Model railroad layouts plans

“Below is the approximate Atlas track plan of my layout as of today.

I say approximate because I could not get the Atlas Track Planning Software to accurately display the layout. It is close enough so you can get the idea.

Here is what it looks like:

As the saying goes “A layout is never finished.” After all the expansions, work arounds, and problems, I am having problems just running my trains. So I have decided to scrap it all and start a new layout and this time learn from my mistakes and take my time to do it right.

I am going to start with L-Girder framework approximately 44 inches high with 30 inch joist.

Below is the general scheme for and around the wall layout with a swing bridge approximately where the lift-out is on the current layout. The picture below shows just the perimeter L-Girder framework.

Once it is in place I will plan the trackwork and see what I can fit using minimum of 30” radius curves for the dual main lines.

It will take some time to dismantle the current layout before I can move forward. I started the current layout in January and finished the last addition of the second tunnel and the 3d clouds in October. The fun is in the doing and it is not always running the trains.

Bob, Virginia”

“Hi Al

Like I promised here are some pics of each corner of the layout with “Full Time Jobs”

1st is a resemblance very close to the Tropical Fish Hatchery were I worked in 1971.

2nd is the Shell service station were i pumped gas and then later became one of the day mechanics from 1972 till 1981. Cars in front of station are the ones I have owned over the years.

3rd is Oscar Wilson, they were a lawn mower and bike distributor for parts.

4th is the fire station not exactly the building but you all get the idea. 1981 to present.

I will throw in a few other pics and that will complete the shelf layout that runs around the ceiling.

We will continue with the lower expansion in a few days or so.

Thanks again Al

Eric the firefighter”

If you missed Eric’s first post, it’s here. And apologies, I got it wrong – Eric’s not retired yet. My mistake.

Now on to Dave:

“Hi Al..

Just uploaded this video showing (or trying to show ) the different types of Track and Points.

Also how to fit the Peco side Mounted Points Motors, have shown as best I could, not great at explaining things, but think most will get the Gist of all this…

At the end my conclusion is that using the Peco Electrofrog Points with the side Mounted Points Motor is the easiest and best Path to follow.

Regards

Dave”

Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

A big thanks to Bob for sharing his Atlas track plan, and to Eric and Dave.

Really do love what Bob wrote:

“The fun is in the doing and it is not always running the trains.”

I couldn’t agree more – if your thing is running trains, then great. If your thing is landscaping, then that’s great too. It really doesn’t matter what your ‘thing’ is – just enjoy it whatever it may be.

That’s all for today folks – but please do keep ’em coming.

And don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide is here if today is the ‘the’ day – the day you take your first step on your model railway.

Best

Al

Starting an HO train layout is the same as starting any other layout really.

Find a space you can use – then you can have an idea of track plans that fit.

Build a bench or buy a table that fits in your space and start laying track.

Make sure you’re really happy with the track and the trains run smooth, with no derailments, then get busy with the scenery.

But do it step by step – enjoy each stage, just like Eric is doing. You should see his layout now, it’s amazing (you can see it in the later posts).

“Hello Alastair

Been reading your emails now for a couple years and love the info that you report on. A lot of great railroaders out there.

A little on me, I have been in the fire service for 39 years now and looking to retire at 41 years.

Me and the wife moved to a bigger home a few years ago where I had room for a shelf type layout.

I had finished my basement and had put a room in 16 x 12 for my fire collection and ran the layout 14″ down off the ceiling with 60′ of track that consist of two main lines. I have attached a few photos in its completed stage.

I did add pieces In the corners for a park, construction site and a small little farm house.

The theme of the layout is called my fulltime jobs. Buildings in each one of the corners are places I use to work up to my current job firefighter.

Everything on the layout has something to do with my life. Portal dates, billboards, cemetery and park ect. I am send some pics of each area.

I work part time at a hobby store in St. Charles, Missouri for the past 3 years. After visiting and buying material for the layout they handed me an application. And he I am.

Like all of us we can’t get enough, so I began a lower expansion, I have a few pics and more will follow in the next few days. I have time to move forward quickly due to my fire schedule.

Hope this has a intrest and I thank you and your readers for all that I been helped with from your emails.

