Model railroad layouts plans

Larry’s been in touch with his G scale garden layout:

“Greetings Al,

This the second time I have submitted something for your blog.

My first post was a small ‘Z” Scale layout for my office a couple of years ago.

I am swinging to the other extreme for this go around and reaching out to all those “G” Scale outdoor layout folks.

I know how much you say “It’s all about making a start” when referring to this wonderful hobby of model railroads and that`s kind of where I`m going to end this post.

But first I would like to go back a decade and show some pictures of my outdoor G scale garden layout.

Here is a link to a Short Cab Ride video From that point in time, It only three-ish minutes long but helps to put the pictures in perspective:

OK now a few pics:

Pic 1 Train Yard view from the top of the trestle.

Pic 2 Train leaving the yard pulled by EMD FA & FB Locomotives.

Pic 3 Same train at the lower end of the trestle heading to the high
point of the layout.

Pic 4 4-6-2 Union Pacific Loco headed down the trestle toward the yard.

Pic 5 FA & B Locos leaving the layout high point tunnel.

Pic 6 Yard view from upper tunnel.

Pic 7 Far end of layout, 4-6-2 Loco headed down to the WYE
intersection.

Pic 8 4-6-2 approaching WYE, EMD train leaving WYE.

Pic 9 FA & Bs heading into the lower tunnel, Caboose of the other train
can be seen under the dragon.

Pic 10 FA & Bs waiting at other end of tunnel for the 4-6-2 Train to pass.

Pic 11 4-6-2 train`s caboose headed through tunnel to yard.

I hope I didn`t inundate you with these older pics but it’s important to my story, and here is where the story takes an ugly turn.

So back to my story:

I, like a good majority of your readers, am getting on in years (only mid-sixties but still…) and with that usually comes sore backs, stiff joints & and whatever else can go wrong with a person.

In the years that followed I found out that I had a skeletal condition and at the tender age of 50 had to have both of my hips replaced, two rotator cuff surgeries and a third rotator cuff surgery to reconstruct the joint.

Also during that period my wife had both knees replaced and both of her hips replaced. (So as you can see, I do know how to have fun. ??)

Although in reality none of any of that was in any way fun it did, on several levels, detract from my being able to pay any attention to my Trains.

So all the while those awesomely fun things were going on my lovely train garden was doing what all plants do if not tended to and that is grow wildly out of control, especially here in the Pacific Northwest.

So it`s time again for a few more Pictures:

Pic 12 An overview of the whole layout. ( the rocks are a whole other
story)

Pic 13 View looking up toward the trestle.

Pic 14 Same area looking in the opposite direction.

Pic 15 View of the trestle.

Pic 16 If you look real close you can almost see a pond here.

Pic 17 Underneath all the brush and shrubs is/was the WYE intersection.

Pic 18 Apparently tree roots don`t like turnouts, the WYE sacrificed itself…

Pic 19 Lower tunnels, left tunnel goes to the yard.

Pretty sad huh ? So what to do at this point ??

In reality the only practical thing to bring this all back to life was to start over. Trying to defoliate this mess was simply not an option.

The good news here is that there were things I was unhappy with in regards to the original track plan so now I can make changes to the layout starting from a clean slate, with some help from my favorite gardening buddy “John”.

Pic 20 This is a picture of my helper, power tools are only way to go.

So I guess the moral of this story for you “G” Scale outdoor layout folks is this, We all know how much work goes into creating a beautiful and functional garden railroad.

So if life does what it does and you think that you can leave your Railroad garden to it`s own devices for a while let me just say this, if you can take that extra minute to pull that occasional weed, trim that shrub, or whatever else you may notice happening on your outdoor layout you will be doing yourself a huge favor.

So here we are at the end of my post, which I realize it not the normal fare on Al`s Site but I thought it just might save someone from the same fate that I have bestowed upon myself.

So Spring is almost upon us here in Washington State and now that it is starting to get a little warmer as winter transitions into spring I guess it`s almost time to “Just make a start”…

Pic 21 A clean slate and place to “just get started”…

Peace Out

OLar”

A big thanks to Larry – or is it Olar?

It’s always fun seeing a G scale garden layout. Really looking forward to seeing the progress on this one.

When it comes to G scales, I always think of Tom’s stunner:

That’s all for today 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.

