Model railroad layouts plans

Gus has been in touch with his O gauge layout:

“Al,

I really enjoy your site. I thought I would send a few pictures of my layout four years in the making. The layout is 9’-0” X 17’-0” (274 x 518). We can run four trains. Some of the scenery is store bought and a lot is scratch built from materials around the house.

The table is built aircraft style with ribbed construction and 2 x 4 legs that have gusset braces at 8 perimeter locations. The center is supported by 4 2 x 4’s. The deck is two layers 1/2” plywood.

The trackage is the old fashion Lionel tubular track set on foam track bed. There are about 800 hand cut ties glued under the tracks with o scale ballast.

The layout is powered by two Lionel 275 watt transformers.

The lighting is divided into five separate circuits and are powered by five multi tap transformers.

All of the building scenes are built on 1/8 thick board so that I can remove each scene and place it elsewhere on the layout.

The mountain and tunnels are made of scrap styrofoam and sculpted using a hacksaw blade attached to piece of wood and heated red hot with propane torch then covered with plaster cloth.

All main buss wiring is # 12 with # 14 feeders. Wanted to make sure minimal voltage loss. One thing for sure is that you learn to correctly wire the layout so you don’t burn up things.

Have some of the usual accessories. Coal loader, stationary crane, water tower, culvert loader and a circus car. The locomotives are Lionel, K-Line and Williams 1950 to present.

Thanks for a great site and all of the ideas. It great to see what you folks do across the pond.

Gus”

A big thanks to Gus for sharing his O gauge layout. Whenever an O scale comes through at the mo, I always think of Martin’s O scale.

And here’s one from Dave that fell through the cracks:

“Hi Al, just uploaded this video trying to lighten the day.

Hope this can bring a smile to some!

Regards

Dave”

Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

Now on to Bill:

“Hi Al,

Thank you for all the posts! I read them every day and save most of them for future.

I have finally started!

As a kid, I set up my Lionel around the Christmas tree and ran it until tinsel fell on the tracks popping the circuit breaker. It has been seventy years since those days and I have finally started my layout.

I decided my first effort would be a conservative 4 x 8 early twentieth century California Sierra Mountains logging operation with two connected tracks in HO scale; an upper/inner logging track bringing rough cut logs down to the mill and village where they would be cut and loaded onto flat cars for transport to “market” on a larger mainline.

I have completed the bench work and laid out both lines, but now I am losing some confidence.

My lower mainline should be fine with 18” radius and 2% incline/decline, but I’m more concerned about the upper layout.

I have designed the track on a 12” radius with 3% to 4% incline/decline hills.

My intention is use a small loco, x 6 x, or Shay at slow speeds pulling three or four logging cars. Am I destined for continuous frustration with derailments using this tight of turns?

Thanks in advance for your input.

Bill

California, USA”

Please do leave a comment below if you can help Bill.

That’s all for this time.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if you want to make a start on your very own layout, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

Al

Let’s start today with the answer to Daniel’s little quiz.

If you missed it, it’s at the bottom of here.

Here’s Daniel’s answer if you missed it in the comments:

“The car was indeed part of an eastern railroad, as John indicated. The Delaware and Hudson was the railroad, and was used for one location; Tunnel, NY where the D & H had a tunnel. This is northeast of Binghamton, NY.

Above is a photo by Bill Mischler (D&H Color Guide to Freight and Passenger Equipment – a GREAT book btw) of the prototypical car as seen in Oneonta, NY. Its usual home was in Binghamton, NY.

Below is the truck the D & H used to clear ice at the Ticonderoga tunnel. This photo is by Jeff Martin (D & H Color Guide to Freight and Passenger Equipment) and was taken in July of 1968.

Daniel”

Now a small correction.

Yesterday I said Peter’s layout was HO – it’s not, this part of his layout is HOn3.

Here’s his video again:

Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

Peter’s video got me thinking too. I wondered how many posts of his there are. I started going through them all and that killed a very pleasant half hour. So I thought why not?

Peter’s update

Another update from Peter

Peter nearly finishes

Peter starts his O scale

Peter’s update

Peter starts on his scenery

Peter adds a video

Even more from Pete and his O scale

Peter adds a roundhouse

Peter adds a vid of his roundhouse

Pete gives his engine a paint job

Peter finishes his tunnel

And now on to Ben:

“Hi Al!

I’ve been a member of your email club for a few years. I’ve sent in pics of stuff I’ve made before.

I had an 8×4 L-shaped switching layout, but divorce happened and I no longer have it. I did keep all the buildings, trees, cars, etc.

I started a new layout, but it’s a lot smaller. It’s about 4×2.

Going to be switching again since it’s small and it’s the kind of layout I prefer.

So far the track is laid and I made a background. I’ll send more pics as I progress.

Ben from So Cal”

Not too much Ben’s layout yet – but that’s the whole point, and it’s why I post them: it’s all about making a start!

Right now, it’s an ideal time too, because we have a hobby that is perfectly suited to the circumstances.

Of course, a layout is a big step. So why not start with a diaroma?

Here’s one that Ben did, which I think is just fab.

Or you could join in the fun and have a go a the scratch building competition (which is at the bottom of this one).

Speaking of which, I heard from Ron yesterday. Here’s what he said:

“Alastair,

Glad to hear that the “Silly Sale” was such a big hit that it carried the day.

Still glad that I was able to put a bit of cushion under you anxiousness.

Now as far as the donation goes, your contest sounds great and I cannot wait to see the results.