Eric the firefighter”

“Hello Al,

As is my custom, I make a layout update video every year, and my layout has celebrated its 3rd birthday.

Thanks

Henry van Wyk in Pietermaritzburg, Sunny South Africa”

Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

A huge thanks to Eric – he shows what starting an HO train layout is all about: same as ever scale, just get going and enjoy. Thanks to Henry too.

It’s really early days with Hernry’s layout, but that’s why I liked it so much: it’s all about making a start, and he’s made it his own: his theme, his world.

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 take that first step towards your own model railroad.

Best

Al

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

Ken’s been in touch with his American Flyer layout:

“Hi Al,

Some time ago I wrote you about the American Flyer layout I was working on. It’s running now so I thought I’d send along a story and pictures.

In the mid-1950s, my Dad got a pre-war Lionel Standard Gauge freight train. He built a figure 8 with connecting tracks and mounted it all to a board he could raise up to the basement ceiling with ropes and pulleys.

It would come down regularly for my brother and I to play with. But the old Lionel proved to be a bit fragile and I remember my Dad soldering together broken pot metal parts. Eventually my Dad sold the set-up and we were without a train.

In the early 1960s, my Dad bought us boys an S gauge American Flyer set. It was a simple figure 8 with a trestle set. We were older now and spent most of our playing time seeing how fast we could do the figure 8 without coming off the tracks. We were getting ready for bigger toys – cars!

The train got packed up and I took it when my parents moved. In the early 1990s, I had a son and decided to set it up once again. Being pre-internet and eBay, we’d go to train shows in the Chicago area and buy equipment.

We built a fairly large set-up, but I made several mistakes. Altho I worked on several sheets of plywood built in a frame, the boards were only a couple of feet off the floor.

A couple of years were spent fixing old equipment, building and wiring, something I really enjoyed (being an engineer) but wasn’t all that much fun for my son. By the time it was running, the train was competing with video games and was once again packed away.

In the 2010s, I built a house in Wisconsin with a large basement. I had a grandson and decided to build a new layout (my enjoyment) for him and his eventual sibs (one more grandson now) to run. I wanted a train set that was big enough and strong so they could handle and enjoy it.

This time, I built a 12’ x 14’ board at the proper height and planned the layout. My brother has a company that manufactures high quality connectors so he built all the electrical connectors for me. With eBay, I bought various old operating equipment, engines, etc.

Some of the buildings are “Tramp Art” made out of old cigar boxes. You’ll see the station and power plant say “Wilson Park”, a nod to the northwest side of Chicago.

As you can see, the layout is very “old school”. In no way does it compare with the beautiful scenery and towns you show every day on your daily emails. Being an engineer, the joy for me was to repair the old equipment and have it run again. The AF equipment from the ‘50s and ‘60s is well designed, simple and well built. A few electric motors are used for everything. And unless it was played with extensively, almost everything can be rebuilt.

Ken
Ephraim, WI”

And here’s another American Flyer model railroad if you’re after more.

A huge thanks to Ken for sharing his layout.

I do love reading about them – especialy when I recurring theme pops us: recapturing that childhood fun and magic.

And there is a line in Ken’s narrative that really struck a chord with me:

“In no way does it compare with the beautiful scenery and towns you show every day on your daily emails. Being an engineer, the joy for me was to repair the old equipment and have it run again.”

I know exactly what he means and it got me thinking. I’m always banging on about this hobby is about making a start. But I’m going to add to that from now on:

Your layout can be whatever you want it to be – it’s your world. Have fun.

Let me expand on that a little bit. Here’s an email I got from Uwe, commenting on alayout from a while ago:

“Hi, its a common problem in model railroading but very apparent in this one, there is virtually no room above the tunnels so that trains are thundering through the basement of houses.

Regards, Uwe”

Uwe is right – technically. But I think the fun of creating your own world is logic and physics no longer apply if that’s your wish.

Yes, it’s a real joy to see a photo realisitc layout. But I also enjoy the other ones.

I’d love to hear your comments on this – just scroll down to the bottom to let me know your thoughts.

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 create your masterpiece without all the mistakes.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here