Model railroad layouts plans

Allen has been in touch – he’s added a HO scale power plant to his layout:

“My name is Allen, I am 49 years old and a pipeline controller by trade.

This is my 7th layout but I have gone the farthest toward completion on this layout versus all the previous ones.

I started building the Kansas & Western HO Scale Model Railroad in August of 2023 and am very nearly finished laying all track.

The particulars regarding the layout can be found on my descriptions on all of my construction update videos.

I started tracking my construction progress on my Youtube channel when construction began, and I provide construction updates every two weeks, usually on Fridays.

About a year ago, I started rewarding my viewers with the option to vote on what they would like to see me focus my attention on for the next two week work period.

The Monday after my construction updates, I provide the results of the poll that is conducted and I share my work plan for carrying out the wishes of my viewers.

So, for the last year, my viewers have been directing the course of the construction of my layout which has been very interesting and fun for me, as well as my viewers.

Besides construction updates, I also provide bi-weekly operations videos, product reviews, and “How I Do Stuff” features.

Allen”

A big thanks to Allen for sharing his HO scale power plant pics – I really enjoyed his youtube too.

Now on to Terry who has a question, can anyone help:

“Hi Al—I need HELP!!!!

I have 2 tracks, a mainline (DCC) & spur (DC) that cross–each with it’s own power supply.

I want to put a light sensor on a section of the main line so that when a train passes through it, the power to the spur is turned off. Power comes back on when the mainline train has cleared the section.

How would I wire the light sensor to do that?

Do I need a relay switch or can it be done directly without a relay?

I’m hoping one of your members could sketch out a circuit for me to show how it would be wired.

…………\X\
===O===\ \=====O====Mainline
……………..\ \ Spur)

When train passes “0” power to spur “X’ is cut off. X power is resumed after train passes second “O”

I’m assuming the mainline sensors could be wired in a three way switch pattern so one activates both of them at the same time.

Thanks to you & your readers in advance.

Terry
Idaho/ USA”

Please do leave a comment below for Allen or Terry.

That’s all for this time 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.

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

John’s been in touch with something a bit different this time – a fire station train garden.

“Hi AL,

Happy Holidays to you and all the railroaders across the world.

I’m sorry for this late note, but I’ve been on travel, I hope you can get this up soon!

I am, in addition to being a model railroader, a member of the Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department, serving the folks in our part of Baltimore County USA since 1938.

Two of our dedicated members, Connie and Don, have been creating the AVFD Train Garden for 29 years, (would have been the 30th but for COVID!) each year raising the bar over what we all thought was the best the previous year.

This year is not exception, it’s spectacular!

New layouts, new trains, new scenery and…well…new magic!

This year there are 3- 0 gauge, 2- S gauge, 2- HO gauge and 1- N gauge.

There’s a mountain with all 4 gauges running around it!

We now have over 5,000 visitors come by our free Train Garden. One need only see the kids joy and wonder as they look at the trains, ‘snow covered scenery, and Santa, to see why Connie, Don and the members of our Fire company love this yearly activity!

I’m honored and pleased to send these pictures to you and the world wide folks who love trains, and modeling.

Any in the area with kids, common down! See our website Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department events tab for hours and directions

John from Baltimore.”

A big thanks to John for sharing his fire station train garden pics.

Here’s a few more of his ‘normal’ posts:

HO scale coal mine

Model railroad quarry

Model train IR detector

That’s all for this time folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if you want to get stuck back in to the fun of trains, 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.

Ray’s been in touch with another fab update – and if you’ve ever wondered how to run multiple trains on one track, just do what Ray did…

… make a start and enjoy the problems a layout throws at you.

Here’s his first post if you want to see just how far Ray has come:

3 loop HO train layout

I love seeing how the problems melt away over time and a beautiful layout magically appears.

“Hi Al,

It’s been 7 months since my last update and I have got a lot accomplished since then!

I’ve added a commercial district to the last 4’x4′ section of my layout, I am really proud of the donut that I painted on the donut shop as well as the roof on top of the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant!

I managed to fill in my corners which I thought would be difficult but it was easy and I think they turned out well;

I’ve updated my control board, so I can run 3 trains at once, one on each loop!

I’ve added a steam locomotive to pull my two passenger cars! It’s a small 2-6-2 but it blows smoke!

Here’s some additional pics to show some other details:

Still lots to do, mainly ballast and background on the walls, other than the pics from my grandchildren!

I look at your posts almost daily and it inspires me and gives me lots of ideas! The comments I get are helpful and motivating!

To everyone that reads this post Merry Christmas and best wishes for a healthy and happy New Year!

God Bless you and yours and thanks for maintaining this blog.

Ray in Southwest Florida”

So there you go, if you’ve ever wondered how to run multiple trains on one track, just do what Ray did – make that start!

Here’s his first post:

3 loop HO train layout

And here’s his second:

3 loop HO layout update

I know I keep saying it, but it’s all about that start…

That’s all for this time folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day you press the fun button and get started, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

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.