David has been in touch with his HO scale multi level layout.

“Al:

I really appreciate your daily emails. The pictures, videos and viewer comments are very helpful. Thank You!

I have collected 027 Gauge trains and Accessories for over 40 years; it started when my Dad bought me a Lionel steam engine when I was 10 years old.

My uncle worked for the Santa Fe Railroad; he would take me to the rail yards, knowing my interest in trains. What a thrill for a young boy.

I returned to the hobby when I was in my thirties and it has been adventure, since then.

Last year, I sold my 027 gauge collection to an EBayer and soon had “sellers remorse”. My 027 gauge layout was 4 levels and entirely took up our 20’ x 30’ unfinished basement.

After selling my collection, I decided to become an HO gauge convert. Not having access to the train shows and swaps that I would routinely attend really restricted my ability to get good deals for my new hobby.

I quickly became a shopper on eBay and began buying engines and rolling stock. I reused much of the scenery I developed on previous train layout, converting it to HO scale.

I have always enjoyed modeling scenery, but had to relocate 8 times for my job. As a result I crafted scenery from foam board and sculpted it using a “Hot Wire” cutter and a wire brush, depending on the effect I wanted.

My benchwork was constructed with ½” plywood and large bolts for easy reassembly.

My HO layout is a work in progress and I plan to swap out many of my repurposed 0 gauge scenery. Here are some photos to share with your readers, if you think they are worthy. I am sending you a 2nd email with my HO layout pictures.

I look forward to receiving your emails.

Best Wishes,

David”

A big thanks to David. When it comes to multi level layouts, I always think of Dan’s: Dual level HO scale layout.

Now on to Ken:

“Hello Al from across the pond,

I had a bit of a problem with running some old locos I had from the 1990’s. They would stall when crossing insulated frogs on the newer switches (points).

I realized that the frog was longer than the span of the two wheel pick up at each truck.

The trucks are three axles each for a six axle locomotive. Only four axles drive with a dummy axle on each truck.

I disassembled the trucks and studied them and tried several ways to make each truck three wheel pick up in stead of two wheel pick up.

The following pictures are what I came up with to solve the problem.

The first picture shows the truck.

The second picture shows the original contacts.

the third picture shows that I used 28 gauge copper to make a new contact.

The next pictures shows how I fabricated new contacts to include the third axle as a pick up wheel.

The final three pictures show how the contact was installed.

Now the locos have six wheel pick up and run smoother and don’t stall on insulated frogs. I will send some pictures of my lay out at a later time.

Good Day,

Ken from Pa, USA”

A big thanks to Dave for sharin his HO scale multi level layout, and to Ken too.

I thought Dave’s solution was very clever – I do like seeing how you all solve the issues that this hobby throws up.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day you take the leap of faith and start your layout, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

Al

PS – There’s also another new post on ‘myotherhobby.com‘ – Jim’s vintage cars!

Fred’s been back in touch – thsi time he shows us how to paint clouds on model railroad backdrop.

“Hello Al just a few pics of the backscene and and Mt Wilbury.

This was a bit an experiment and trial and error. The wall of the shed is is boarded inside and insulated with XP’s foam then covered with thin polystyrene wallpaper liner.

This is then with covered homemade gesso( PVA ,granite dust , white emulsion) this for the base then various fillers and model paste applied with paint trowels and brushes.

The basic ideas were sketched with watercolour pencils and blended in, when I was happy with the look I’d leave it for a couple of days.

When next going into the shed I’d see how it grabbed then made changes as required, when fairly happy with it then applied acrylics with brushes sponges and trowels sometimes mixed with more filler and gesso.

The foreground rocks and plaster, modelling clay and real stone and rocks.

So far so good there is still a lot to add and maybe alter what still doesn’t take my fancy.

A long process but a real challenge.

Anyways many thanks for your postings many of us find these little nuggets of information most helpful.

Regards

Fred”

A huge thanks to Fred for shwow us how to paint clouds on model railroad backdrop.

What I love about it is it’s a really good way to add some personal touches to your layout. With a bit of practice, anyone can paint clouds. And as Fred has shown us, it looks great.

If you missed his excellent making trees tutorial, it’s here.

And Ken has done a backdrop painting tutorial too.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

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

Best

Al