I trust that Rich most likely feels as I do in this regard.

I will not be competing, too busy wiring my O-gauge 13” x 25’ layout (lower level). This coronavirus “stay at home” routine has given me a bit of time to put the diagrams and wiring schematics together for the track – structures and signals are yet to come. Now when Amazon delivers, I will be crawling under the table.

Though you have announced the contest, did you consider a possible 1st and 2nd and Honorable Mention recognition.

Especially, if you get a number of entries. Don’t you just like it when the peanut gallery chimes in with suggestions after the fact!! Ha, Ha.

Stay safe and well.

Ron”

Well, I think it’s only fair that Ron (and Rich) get some say in this.

So now there’s a second and third prize too. I have no idea what those prizes will be yet, but I’m sure I’ll think of something.

Are you going to join in the fun? May as well, we’re all in this for the long haul. Here’s a recap:

Scratch build a building from the Print-out scenery bundles, take a pic and send it in.

(So that’s a scratch build – use your imagination – make a new building, not an existing one.)

I promise to post everyone I’m sent, and the winner? That will be chosen by you lot – I’ll run a survey so everyone can vote.

The winner gets $140, and the winning building will be put on the site, totally free, for everybody to download.

Here’s the Silly discount print out bundle’ if you missed it last time. I’ll keep it open for a few days.

Entries to be in by the 16th April, then the voting begins.

Winner gets $140.

Winning building will be available on the site, completely free for all and everybody, forever.

Right, I think that’s about all for today folks. Please do keep ’em coming.

Don’t forget the The Beginner’s Guide is here if today is the day you stop dreaming and start doing.

Stay safe. Stay sane. Keep busy.

Best

Al

Today I’d like to start with a big ‘thank you’ to Daniel.

His post – as well as being fun – has given me an idea that I hope you’ll all like.

More on this below, as you’ll read.

But first, we start with Margaret.

And she proves in spades that a layout can be whatever you want it to be:

“Dear Alistair,

I built this N scale fairy village layout at the request of my granddaughters. They love it.

Margaret”

Now on to Daniel.

He’s come up with a great idea – a fun competition:

“Good morning Alastair;

Probably morning when you open this, as it is about 7 pm where you are. It might be time for a pint, but like here, the pint places are shut down I suppose.

I hope you are coping with our global situation. Looks like your readers are keeping you busy. Truly unprecedented since the 1918 influenza run.

Anyhow, I thought a bit of fun might be in order.

The attached photo is a replication of an actual MOW car that was taken from revenue service for one specific function, one specific function only.

I thought it might be fun for your readers to guess what the car was used for.

After the guesses come in I will see who got it first and then come back with the winner and tell more about it.

Is that something you might be interested in?

As to the prize, I guess “bragging rights” is all that I could offer, or you could come up with one of your “silly deals” [just kidding about that, not necessary] but it might be a fun diversion for some.

Thanks, Alastair! Stay healthy!!

Daniel”

So… any guesses on what this was for? Please do post a comment below.

And now on to ‘the idea’, which was entirely prompted by Daniel.

Last November, I was in a spot of bother. You probably remember, and I planned to close down the site.

But you came right back at me with some very helpful suggestions. Three in particular saved this little blog.

(I was reluctant to put ads on the site, but they have indeed made a difference.)

I was very touched by it all, and nothing would make me happier than to give something back to you lovely lot in the grip of this latest gloom.

My finances are still very precarious, but I have a little something to give, thanks to the kindness of Rich and Ron.

During my financial wobble, believe it or not, they both sent cash, both accompanied by some very kind words. I’m not making this up, have a look:

Long story short – I still have their $140. And now I’m going to put it to good use.

Don’t get me wrong, it would have helped and I was very tempted to make the trip in to town and bank it.

But for some reason that just didn’t feel ‘right’. What to do? Send it back?

Well, being a serial procrastinator, it’s still sat on my desk. Not for long, however.

I’m running a competition, and the winner will get Rich and Ron’s $140.

What can keep us all occupied amongst this doom and gloom? I’ll tell you – the print out scenery.

Layouts can be rather long projects, and I know lots of you are ‘arm chair’ modelers too.

But anyone can have a bash at the print scenery. It’s fun. So here’s my idea:

Lots of you bought the ‘Silly discount print out bundles’ in my hour of need.

The great thing about these bundles is they contain every kind of texture, wall, roof and window imaginable.

So here’s the competition:

Scratch build a building from the bundles, take a pic and send it in.

(So that’s a scratch build – use your imagination – make a new building, not an existing one.)

I promise to post everyone I’m sent, and the winner? That will be chosen by you – I’ll run a survey.

The winner gets $140, and the winning building will be put on the site, totally free, for everybody to download.

How does that sound?

Hope all like it.

I did ponder over giving the buildings away, but then frankly that would be the end of this little site. Sales have already dried up, but I’m okay with that. We’re all in this together and what will be, will be.

So if you want to get scratch building and join in the fun, here’s the Silly discount print out bundle’. I’ll keep it open for a few days if you missed it last time.

Entries to be in by the 16th April, then the voting begins.

Winner gets $140.

Winning building will be available on the site, completely free for all and everybody, forever.

Course, I’m well aware, this may be a total floperoo, but at least I’ve tried something.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

Oh – and don’t forget Daniel – leave a comment below.

I’ll leave you with my usual:

Don’t forget the The Beginner’s Guide is here.

Stay safe. Stay sane. Keep busy.

Best

Al