Model railroad layouts plans

Jeff’s been in touch with his HO scale 8×15 layout:

“Alistair,

I’d like to share with you and your readers my model railroading experience.

I remember when I was 8 or 9 years old I received an HO scale train set which we would set up around the Christmas tree.

When my oldest son was about 8 years old we put together a very modest 4×8 HO scale layout. A twice-around pike with a couple of turnouts and short sidings.

That project didn’t last very long as his interests turned to other things more important in his life (sports, etc.), and the layout ended up leaning against the wall in the basement.

While cleaning the basement after some 20+ years, I thought of selling it but getting it out rekindled my interest!

Having recently retired and talking with my wife about it, she told me I could have the “office” for a train room.

Off I went, designing my first real attempt at a model railroad layout, working with the real estate I had.

My choice was an HO scale layout 8×15 DC layout consisting of a double loop passenger line encompassing a double loop and figure 8 freight line representing the fictitious “Somerfield Valley R.R.” surrounding the main street area of the Village of Somerfield, and some outskirts.

Removable areas at the farm and village allow for access to the ill-fated derailment or track maintenance. I can operate 3 different trains at one time and the grandkids love watching!

My design was based on 2 criteria…

#1 – Nothing against steam but I’m a bit partial to Diesel Power, especially EMD model locos. Reason being, I happened to have been gainfully employed by Electro-Motive at their McCook facility for the better part of 16 years.

Electro-Motive had been very good to me and my family. I have had more than 20 family members employed by them totaling more than 400 years of service, including my father, 4 of his brothers, his uncle and myself attributing for more than 200 of those years.

#2 – Set in the late 60’s-early 70’s, most of the people and buildings represent someone or something in my lifetime (family, friends, favorite establishments, etc.).

My wife and I have 7 grown children (three sets of twins and a single) and each is an intricate part of the layout, including their “significant other” and their children. Each representing their particular endeavor in life. Three of my sons have engineering degrees, therefore “3 Brothers Engineering”.

The fourth has a degree in biology and does clinical testing on water samples. (He can be seen climbing the water tower to take samples. Someone in town complained of a funny taste!)

Two of my three girls are involved with teaching “special needs” children (red schoolhouse) and the third is a college administrator but is very active in finding new homes for abandoned pooches (ergo “Kat’s Dogs”).

My wife worked at a bank for a time B.C.(before children) and I now enjoy gardening in my spare time (“Lucky Seven” farm). By the way…the farmhouse is an actual scratch-built scale model of our current home.

My parents also enjoyed gardening after retirement and sold produce (“B&B Produce and Honey”) as a hobby. Dad was also a beekeeper and harvested honey.

Aside from the Police Department, the Fire Department and Post Office (which all towns should have), most of the buildings about town represent something in my life.

A couple of ex-employers are Saxon and Motorcycle Headquarters. Enzo’s was a favorite pizza joint we frequented and “JC Fabricating” is dedicated to my brother-in-law who’s been battling cancer for the past 5 years.

The couple entering “Harold’s Hideaway” (favorite pub) are the two people responsible for introducing me to my wife.

I would like to thank Al for all he does for this site and to all others for their contributions.

I’ve learned so much about model railroading and continue to learn more each time I read this blog.

Hope you all enjoy my story and simple efforts for my HO scale layout. I’ve enjoyed working on this project and look forward to the next.

Jeff”

What a HO scale layout 8×15!

A huge big thanks to Jeff for sharing his layout pics with us – and for taking the time to write the narrative too.

I do enjoy reading how a layout comes together, and in particular the personal touches that are added to them. Makes them come alive!

If you enjoyed this post, have a look at Wayne’s HO scale 8×15.

There’s Paul’s too: 8×12 HO scale layout.

And if you’re after more HO scale layouts of varying sizes – you can see lots more here.

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

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

ON30 layouts – there are a surprising number of them on the site.

Here are a few of them:

Tom’s ON30 mining layout

“This is an On30 mining layout in the early 20th Century. My new modules will be 48″ high and I will be adding a couple of operating oil wells and storage tanks.

The last picture is my live steam train in 1.5″ scale. It is a walking beam locomotive with a toybox caboose from the 1960s

Tom”

You can see all of Tom’s pics and read his narrative here.

Bob’s ON30 layout

“On my first layout I used a plywood sheet covered with pink foam insulation.

The track was glued down (with white glue). On this layout I used an OSB base covered with sound board and the track was tacked with track nails

Bob”

You can see all of Bob’s layout pics here – he also wrote an excellent narrative.

Jeff’s ON30 railroad

“The scale I am modeling is on30 narrow gauge, all track was hand layer with over 25000 spikes installed.

All buildings, trestles, bridges, water tanks etc, were all scratch built. Lumber was all cut on my table saw to the correct dimensions for my scale.

Jeff”

You can see all of Jeff’s pics and narrative here.

Martin’s ON30 steam layout:

“I thought you might like to share some pics of my, still under construction layout. It’s Colonial narrow gauge of 2ft 6ins, using a rough scale of 7mm/ft, O scale on OO gauge track. I suppose it’s On30, but as in real life, anything goes.

Martin”

You can see all of Martin’s train pics here.

John’s ON30 shelf layout

“My most recent build occupies a space that is about 14 inches wide and 44 inches long.

The track plan is sometimes called a “Tuning Fork” — It consists of a single point (switch), two spurs, and a headshunt (switching lead).

I built this one for 1/4 inch scale narrow gauge (On30) but it can be done in any scale or gauge.

John”

You can see all of John’s layout here.

John’s ON30 circular layout

“I wanted to be able to run both N Scale and HOn30/HOe/HO 009 trains on it.

Trees and rocks are indeterminate scale, buildings would give the game away.

