Model railroad layouts plans

Dick’s been in touch with his TT scale layout.

And sometimes the backstory behind a layout is just as enjoyable as an update:

“Al here is my very special prebuilt TT scale layout.

This layout was given to me if I would drive 550 miles one way to pick it up which I did.

A very sweet older lady and her husband were in the military in Germany. This was well before the Berlin wall came down. They would go over and buy TT scale trains periodically and had bought this pre-built layout.

After retirement they came back to the states and settled in Aurora Colorado.

When her husband passed away she had a close friend/relative help her sell the lot.

I bought several pieces of rolling stock when one day she said she had this layout and did not know what to do with it, she thought she would have to toss it, I asked her if she would hold on to it for a month so could come and get it which she did.

Though the track is very dirty right now it is in running condition and very nice.

Does anyone know who might have offered these layouts pre-built like this?

Thanks Al

Dick”

You’d have to really love trains to drive 550 miles to pick up an old layout.

And fortunately Dick does. He also sent in pics of his garden too – and another great back story too:

“With Spring here, I have brought out the riding train to charge up batteries, get the track gang out to pull weeds and level any rails that need it and regroup the ballast where needed.

In two weeks I will turn 80 years old and I am in good shape for the shape I am in.

Body is not as eager as the brain is to do “stuff’. But do what I can. I now have a new right shoulder which is doing well.

In 2003 I began building the M. E. RR while on chemo fighting a very mean cancer.

Survival was not real good but we made it. This event pushed me to do what I had always wanted to do and that is to build a riding scale railroad in the backyard.

I chose 7.5″ gauge 1.5” scale trains.

I built two Plum Cove Studios Phlatt cars first, I had to wait for trucks for some time. Then next came the very first commercially available box cab electric from Plum Cove studios. A very nice rig with lots of power with a motor on each axle.

With our riding railroad, we have train parties each year weather permitting. Usually the last party may be for Halloween.

The track is groovy track, that is….flat bar set in tie slots. It has been very satisfactory now for 18 years. Contrary to what I was led to believe, I have no wear on my wheels.
Later came another Plum Cove boxcab so now we MU the two electrics.

As you can see, I need to spiffy up everything after the winter dust has settled on all my rolling stock. I have built one turnout so far to go into the train storage garage.

The mainline is only about 240 feet plus the line into the garage. The mainline is shaped as such to add interest.

There is a small grade to climb and is a bit of a thrill to go around the high bank. I also have bought new folding boat seats to install on the flat cars and well cars.

A picture of the dwarf pine is “Harry” named after Harry and the Hendersons.

Because there once was the Montana Western RR, I chose to name this RR the Montana Eastern, only to find out a few years later there really was a Montana Eastern RR owned by James J Hill of Great Northern fame.

Of all my trains and layouts I’ve built, this has been by far the most popular with folks around here.

I have about a 1000 feet of rail with the true rail profile along with 4 more turnouts to build yet. My roundtuit file is full of projects.

I hope this article and pictures might stir some out there to build their outdoor RR which actually can be done without getting a second or third loan on their house.

We have gathering a lot of good memeories involving this railroad.

Sincerely

Dick”

A huge thanks to Dick for sharing his TT scale – and his 7.5 gauge too.

Just goes to show, you can enjoy any scale.

Both of his posts show in spades there is so much more to this hobby than just trains.

That’s all for today folks from Dick, but tomorrow I’m going to share his N scale.

Or you can seem more from Dick now on his hall of fame page.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today’s the day you start your layout, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

Bill’s been back in touch with his model train trees ‘how to’.

He’s made another fab video and a few pics too.

The pics really do show the difference between buying scenery, and making it yourself:

“Good Day Al,

Been off work recently recuperating from some back surgery. I put together another tree build video using the Rustic Wire.

This one shows how to build a deciduous tree in HO scale.

These are fun to build and don’t take a lot of time to make and cost is low.

These are a great way for modelers to scratch build something that is totally theirs

Attached are some pictures of the model train trees; both before and after and some general shots of both the HO scale and N scale layouts.

