John’s been in touch with his HO scale 12×16 layout:
“Hi Alistair,
I have been enjoying your site for a while now. Lots of good tips and great layouts.
I have included my HO layout built in Pennsylvania (USA) from 1993 and dismantled in 2013.We moved to California with no logistical way of moving it so I donated it to a model RR club that had to move and start anew.
The overall dimensions were HO scale 12×16 with 3 lines and a trolley (not shopping cart) line.
Many of the buildings are from the 4’x8′ train set my father built when I was about 8 (I’m 72 now). He was a painter so he made these out of illustration board and painted the detail – sort of a precursor to your printable buildings.
I am starting another layout – N scale – as I have less space now. I acquired all the N scale buildings, track, engines, rolling stock from a friend with a young boy, Travis, in the ’80s.
Travis liked my HO set (in a home previous to the 12 x 16; layout) so his dad built an N scale setup. It was too small for Travis to handle.
In the meantime a friend’s ex wife was cleaning out her attic where my buddy had an HO set up started. She said if you want it come get it. So I did. I didn’t really need all his stuff as I had mine, Light bulb went off! I’ll give it to Travis and his Dad. They were excited, but insisted I take their N scale stuff in trade.
I really didn’t want or need the N scale, but you know – free trains. So I have kept them for about 33 years … and now have a whole set up waiting to be created. I am going to set them up with DCC. Your articles have been extremely helpful.
I have also included a video (shot about 14 years ago – it’s a little rough)
Ken’s been in touch with How to build a model train turntable:
“Hi Alastair
Here are some photos of my hand made turntable for my 0 gauge layout.
I bought a lazy Susan base off eBay for under £12 screwed a piece of plywood across mounted a length of track wired it into my 16v track wiring via a on-off-on switch as you have to reverse the track polarity as the table turns the track round from positive to negative.
Fitted a 15 rpm motor with threaded shaft also off eBay underneath via another on-off-on switch so I can reverse the direction of the table.
To finish I scratch built a hut for the controls added railings, figures, oil drums etc and covered the floor with corrugated sheet painted grey.
One problem was the motor went too fast and didn’t stop immediately so I wired it to a potentiometer and I now control speed and stop it to exactly line up with the main track all for under £35 !!
I have been modeling for a long time now and acquired quite a few brass engines, nice rolling stock and craftsman buildings.
But because of circumstances, I will not be building another railroad for about 2 years, after I move.
And I have also accepted the fact that I will never build one of those huge railroads.
I ended up selling most of the big stuff and started collecting traction models, mostly along the lines of the Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee.
Traction seems to be a great alternative because a whole train can be just 1 car long.
There seems to be a recurring theme in this blog: “Just get started.” So I am taking that advice.
I am building a new traction layout digitally. Using some of the CAD programs that are available, I have built a railroad along the lines of the North Shore Line, centered around Howard Street in Chicago.
Here is the basis of this layout. Howard Street yard of the CTA (Chicago Transit Authority). The North Shore ran right through this station.
Looking at the photo, the track that runs to the upper right side is the Shore Line.
This was the original railroad that served all of the little towns through Illinois up to the City of Milwaukee. It was a long, slow trip because of all the stops and street running along the way.
The track that runs to the upper left side is the High Speed line.
It was relatively flat and straight. Trains would hit 90 MPH as they headed to Milwaukee. This is where the Electroliners ran. The track that heads to the bottom of the photo ran into downtown Chicago on “the El”.
Next, I developed a wish list. I included everything that I could think of, whether it was feasible or not.
Overhead wire, Cobblestone/asphalt streets, Electroliner (High Speed line), Heavy weight cars (High Speed line and Shore line), Streetcar (Chicago Surface Lines on city streets), Steeple Cab for Freight Operations, Merchandise Dispatch for small package delivery. The North Shore offered all of these services.
4×8 and 5×10 plan (Hey,, when you do it digitally, it is pretty cheap.)
Main Street Station Suydam kit. (Couldn’t find a good one on ebay, so I ended up getting a brand new one from Alpine Models).
High speed line with reverse loops and storage stacks, Shore Line with reverse loop and storage in Waukegan (Lake County seat)
Insull Spanish station (This is actually on the South Shore, but they are all the same.)
Interchange track with railroad for freight operations
Ravinia Park:
Easter Eggs(Just hidden little surprises): Nighthawks Scene, Where the streetcar bends the corner around (just google it. it is a real place), Merchants curve
I jammed most of these into my first try, using XTrk CAD.
If anyone is interested, let me know. I will continue to update with how I revised my thinking and my track plan to create a more realistic model railroad.
Gregory”
A big thanks to Ken for showing us how to build a model train turntable – and to Gregory too.
Gregory is right – it’s all about making a start. What’s more, if you can make a start with a theme too, you’re well on your way.
Please do leave a suggestion below if you can help Greg.
That’s all for today, folks.
Please do keep ’em coming.
And if you want to stop dreaming and start doing, the Beginner’s Guide is here.
Dick’s been back in touch – he’s still adding his huge Kato Unitrack N scale.
(There are lots of Kato track plans here if that’s what you are after.)
“Hi Al:
After a 3 week stay in the hospital and recovery I am now able to work on this huge layout.
Just before I ended up in the hospital, I had uprooted some track to make changes to Chicago and Oakland.
All track is in place, now it is time to add feeders in many places, do test runs again, then finally start on scenery.
Chicago, Denver, Salt Lake City and Oakland on my layout do not resemble the real places, my track arrangements are freelance.
However I can run point to point, changing out locos at each city. or just simply let trains run for show, there is approx 20 scales of track on the layout, 99% Kato Unitrack.
One can sit at any of the cities and do freight switching as well as dropping and adding passenger cars to the passenger trains.
Layout is against 3 walls, 10.5′ long at Chicago, 23.5′ along the narrow 4 track main, then 24′ along the wall to Oakland. The aisle is 3′ wide by 18″.
I enjoy reading all the input from our model train pals worldwide which inspires me to keep at it.
Sincerely
Dick Chapple Sr
Hardin Mt USA”
The single line throughout represents the all double track mainline as it traverses the 4 cities. DCC operation with 4 divisions.
Denver
Midwest Chicago toward salt Lake City
Leaving Salt Lake headed for Oakland
Oakland at far end
Oakland
Oakland and waterfront
Lower tracks entering Denver
Leaving Denver for Salt Lake city
Mountains outside of Salt lake City
Salt Lake City
Coming into Salt Lake City
A big thanks to Dick for sharing his Kato Unitrack N scale – it’s quite a project he’s got going on there.
