Model railroad layouts plans

Karl’s been in touch – his layout even features a HO scale cemetery:

“Hi Al,

Every morning I enjoy your blog with tons of news with a cup of coffee and the dog “Charlie” on my lab.

Originally I am from the Netherlands but lived in the US since 1974.

I am pushing 90 and started my layout 2 years ago. I am not as skilled and creative as most Modelers.

I live in Issaquah, WA. Which was a mining and logging City. It also had rail services.

It’s all gone and it now is a traffic congested City.

So my theme became “Issaquah ”

The layout is HO scale on a 13×6 table with DCC in the garage.

Covered the floor of the garage with interlocking 2×2′ foamrubber tiles to keep the cold out in the winter. The furnace and water heater keep the place pretty comfortable.

Karl”

My over and under the table assistants with the work table on the cargo bed of the golf cart.

Issaquah station

Turn out switch board

Container yard. The last 22 years of my working career I was Port Captain for Ocean going container companies. Before that I spent 24 years on the “high seas”.

Layout on paper

Part of Lake Sammamish. Yes, the water is too blue.i am working on it to look more real.

Congested Front Street

Cemetery with funeral. Backdrop made from photo’s

Switching yard

Burlington Northern train with “consist”

Backdrop is montage of photo’s of Lake Sammamish. Early stage of city.

Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

A big thanks to Karl for sharing his HO scale cemetery ans other pics. 90 years young and it’s a fab layout too.

That’s all for today.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

Al

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

Need buildings for your layout? Have a look at the Silly Discount bundle.

Fred’s been back in touch with his stunning layout – have a look at what he does with his N scale white LEDs:

(His last post is here.)

“Hi Alastair –

I hope you are secure, well stocked, and relatively safe in your corner of the world.

Boston is in a surge right now, and I’m more than ever thankful for this wonderful hobby of ours, where I can hunker down and lose all my cares in a world of my own, free from cover, job loss, and fear!

Anyhow, I sent you a video via mail drop to show you the progress of my harbor.

Check out the backdrop, for which some separate photos, and also some photos showing the weird perspective of my oil refinery access road through the refinery. It always amazes me to see the kinks in a straight line you have to impose between modeled road and rendered extension on a vertical backdrop.

I think that the visual tricks of backdrop making are probably the most stimulating and satisfying parts of my project.

Amy questions, please let me know.

Fred”

It’s a bit of a squint to see Fred’s video, but sorry, not much I can do about that.

A huge thanks to Fred – his layout is a real joy to see. It looks just as good at night as it does in the day.

Now on to Mike:

“Hi Al,

With time on my hands, bought a coffee at the local coffee shop and grabbed a stir stick, my imagination went off the rails.

$5 bought me a box of 1000 stir sticks, a quick drawing, small saw and glue and I was off.

The framing is mostly done now the roofing and siding, followed by trim and windows. I can stay locked down for a bit longer.

Shed fits my 4-8-4 American Flyer steamer.

Mike Acebo

East Marion NY”

A big thanks to Fred for sharing his N scale white LEDs – stunning pics. Thanks to Mike too.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And don’t forget, if want to make your start on your layout, just like Mike did, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Remember, it’s the start that stops most people.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

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

Peter’s been in touch with his impressive N scale rock cliffs:

Now on to Tom:

“In the 1950’s I grew up with a Lionel train table my dad built in the basement of our house in Berkley Michigan.

About a year ago I decided to build a N scale railroad in my house. I first had to do a lot of reading about the changes in model railroading from the 1950’s.

DCC – what a change from having to section off different areas of your layout.

Also what materials are now available for landscaping from card stock buildings to ground cover.

THE THEME:

The theme of my railroad takes place in the early 1950’s on the Baltimore & Ohio rail line between Baltimore and Cincinnati. The village is in the mountains of West Virginia along Highway 50.

The main line along this route takes you through the mountains into the rolling farm lands of eastern Ohio. There are two spears one that will take you up into the village with a stop at the passenger depot. The second spear is to the local coal mines and trucking fright yard.

SPECIAL SCENES:

Forest with a fly fishing river
Cabin in the woods
Tunnel through Mountains
Rock cliffs
Local park, swimming and picnicking area.
Canoeing on a lake
Rapids that end in a fishing lake with a viaduct running over the fishing lake.
Cave/wild animal den
Apple orchard
Farm with live stock
Wood frame Farm Houses
Local auto repair shop/gas station
Corn fields
Biker bar
Trucking depot
Engine house
Coal Mine
Village
Town Hall/Fire Station/Police station
Barber/Beauty shop
Bank
News Paper Stand
Train Depot/Post Office
Family restaurant
Doctor’s Office
Consignment clothing store/Bed and Breakfast
General Store
Trading Post/Auction House
Butcher Shop
Farmer’s Market/Produce Stand
Gas Station/mini mart
Church

Tom”

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Now on to Peter:

“Found this dilapidated sand tower on ebay and I made it all brass and a nice addition to an engine facility in O scale..

Peter”

A big thanks to Peter and Tom.

Loved what Peter did – he really did nurse it back to life.

And Tom’s N scale rock cliffs layout is a little stunner- not bad at all for a first effort!

Hope you enjoyed them as much as me.

That’s all for today.

Please do keep ’em coming.

Stay safe. Stay sane. Keep busy. The Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

Al

PS More N scale layouts here if that’s your thing.