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HO scale elevated train track

David has been in touch again, and he has very kindly taken the trouble to answer your questions on his HO scale elevated train track.

If you want to get up to speed, and see his first post, it’s here.

“Hi Alastair,

Thanks again for your blogs and also to those that sent me such kind comments.

I notice that there were quite a few questions, so will attempt to answer some of them here.

I have included some more pics which may assist with the below explanations.

“KARRAWIDGEE” uses Peco code 100 set track points ( turnouts ), some set track pre-formed pieces and flexi track.

The layout splits lengthwise down the middle and runs along front side of loco shed which created some problems with joins to get track into loco shed on back half.

The track plan just evolved. Initially I had one outer oval, then played until eventually it all fitted inside the first oval.

The smallest radii ( curves) I used was #2, 438mm. I was amazed at how many configurations would have worked. See photo of control panel for track plan.

I was determined to have an elevated coaling facility and the result over loco shed was the result, as nothing else would work, no room below. That’s how I ended up with my HO scale elevated train track.

The 4 dead ends on the right hand side are intentional, designed for further expansion of the layout. Because “KARRAWIDGEE” occupies the space needed for the next layout it had to moved on and the new owner will use those dead ends to connect to his other larger layout.

Because I could not fit a turntable on the layout, one track on the right was used to provide loco turning and transport to programming track via a “loco lift”

The back dead end in tunnel I used as a loco shed to store a loco out of dust. Wig-wags flash and sound is genuine 1950s bells.

The white fencing at the pedestrian track crossing is how any Victorian Railways uncontrolled crossing is designed and this is still in use today but made from galvanised iron not timber. You cannot go straight ahead onto track but must deviate left or right and return to cross track.

The track work is all ballasted including the bridges, faithful to the Victorian Railways method of bridge building.

They decked the top of the timber trestles with side boards and then laid the sleepers ( ties) on the deck, then ballasted. Other states in Australia did not use this method.

All the electrical components are hidden, if possible, the signal box and timber platform extension are hiding switches.

The photos show the method I chose to gain access, if needed,
by having lift out panels.

The backdrop lifts off if needed and the sides and front (clear acrylic ) are what I call” anti -damage barriers” as I have found it so easy to do damage when leaning over the sides. I have knocked the signals repeatedly.

My signals are now held in place by drilling up through the baseplate and another matching hole in the ground into which is inserted a piece of bus wire and signal inserted on top.

This gives a loose fitting which moves if knocked and has so far served me well, as against a rigidly glued item.

The vegetation was all individually planted and colored out in natural daylight with acrylic paint.

The trees are made from the CEDUM plant which bears a strong resemblance to our Eucalyptus trees.

The shrubs, bushes and groundcover all vitamised foam rubber. The terrain is white styrene packaging foam, usually got for free (see lift out panel photo ) smeared in Gapfiller, hot wire cut, shaped etc.

I do lots of experimentation with techniques and materials.

The loco shed is the only building illuminated so you can watch to park your locos on the 2 roads.

I hope this may have answered some of your questions.

Cheers,

David”

A huge thanks to David for sharing his HO scale elevated train track – it really is fab not just seeing a layout like this, but also knowing how it came about.

Hope you enjoyed it as much as me. It reminded me of Wayne’s: Elevated model train track.

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 stop dreaming, and start doing.

Best

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

PPS More HO scale train layouts here if that’s your thing.

HO scale tram

John’s been in touch with HO scale tram:

“I decided to renew my interest in model railroading, but take a new approach.

As a youngster, I had a HO layout which -if not necessarily very prototypical- kept me entertained and satisfied my MRR bug.

As an adult with young children, I and they became involved with G gauge, and had fun traveling to local shows with a portable display.

With the children gone and downsizing our home, the G layout went to a younger cousin and his family as our new home had little space for anything that large.

Time got me thinking hard about how I could make a layout using my beloved 1/24 or G scale, but with a much smaller footprint.

What I decided upon was a 1/24 scale miniature train set-up using HO track.

My layout would be a sort of amusement park ride, with 1/24 folks enjoying a ride-upon On-30 train.

At the same time, I decided to automate the trains, turnouts, and eventual special effects with DCC.

To make this vision happen, I purchased a small On-30 Spectrum DCC 0-4-2 Steam locomotive, three Spectrum open observation cars, and a pair of Spectrum short wooden gondola cars. All except the engine would require extensive modification.

First though, I had to prepare a layout table. What I decided upon may be a bit unusual, but so will the whole layout be!

