Model railroad layouts plans

Tony’s been in touch. He’s used HO model trains cars, and a bit of imagination for a very fun layout:

“Hi Alastair,

The task was how to integrate my love of model railways and the grand kids desire to race their model cars around a race track.

Main board is 8’x4’ then extended across window into goods yard and made a loop back to main side.

Please see finished project which has us all happy now!

Love your posts and ideas from members!

Kind regards

Tony from Stockport”

A big thanks to Tony for his HO model train cars fun! It’s easy to see why the grands kids love it.

Tony’s also reminded me of Sheldon’s layout – I think the helicopter reminds me of his bi-plane pic.

For me, I like Tony’s (and Sheldon’s) layouts so much because of a very simple point – both layouts have a theme. And for me, that makes the difference.

Readers of the blog will know I’m always banging on about two things:

1) Make a start

2) Have a theme in mind from day one.

It’s the layouts with a theme that always stand out…

That’s all for today folks.

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.

Cary has sent in this missive of his O scale model railroad after being reminded of George’s O scale, and how fun they are with the little people.

(And there’s Mike’s 11×27 too!)

“Hello Al,

I’ve been following your site for several years and never sent you anything to post.

Just watched a video on your site today of George’s very nice layout for his grand kids.

I got back to the model railroad hobby about six years ago after an almost 30 year pause ( except a Lego layout with trains I worked on for around 10 years ago ).

I started back in the hobby by purchasing a DCC locomotive and some Kato track set up on a small shelf board just switching track, no scenery, buildings, ect.

I was hooked, that evolved to a 4ft X 19ft single line HO layout.

After a couple years I decided to build an O scale for the kids.

George’s post prompted me to send you this 4ft X 8ft O scale layout for the great grand kids.

Later I’ll send a short video of the kids playing and running the trains.

Thanks for all you do to encourage the model railroading hobby.

Cary, New Market Maryland”

“Hi Al,

I have enjoyed seeing others layouts from your emails for years. I have just complete my two level O-scale layout taking about 3 years on and off.

My layout is not a single place and time but more so a collection of memories or places/buildings I really liked.

Over the past three 3 years I have acquired road names engines and rolling stock the ran through Saint Louis, Missouri USA.

Thanks,

Jim”

A big thanks to Cary for sharing his O scale model railroad, and to Jim too.

It just goes to show (again!) model trains and family stuff go hand in hand.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

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

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

Mike has been in touch – he’s found out pros and cons when it comes to HO or N scale.

“Hi AL:

Hope this message finds you well. Seems like a great time to send you an update on my model train odyessy inspired three years ago when I first encountered your wealth of information website.

Briefly, I started with a basement full of Lionel trains on four 4×8 tables. A year later, I scrapped it all to gain more real estate with HO scale.

I went all out with Bachmann EZ Track and constructed replicas of the Western Film town of Old Tucson and Hill Valley from the “Back to the Future” movies.

However, left with very little floor space for family and visitors during the days of the pandemic, I took the decision to scrap once again all the HO trains and track to regroup in N Scale.

Right or wrong, I liquidated all the HO trains and track on ebay, and then I acquired a few Bachmann N scale starter sets and lots of EZ track to begin experimenting with layouts on a much smaller L-shaped table topped with extruded polystyrene.

Photos included to illustrate how much of the basement was reclaimed for visitors. After trying several track plans, I settled on the this one.

Then I made a great discovery: KATO Trains. The upgrade in quality over Bachmann was astounding. Wish I would have used their track before I invested so much in Bachmann EZ track.

Now the scenery planning begins. I intend to rebuild in scale the Old Tucson and Hill Valley towns of the HO setup with a mountain scene in the corner.

Project should take me well into the Winter months.

I’ll keep you posted. Many thanks again for all the great tips and examples of what other train enthusiasts are doing with this wonderful hobby.

Mike
Grand Rapids, Michigan USA”

A huge thanks to Mike for the update. His last post – the HO scale – is here.

It just goes to show that the scale – HO scale or N scale – or any scale come to that, all hinges and on the space and budget you have… and of course how much time you have.

I do love hearing how all are getting on. It’s a learning curve for all of us, and knowing my little site has helped some of you really does please me.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if you want to make your start, the Beginner’s Guide is here if you want to get going on your own layout.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.