Model railroad layouts plans

James has been in touch with his Model train New York – like many of you his theme is from memories of his youth:

“Alastair,

It’s been a while since I’ve written you.

Thanks for keeping this going, it’s great inspiration to see everyone’s work.

Last time I sent you my layout I explained that my layout is an homage to my youth, it’s filled with family tie ins, friends, and reminders of trains as a youth.

The layout is 14’ x 26’ with one side housing the mythical towns of Buffalo Creek, Walden, and Brighton.

The other side has Lackawanna and Little Italy. The two yards are Bison and Frontier. All of these features are reminiscent of Buffalo and Western New York.

There is a long “story” that I wrote before building this, and if you are interested I’d love to send it to you. Here are some pictures of my layout.

I’m an architect by education and practice. These pictures are more focused on the layout work, not the trains.

James”

A huge thanks to James – model trains New York! Over the years, there have been many, many layouts modeled on fond memories.

It’s also another great example of your layout can be whatever you want it to be.

I may be mistaken, but I think this is James’s first post.

Now on to a blast from the past with Dangerous Dave:

“Hi Al,

well back home after a holiday and back to the layout, glad to hear you have decided to continue with your site.

I have just loaded this video showing how I have added new track, ballasted, adding rust to rails, and adding scenics, all done within a week, so easily done by most modellers without having to crash the bank balance and not a lot of elbow grease…

A couple of pictures here to show the difference when scenics added to the track work ..showing before and after.

Dave”

Before pic:

After pic:

How I did it:

Latest ebay cheat sheet is here (It goes mad this time of year – have a look.)

That’s all for today folks.

A huge thanks to James and Dave. Some great pics today.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And please don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide is here if you want to start your model railway fun today.

Best

Al

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

Peter’s been in touch – he’s added to the collection of N gauge model railway track plans on the blog:

“I have to say at the outset than I am no modeller and indeed for the ham fisted like me choosing N gauge has proved a real challenge.

I confess to a lifelong interest in public transport starting with a TT gauge trainset in the late 1950s.

Adulthood, raising a family and work got in the way of furthering the hobby. Retirement provided an opportunity to pursue the interest and, with our three children having moved out, requisitioning the fourth bedroom for the purpose (a decision my wife, Jill, now rues!).

Started with the aim of building a Southern Region layout and got the ball rolling by acquiring a Merchant Navy class loco and three SR coaches plus a 4 car CEP EMU. However, having worked in Germany, I was tempted into juxtaposing the South West London environs with Bavaria. So with loads of different rolling stock I’ve ended up with a real mish mash.

I went for a layout on two levels which would provide variety with five circuits enabling a number of trains to run simultaneously.

Judgement of my modelling skills I will leave to fellow members of this group but it was great fun. Oh and early on I decided to introduce non-working overhead wiring to the German section – not particularly good for the back. Laying third rail for the Southern was relatively easy by comparison.

As to the electrics, starting off my knowledge was confined to the ability to change household light bulbs and fitting three pin plugs! The basics of wiring the layout were actually relatively straightforward. The decision to light buildings and streets came as a result of seeing what was possible after visiting a number of model rail exhibitions

I would caution against going to the next stage of introducing working colour signals and traffic lights as I did, not least because the wiring for LEDs (cathode v anode) differs in the UK to the rest of the world (something it took me several months to discover).

Adding electric points (turnouts) for hard to reach areas followed. The other hard lesson learnt is test lighting/wiring before installing it! And I still need to get round to organising the wiring.

My local shops in Essex, John Dutfield in Chelmsford and Plus Daughters in Basildon have been incredibly helpful and I would always argue for shopping at a local stockist before opting for online.

In addition, exhibitions, Layouts 4U and Block Signalling have proved invaluable in aiding my exploits.

I’m part way through writing a manual for the layout because there is so much that requires documenting which I’m happy to share if it ever gets finished!

And layout development is not over. I’ve applied my limited lifetime programme management skills to bear and been quite ruthless in making changes – buildings have gone, stations replaced and tracked uprooted.

My next project is to build a fairground on the Aldi car park site – the problem is obtaining an all singing and dancing motorised ferris wheel which is out of production … but I’m still looking.

I hope that this has provided a bit of an insight into the trials and tribulations experienced over the past six years!

All the best

Peter”

A huge thank you to Peter for adding to the N gauge model railway track plans collection – a wonderful narrative too. Very much looking forward to his updates. Superb stuff.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if you want to make a start, just like Peter did, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Oh – I don’t forget the ebay cheat sheet too, it goes mad this time of year.

Best

Al

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

Hall of fame member, Rob, has been in touch. He’s made a video on model train crossing signals.

There’s also a wonderful cab ride at 12 minutes in to it – stunning stuff.

Before that though, he shows how the sensors detect the trains, and how he’s hidden them too.

It’s clever, but simple stuff, if that makes sense.

What’s more anyone cans see it looks fun, and for me that’s the main reason why this hobby appeals to so many.

If you’re not enjoying yourself what’s the point.

Some like to run trains. Some like scenery. Some like scratching their heads over wiring diagrams:

“Hi Al, this video is about a system that signals a station for bi-directional traffic on the line.

It was purpose designed. The instructions are clear. I installed this system on my freight line which operates as a single line. It is a great system and fun to operate.

There is nothing on the market that I know of that does what this does. I highly recommend it.

The operator can participate in dispatching trains or set it for single direction automatic operation and let it run on a small loop layout.

Rob”

A big thanks to Rob for sharing his model train crossing signals.

You can see from the cab ride how much time and care Rob has put in to his layout – I absolutely loved it.

It’s also another great example of how layouts with a theme always end up well.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

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