speed with his layout, here’s his last post:

Bob builds a bigger layout.

“Happy Holidays Al,

I am finally decided to start the tedious job of ballasting.

I’ve watch numerous videos of technique and decided on doing it in a four step process:

1)paint the sides of the track with Elmer’s white glue;

2) apply ballast to the sides;

3) let dry for 24 hrs.;

4) ballast the center of the track.

I liked the idea of using a spoon to spread the ballast on the sides, but that requires a steady hand to control the amount of ballast being put down.

Since I am using a mix of fine and medium ballast on my mains, I decided to look for another way of spreading that would give better control.

I have a plastic spreader that rides on the track for doing the top of the track, but that doesn’t do the sides well.

While shopping in a kitchen store for Christmas presents, I saw plastic squeeze bottles like used in restaurants for condiments (ketchup, mustard, etc.) and l got one to try for ballasting. It works great. It allows for good control and you can cut the tip to make it bigger for larger ballast if need be.

Bob in Virginia”

A big thanks to Bob – a grea tip on how to ballast model railroad track

Whenver it comes to ballast, Gary’s Sunnyside Yard layout layout springs to mind.

Some of you put off ballsting as long as you can (as Bob said, it is tedious). And the points / turnouts can drive you mad.

Now a few pics from Eytan.

His last post is here (below Jim’s).

I thought I’d share his latest pics because I do enjoy seeing your layouts when they are nothing short of chaos, because if you’re thinking of making a start, don’t be afraid of the mess. It’s just part of the process:

Now on to Greg, who sent in the below.

It’s not something I’d normally post but there is something mesmerising about time lapse videos:

“Hello Alastair!

I’m a longtime reader of your blog. Had a small layout years ago, but it’s long gone, and due to my current living situation (small 1BR apartment), can’t get back into it now.

Anyway, I wanted to send in this brief (1:14) video of a layout that a group of local model railroad folks does every year at our main library here in Columbus, Ohio.

I know that you’re probably flooded with Christmas layouts, and may just limit the posts to layouts done by individuals.

If you can’t post this, no worries, just passing it on. Like I said, they do this every year. The reason I decided to send this year’s video to you is the reaction of the child near the end of the video. Priceless!

I really enjoy reading the blog every day, and appreciate all the hard work you put into it to keep this hobby alive, especially for those of us who can’t have our own layouts anymore.

Best wishes for a happy and peaceful Christmas to you and your family!

Greg”

Now on to Peter.

He’s sent in this simple question which really did get me thinking. I’d love to know the answer too:

“Hey Big Al…

Love the site and email everyday.

Question : Here in the United States the engineer sits on the right side of the cab. Since you drive on the left side of the road across the pond do your engineers sit on the left side ? Just wondering …

Peter
San Jose, CA”

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

Oh, and don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide, if today is the day you start your railroad adventure.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.