Model railroad layouts plans

Dave’s been back in touch with some track for model trains that has been no end of problems:

“Hi Al… just had another bit of a problem with track movement, so had to go out and buy some new.

To start with could not locate what I wanted, then thinking I had bought some Peco track got home to find it was Hornby ..and due to no model shop near to us with Peco in stock, had to use this, its not up to Peco standard…

Also showing some glue which does what it says ..instant and sticks just about everything…especially track for model trains.

Regards

Dave”

A big thanks to Hall of fame Dave.

I think Track for model trains gives us all grief at some time or other.

Next, on to Brian, who has sent in more pics of his layout.

His first post is here: L shaped N scale layout.

“Alastair,

I love photography as much as railroading but promise not to keep sending these unless you want more.

Brian”

Now on to another Brian, who has been busy with is track too:

“Hi Alastair,

I have been placing track on the last leg of the bottom level of my double deck HOn3 layout.

It is not fixed in place yet (good job that it isn’t) This is where a camera comes in handy as I physically could not see what was wrong until I took a photo of the section and the error glared at me.

There is a track that comes from the back of the layout leading to the the yard and engine facilities but could not get to the turntable from there. (No run around).

As can be seen below, there is no connection between the second track from the left to the next one to the right of it which leads to the engine terminal.

The track on the right hand side (not the siding) is the one that comes from the other side of the layout and leads to the yard and engine facilities. As seen below.

The white card template shows where the track will be.

The spur from this track leads to the brewery. Seen below.

Having taken a photo of this section is where I could see the error of the missing run – around between the two tracks. I have pencilled it in on the photo near the top left.

Fortunately I had two spare HOn3 right hand points that I could use to correct the problem as seen below.

The buildings are temporarily placed and not in the final position nor completed.

Short pieces of track placed temporarily to visualise what the final placement would be. (waiting for more HOn3 Peco track lengths to arrive).

Below is a view of the bottom section allowing for trains to access the yard or down to the turntable and engine facilities.

There will be background buildings along the wall with possibly some form of industry.

The bare wharf in the middle is where my FSM Seafood Emporium will be located as seen in previous posts of the build/kit-bash of it.

This black and white photo taken below looking east showing how it all worked out with the Roundhouse and facilities right at the end of this level.

A closer view of the facilities without the buildings in there respective places while working on this section.

Fortunately I was able to purchase two more Blue Point motors for the points that our local hobby shop happened to have in stock.

A lesson learned (again) when working on a new layout, is – must have a track plan. (I have a track plan for the other side but not this side 😢😡😢).

Now to get on with the fixing down of the track. 👏

It has been extremely hot here in the past week of temperatures reaching 37c at times and way too hot to work in the train room.

Once again Alastair, keep up the excellent work you are doing for us modellers.

All the best.

Brian – the HOn3 guy in Knysna RSA”

That’s all for today folks. A big thank to the two Brians and Dave.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day you stop dreaming and start doing, 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.

John’s added to the HO switching layouts on the blog with this fab update:

“Hi Al,

I’ve been busy with more stuff since I “retired” than I had when I was working! But the railroad has continued to grow in spite of everything else.

This time I added a few feet to the isle area of the layout, and put in tracks for more industry.

This part of the layout is pinned to switching and moving cars to the various industries. It will be wired and controlled separately from the rest of the layout.

I have always found “HO switching layouts” to be fun and challenging. How to get that tank car to the oil distributer without trapping the engine in the siding, collecting 2 “empty” boxcars and replacing them with “full” ones on a siding only long enough for 2 cars at a time, stuff like that.

I also added the “Almost Heaven RV Resort modeled after on of the worst places the wife and I ever took our RV! Actually this the one on the layout is better.

On a whim I bid on a bunch of Army vehicles, and won, so I put in the West Virginia Coal County National Guard yard post.

The small “Quonset” buildings are cookie holders from Girl-Scout cookies, the bigger ones are stripped cardboard.

As always, thanks so much for all you do for the hobby – world-wide!

I’ll send more pictures in a few days, trying out some interesting camera settings.

Regards,

John from Baltimore”

A big thanks to John for adding to the HO switching layouts on the blog.

I’ve been a fan of his layouts for a long time now.

It also reminded me of this one:

HO switching layout plans.

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.

Ken’s added to the HO scale layout plans on the blog with this fine update:

“Greeting Al from across the pond. I’m very close to be completed on my Willoughby Junction railroad layout.

It’s an HO scale double/triple oval with two loops on the north and south sides, with a town loop to pick up passengers at the depot.

It looks much different from the 1st phase that you posted. I’ve added phase 2 and phase 3.

My idea originally was to have it be industry heavy with lots of switching opportunities. But after my wife discovered Woodland Scenics built-ups, my industry heavy layout went out the window!

So, my contingent plan was to have a continuous running loop with some switching which worked out quite well.

I remember growing up in Flint, MI USA playing around the staging yards on the Grand Trunk box cars. I was too afraid to try to jump from one to another like my big brother did! So, my layout consists of Grand Trunk trains and its successor Chessie Systems.

I even have CSX locomotive which took over Chessie. I have a bunch of LED’s on the ceiling so I can create different moods.

My backdrop was purchased from a company called Wallsauce right there in the U.K. It’s a picture called “Side Pike of Heaven” in Little Langdale, England, United Kingdom. Someone asked me that from my first post.

People that come to visit are really taken back by my train room. I installed a Broadway Limited “Lightning Storm” machines. It does add a very cool effect I dread the day we ever have to sell our house.

I hope you enjoy the photos.

Ken”

HO scale layout plans:

HO scale layout plans:

A huge big thank you to Ken for adding to the HO scale layout plans and sharing his stunning pics.

I asked Ken about the chimp which you can see at the end of the video, and replied with this:

“Yes, he’s Winston our porter. He has a glass of bourbon on ice on his tray. It’s actually colored epoxy and fake ice cubes that I had leftover from pouring my pond.”

I do love all the personal touches on your layouts. Jack’s 60 model railroad was full of them.

Lastly today, there’s a couple of questions on the forum that are stopping some people making a start, and we can’t have that. Can you help?

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.