John”

You can see all the pics of John’s layout here.

Ian’s ON30 mine diorama

“I only have a small “L” shaped area for my layout. Approx. 3.5 mtrs X 2.4 mtrs and around 750mm deep.

It will be a coal mining theme with around two to three elevated tracks.

Ian”

You can read Ian’s narrative here.

Brian’s waterfront HOn3 layout update

“As can be seen in this view, the HOn3 extension starts from just beyond my current harbour and will go around to the other side where the waterfront will be.

As said before, I have more that enough boats (more than I need) and will be floating them on the water once I get closer to completion.

Brian”

You can see all of Brian’s layout pics here.

Bill’s O / On30 layout update

“I’ve been plugging away on the construction of my O/On30 portable layout.

The 4.5’ X 14’ layout is in three sections and I’ve been working on scenery in section one at a time.

Bill”

You can see more of Bill’s stunning layout here: Model railroad show layout.

There are lots more ON30 layouts on the blog – but the only way you can see them all in to jump on to the newsletter.

There’s a lot more than just layouts, you also get lots of tips and ‘how to’ step by steps.

Here’s Brian showing how he kit bashes all his kits to suit his layout.

You get the idea. It all happens on the newsletter. Jump on or miss out.

Best

Al

HO train layouts 4×8, it’s a popular scale and a popular size.

Here are some of the 4x8s on the blog:

Rich’s 4×8 HO scale

“All the locomotives and rolling stock have been saved. Some of the locos and rolling stock are sixty years old.

All rolling stock is either scratchbuilt or built from LaBelle, Central Valley or old Roundhouse kits. All Locomotives are DCC conversions, some of which are old Mantua kits from the 1960’s.

All of the structures were scratchbuilt, the only purchased items being most of the windows and doors.

Rich”

You can see all of Rich’s pics for his 4×8 here.

Bill’s 4×8 HO layout

“I am making some progress on my switching layout. More ballast down and more scenery added. Still a longggggg way to go but I think that is what is fun is enjoying the labor of love we each put into our layouts

Bill”

You can see Bill’s layout from the very start to the ‘end’ right here.

Rick’s 4×8 HO scale:

“As you can see, we’ve been busy adding details to the layout including finding pin-striping that was nearly a spot on match for road dividing lines and parking lot markings.

Someone asked in the previous post about the inclines I used in the layout and in case someone had not answered, they are from Woodland Scenics. While I like to create most of the scenery myself, these precut inclines are too good to pass up.

I also realized a part of this hobby I do not enjoy and that is ballasting switches. It seems no matter how much I brush away the excess, there seems to be a little piece that gets stuck in the switch which the trains do not like!

Rick”

You can see all of Rick’s 4×8 HO scale here.

Cal’s 4×8 HO scale railroad

“I designed the track so I can run 2 trains at the same time and I can run a locomotive in the yard all at once. I have a controller with 2 cabs.

I wanted a HO train layout 4×8. I wired the track in blocks. I used one negative feed for the entire layout. Then I used a positive feed from the transformer to the switch then to the track. (Block). That way I have better power for the entire layout and I can switch on and off sections of track when I see an imminent collision getting ready to happen.

I wired the turnout switches the same way and I just used the atlas switches that come with the turnouts.

Cal.”

You can see all of Cal’s 4×8 layout here

Mike’s 4×8 dogbone layout

“My new passion is HO scale which I am now invested heavily.

Much more realistic and on the old Lionel tables, these little trains have real room to move.

I also have much more real estate upon which to develop my scenery, and I have decided to recreate movie studio backlots on my train layout.

Mike”

You can see all of Mike’s 4×8 dogbone layout here.

Jim makes a start on his 4×8

“I built a 10’ X 16’ shed, initially for my grandsons to leave their train layouts set up in, but with plans to eventually “appropriate” some of the floor space for the 4’ X 8’ benchwork of an HO scale layout.

I scoured ebay and local sources for bargains in rolling stock and locomotives.

I decided to start with Bachmann EZ-track because I got a steal on a big lot of new and barely used track at an estate sale.

Last week I finally cleared the decks of other projects and got cracking on the benchwork and layout.

Jim”

You can see of Jim’s 4×8 pics here.

Bob’s 4×8 layout

“The layout will be mountainous with tunnels and bridges. It is of no particular place only to say that it is a fictitious town in the northern mountains of Pennsylvania USA because we have a cabin there.

The railroad used to run behind our cabin and one could hear the triple diesels coming from a long way off as they pulled a long line of coal cars up the incline.

Bob”

You can see all of Bob’s pics here.

Ron’s wondeful 4×8 layout

“It is a 4X8 built and planned for expansion. I built this with the idea of selling it as my joy is in the building and seeing the finished product.

It is foam over a wood frame and very light weight. The scenery is all hard shell plastercloth, with both molded and sculped rock and features made from light weight Hydrocal.

Ron”

You can see all of Ron’s 4×8 layout here.

Frank’s wonderful 4×8 HO layout

“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.

Frank”

You can see all of Frank’s pics here.

And here’s Mark’s:

4×8 HO scale train layout.

There are many more 4×8 layouts on the blog, but the only way you can see them all is to jump on the newsletter (scroll up, top right).

Or perhaps you are just looking for any size HO scale layout?

Here is a whole page of them.

And if there aren’t enough there for you, here’s another whole page of HO scales.

But as I said, there are hundreds on the site, but the only way you can see them all is to jump on to the newsletter (scroll up, top right).

It’s worth doing because it’s not just folk sharing their layouts, there are lots of tips, tricks and ‘how to’ step by steps.

Here’s one by Arnie on making scenery for your model railroad.

You get the idea. It’s the newsletter where it all happens (scroll up, top right).

Best

Al