I do like how I can use the N scale layout for forced perspective when it is behind the HO scale layout. Gives it a much bigger look than it really is

Bill”

A huge thanks to Bill – his pics really sell the scratch build approach. Yes, bought trees look good, but Bills trees and scenery look fantastic.

If you missed his previous posts on his scenery, the last one is here.

Now on to Mike.

He’s been back in touch after posting on his bridges:

“A few of the guys on those bridges that you shared with them asked about them being scale.

One guy told me to put a track in a train on it and see what it looks like which I have done I taken a couple pictures

I wanted to attach them to this and see if you think it looks correct or not since I’m new at this okay thank you again,

Mike.”

That’s all for today.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide is here if you want to stop dreaming and start doing.

Best

Al

Ralph has been in touch – he’s shared pics of The General model train, and some Marlin’s too:

“Hi Al,

Just completed my first HO layout.

This was my first attempt in constructing a layout…since the last time I played with trains is well over 70 years ago.

Am thinking that a monorail above the layout could be interesting. Problem is that I have not seen monorail equipment. Does anyone out there know where I can be find it?

The first two of the vintage Marlin train.

The second two the Marlin intermodal.

The last three the Bachmann “The General”.

Thanks,

Ralph”

A big thanks to Ralph for sharing pics of The General model train – the Marlins look good too.

Now on to Peter:

“I have to say at the outset than I am no modeller and indeed for the ham fisted like me choosing N gauge has proved a real challenge.

I confess to a lifelong interest in public transport starting with a TT gauge trainset in the late 1950s.

Adulthood, raising a family and work got in the way of furthering the hobby. Retirement in 2013 provided an opportunity to pursue the interest and, with our three children having moved out, requisitioning the fourth bedroom for the purpose (a decision my wife, Jill, now rues!).

Started with the aim of building a Southern Region layout and got the ball rolling by acquiring a Merchant Navy class loco and three SR coaches plus a 4 car CEP EMU. However, having worked in Germany, I was tempted into juxtaposing the South West London environs with Bavaria. So with loads of different rolling stock I’ve ended up with a real mish mash.

I went for a layout on two levels which would provide variety with five circuits enabling a number of trains to run simultaneously.

Judgement of my modelling skills I will leave to fellow members of this group but it was great fun. Oh and early on I decided to introduce non-working overhead wiring to the German section – not particularly good for the back. Laying third rail for the Southern was relatively easy by comparison.

As to the electrics, starting off my knowledge was confined to the ability to change household light bulbs and fitting three pin plugs! The basics of wiring the layout were actually relatively straightforward. The decision to light buildings and streets came as a result of seeing what was possible after visiting a number of model rail exhibitions

I would caution against going to the next stage of introducing working colour signals and traffic lights as I did, not least because the wiring for LEDs (cathode v anode) differs in the UK to the rest of the world (something it took me several months to discover).

Adding electric points (turnouts) for hard to reach areas followed. The other hard lesson learnt is test lighting/wiring before installing it! And I still need to get round to organising the wiring.

My local shops in Essex, John Dutfield in Chelmsford and Plus Daughters in Basildon have been incredibly helpful and I would always argue for shopping at a local stockist before opting for online.

In addition, exhibitions, Layouts 4U and Block Signalling have proved invaluable in aiding my exploits.

I’m part way through writing a manual for the layout because there is so much that requires documenting which I’m happy to share if it ever gets finished!

And layout development is not over. I’ve applied my limited lifetime programme management skills to bear and been quite ruthless in making changes – buildings have gone, stations replaced and tracked uprooted.

My next project is to build a fairground on the Aldi car park site – the problem is obtaining an all singing and dancing motorised ferris wheel which is out of production … but I’m still looking.

I hope that this has provided a bit of an insight into the trials and tribulations experienced over the past six years!

All the best

Peter”

A big thanks to Ralph for sharing the General model train pics, and to Peter.

It’s still wonderful to see all your different layouts after all the years. Please do keep ’em coming.

That’s all for today folks.

And don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide is here if you want to get going on your own layout.

Best

Al