Model railroad layouts plans

Rob’s been back in touch with another missive on how to build a model train bridge:

“My bridge is built and next will be the installation. That will come along in a few weeks. I can’t do it right away due to personal reasons.

Some people have expressed that the bridge looks a bit North American for a British outline layout. The thing is, I wanted to build a bridge. It is my layout so, I’ve done it.

I started building layouts after a trip to London in 2012. I went to Hamley’s toy shop, a place I had been to as a child while living in London with my family as a child. The fellow in the train department started talking to me about trains. It was very interesting to me.

After a while he said, “And this one has sound.” While pointing to a Class 50 diesel. Sound? I said. Yes, he said it makes the sounds of a locomotive. I was intrigued. Intending to buy something anyway, I said I’ll take it.

When I got home with my newly acquired circle of track, DCC controller and sound locomotive, I set it up on the dining room table and hit F1. To my delight, I heard the sound of a large diesel engine starting. Wow…I was instantly hooked. My journey had begun. At 76 it is still going.

Rob”

A huge big thanks to Hall of Fame Rob for sharing the second part of how to build a model train bridge.

You can see the first part here:

How to scratch build a bridge.

Now on to Roger, who is also building a bridge:

“Im currently building the “ Bitch Creek” bridge in N scale. The bridge is in Idaho and is on the Altoona Rails to Trails. I think Neds backdrop in O is magnificent, particularly since backdrops are often missing or inadequate in the presented projects

I think your daily email is alot of fun.

Best

Roger”

A big thanks to Rob and Roger – their posts jogged my memory to years and years ago.

Have a look at the bridge below and see if you can guess what it’s made from:

The answer is here.

Next, there are quite a few recent questions on the forum that haven’t had any replies. Can you help? They need help and I know you lovely lot can lend a helping hand.

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.

Philip has been in touch – he uses fiber board for his OO scale track bed:

“Hi Al, I’m living in east Liverpool Ohio but I’m from Tipton West Midlands.

I have been reading your blog for a couple of years now and it amazes me of the ingenuity of the members. I like dangerous David’s approach to modeling.

Mine started like most with a 0 gauge Hornby tin plate clockwork set.

Then it progressed to triang rovex layout built by my dad. I’m 72 years old.

The layout pictures shown has been 40 years in the making.

A 8’x4’ sheet of homasote fiberboard originally under the Christmas tree.

Then I made the 1×4 frame that that interlocked every foot on centre. Then I used pre shaped laminated card railbed the I ordered from the walthers catalogue. I had to add 6” to the back and right hand side.

All the track is OO scale British Peco brand. The fiber board and laminate rail bed cuts noise on the track bed to a minimum.

It’s just a tail chaser but I don’t have the room for anything bigger. I model British Railways from 1900 to current time.

I have models, mainly from Hornby and Bachmann from all the great 4 railways with emphasis on the Great Western Railway and BR up to modern times.

Most of the rolling stock is also used and some date back to the birth of Airfix and mainline as do some of the Manor and Mogul locos. And they still run good.

Most of the models, about 70-80% of them were purchased used as non-runners.

I have been taking model locos apart since I was 8 years old. I buy these types as I have a hard time justifying today’s cost of new ones.

I have added two photos one as I was modifying the layout and the other from last year. All the locos in the second photo are all GWR.

The buildings are OO scale Metcalfe and are very good. The two plate girder bridges are scratch built from various thickness of plastic card, track and plastruct shapes and sprayed with grey primer.

The embankment is made from Elmer’s foam core project board and the sides covered with 6 layers of paper towels with each layer coated with Elmer’s white glue. It is strong as my cats have proven time and again.

Electrics are provided by Bachmann spectrum controllers. Each circuit, 4, is wired the same way and no shorts occur.

The points are not powered, as yet but provision as been made for the time they will be, maybe.

The first pic is from 2005 when I was recovering from triple bypass surgery.

The second as it looks today in the process of being modified again.

Thanks for all your hard work.

Philip”

OO scale track bed:

A huge big thanks to Philip for sharing his OO scale track bed layout.

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.

Dan’s been in touch again with more pics of his stunning HO train layout:

Followers of my posts: I have just about run out of things of interest on my layout.

I took hundreds of construction photos as well as a very large number of finished works.

I am often rephotographing the HO layout in different lighting conditions as well as angles.

I like slogans and word play for signs.

Close up of the coal sign

The poor guy with a spelling problem

What more can you say?

Once again the painters at the mill. I did this model in the early 70’s. You can see the obvious reference to a certain plant.

HO train layout:

The HO station at Almost is almost to the summit

Sunset

Long after sunset at the train tunnel

HO train layout

Before radios, train orders were picked upon the fly. (When orders were to be signed the train had to stop.) The train man is about to grab the orders. Some time the orders were handed up via a “Y” or similar shaped frame. The station operator would stand near the moving train and “Hoop” them up.

Here he is about to grab the layout orders. This stand has 3 arms. The head end would get one and a helper loco would get one if needed.

The trestle often needs repair. One of the safety boards has gone missing. The work train has arrived to do the work.

It takes a brave person to step out to the HO platform.

Looks like some Ho Bo’s have made camp below the trestle.

The phone box. Often the train had to get permission to enter a junction

A large group has gathered to celebrate the 20 anniversary of the layout.

A banner has been stretched across the track. (Today it would say 32 years!)

That is enough for now.

I think I can do two or three more of my HO train layout. I have done the scenery on 5 other layouts and designed and done the scenery 3 of them. In the comments let me and Al
know if you want to see them.

Santafedan”

A huge big thanks to Dan for sharing his HO train layout again – there is so much happening in all the little scenes, it really does bring the layout to life. Stunning stuff.

You can see more of Dan’s HO layout in the Hall of Fame.

Next, on to Ron, who put a smile on my face:

“Dear Al;

I just read your recent post where you said ‘I have been having a tough time of it at the moment. When you get to my age, the technical side of running, a blog can be a bit mind numbing.’

Alastair, I totally, completely understand where you’re coming from! I’ve been in your shoes.

I need you to know something friend: from this end, from the readers end, I have learned more from you and your blog than I’ve ever learned from any magazines or books!

Your blogs are full of illustrative pictures, descriptions, and better than that, even how to’s!

Alastair, do not forget, do not ever forget the lasting impact you’re having on those of us who are just beginning; those of us who don’t have a clue and are looking to you for guidance.

Keep up the good work, my friend! Believe me when I tell you there are multitudes of us who so appreciate all that you have done, all that you ARE doing and all that you hopefully will continue to do!

Godspeed, my friend!

Ron”

Ron really put a smile on my face, because I genuinely want the blog, the Beginner’s Guide, the printable buildings, to do one very important thing: getting folk to make a start!

It’s all about that start. One of my fave sayings is “It’s the start that stops most people”. So true.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a HO train layout, N scale, or any scale – just start! Enjoy yourself.

Anyhow, I’m rambling now.

You can grab the Beginner’s Guide here. I know many of you buy it every year just to support the blog, so thank you so much.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

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