I chose to frame the 4′ x 8′ layout with 1″ X 9” PVC lumber. The table surface itself is 3 layers glued up of rigid foam, presently covered in felt. The felt gives it a “finished look” while I build and will be removed as the work progresses.

For support, I purchased a set of folding “card table” legs, to which I added a set of easy-rolling casters for mobility.

You will note in the photo that the layout is in a covered, screened area. Here in Florida most have this, called a lanai.

Ours happens to be large enough for both my layout and my wife’s elevated gardens, with room left over for some chairs and small tables for entertaining.

Since the climate is humid, I keep a light plastic tarp over the entire table when I’m not using it.

The 4′ x 8′ table with felt tucked in over the rigid foam

I decided to use Bachmann EZ Track for convenience since it was readily available and requires no tedious tracklaying. Not my interest at this point as my immediate goal is to be up and running with my HO scale tram.

I knew rolling stock would be a challenge for this rusty craftsman, but I had a pretty good idea what I wanted and how to achieve it. The Spectrum On-30 open observation cars were “more or less” in scale for O but needed heavy mods for 1/24 or G scale. The first thing was to remove the far too low roof from the observation cars. A razor saw made quick work of this.

Original spectrum on-30 open observation car

Obs car wih roof sawn off and interior benches removed.

To remove the O scale interior benches, I removed one truck so I could access the tabs holding the coach body to the chassis. Once the body was removed, I removed 4 screws which held the benches in.

This left the body roofless and empty, so time to add some 1/24 seats!

I found some candidates for the job with 1/24 park benches. These just happened to fit across the width of the car perfectly! I sawed off most of the base a glued 3 benches in place on each car.

Benches glued in and new roof supports going in:

The new roof supports were next. Each was cut from wooden medical applicator sticks, 2.5″ long for each. Once 8 were in place, the roof went on and the chassis reconnected.

Two done, one to go.

After completing the observation cars, I had to make a trailer for the driver. On the Howling Wolf RR, the engine is operated by a remote control on the driver’s lap, but where should he ride? A modified wood gondola served the purpose nicely. I’ll spare you the obvious steps, here it is… but lacking a roof!

I gave some thought of how I would match up a built roof with the roofs of the obs. cars. Then an inspiration! We use a fiber product called Benefiber, and just maybe… Stay Tuned for the next instalment!

John”

A huge thanks to John for sharing his HO Scale tram – some very creative scratch building going on there. Can’t wait to see the next update.

It reminded me of Brian’s tram layout: Kato tram layouts.

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 stop dreaming, and start doing.

Best

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

N scale L shaped layout

Bruce has been in touch with his N scale L shaped layout:

“It was in 1971 while living in Toronto Canada that I bought my first N Gauge train set.

It was a small boxed set by Aurora, Postage Stamp Trains, which cost me $25.

It consisted of a small 0-6-0 steam engine, 4 freight cars, and some rails. I was hooked on the detail and size, and this started me on collecting N Gauge.

Over the next couple of years I bought through the mail from the USA several Rapido, Atlas, and other makes.

I then moved to England for a couple of years, and bought a Hornby Minitrix Britannia for £10.

I then moved to Cape Town for several years, and found a small hobby shop close by, and continued my collection, mainly Atlas items.

After that I moved back to England for a while, and then in 1981 moved permanently to the USA, where I have lived at the same address for almost 40 years.

I bought a country house that did not have a decent garage, so I built a large 2-car garage with an upstairs, and two rooms at the back.

One room, my future Train Room is 16 ft by 12 ft, and next to it is the Tack Room (for saddles and bridles) for use by my wife for her horses.

However, it was not until 2013 that I started building my layout, as my main interest was collecting different trains. I did not specialize, as I bought anything that I liked the look of – steam, diesel, electric trains from USA, England, Germany, France, Japan. Most of my purchasing was done on ebay between 2000 and 2010.

I “finished” my layout in 2018, since I did a little bit each year, as there is no heating or A/C in my train room, so I worked just a couple hours at a time over a couple of months each year.

Attached are some progress photos – I apologize for the bad quality.

The layout is “L” shaped, with 4 train tracks, and 4 DC controllers.

There are 2 outside long distance tracks for my longer trains, and 2 figure-8 shorter tracks on the inside. Nothing too fancy, as I want to see my trains run.

The houses I used are a real mix – some might not be truly N Scale. I got Spanish Villas bought in Cadaques Spain, Bermuda Cottages, English Cottages, American Farm houses, and a Lighthouse I bought at a Dollar General.

Bruce”