Model railroad layouts plans

John’s added to the HO switching layouts on the blog with this fab update:

“Hi Al,

I’ve been busy with more stuff since I “retired” than I had when I was working! But the railroad has continued to grow in spite of everything else.

This time I added a few feet to the isle area of the layout, and put in tracks for more industry.

This part of the layout is pinned to switching and moving cars to the various industries. It will be wired and controlled separately from the rest of the layout.

I have always found “HO switching layouts” to be fun and challenging. How to get that tank car to the oil distributer without trapping the engine in the siding, collecting 2 “empty” boxcars and replacing them with “full” ones on a siding only long enough for 2 cars at a time, stuff like that.

I also added the “Almost Heaven RV Resort modeled after on of the worst places the wife and I ever took our RV! Actually this the one on the layout is better.

On a whim I bid on a bunch of Army vehicles, and won, so I put in the West Virginia Coal County National Guard yard post.

The small “Quonset” buildings are cookie holders from Girl-Scout cookies, the bigger ones are stripped cardboard.

As always, thanks so much for all you do for the hobby – world-wide!

I’ll send more pictures in a few days, trying out some interesting camera settings.

Regards,

John from Baltimore”

A big thanks to John for adding to the HO switching layouts on the blog.

I’ve been a fan of his layouts for a long time now.

It also reminded me of this one:

HO switching layout plans.

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.

Ken’s added to the HO scale layout plans on the blog with this fine update:

“Greeting Al from across the pond. I’m very close to be completed on my Willoughby Junction railroad layout.

It’s an HO scale double/triple oval with two loops on the north and south sides, with a town loop to pick up passengers at the depot.

It looks much different from the 1st phase that you posted. I’ve added phase 2 and phase 3.

My idea originally was to have it be industry heavy with lots of switching opportunities. But after my wife discovered Woodland Scenics built-ups, my industry heavy layout went out the window!

So, my contingent plan was to have a continuous running loop with some switching which worked out quite well.

I remember growing up in Flint, MI USA playing around the staging yards on the Grand Trunk box cars. I was too afraid to try to jump from one to another like my big brother did! So, my layout consists of Grand Trunk trains and its successor Chessie Systems.

I even have CSX locomotive which took over Chessie. I have a bunch of LED’s on the ceiling so I can create different moods.

My backdrop was purchased from a company called Wallsauce right there in the U.K. It’s a picture called “Side Pike of Heaven” in Little Langdale, England, United Kingdom. Someone asked me that from my first post.

People that come to visit are really taken back by my train room. I installed a Broadway Limited “Lightning Storm” machines. It does add a very cool effect I dread the day we ever have to sell our house.

I hope you enjoy the photos.

Ken”

HO scale layout plans:

HO scale layout plans:

A huge big thank you to Ken for adding to the HO scale layout plans and sharing his stunning pics.

I asked Ken about the chimp which you can see at the end of the video, and replied with this:

“Yes, he’s Winston our porter. He has a glass of bourbon on ice on his tray. It’s actually colored epoxy and fake ice cubes that I had leftover from pouring my pond.”

I do love all the personal touches on your layouts. Jack’s 60 model railroad was full of them.

Lastly today, there’s a couple of questions on the forum that are stopping some people making a start, and we can’t have that. Can you help?

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.

The talented Dan has been back in touch with more pics of his HO model railroad mountain town:

Diamonds, even if in an industrial area, require a lot of maintenance.

Work gets interrupted, too.

Help is on the way.

There is a truck (bogie) repair place on the layout.

You need oil to make the place run.

On the oil dock.

Hard at work.

Break time at the Swift Meat works.

HO model railroad mountain town:

I have to explain to my urban friends what is going on here. Keeping the cow pens clean.

Section gang.

Bottling works.

Railway Express. The yellow part on the roof is a skylight so some light can enter the scene.

Getting the trunks ready for the train.

Moving the 300 pound blocks of ice for the reefers.

Gotta check the oil.

Another section gang’s work place.

Busy at the fueling racks.

HO model railroad mountain town:

In many Western American towns and universities put their names in high places. The town of Sharon Springs is getting a new sign. The sign is almost done. The letter “S” is being sent up. The pulley actually works!

Getting a new “speeder” for the railroad.

At the Goins Valley freight house.

I purposely do not weather much of mt layout. However, here is an example to show I know how to weather. These painters have been painting for over 25 years. Just a little slow.

Another guy taking a break at the stock pens.

The town of Almost is getting an addition to the station. The local coal mine has expanded and the station needed an expansion.

This is enough for now. I hope I haven’t overwhelmed you. I have a few more I can send.

Dan*”

A huge big thanks to Hall of Fame Dan for sharing more more pics of his HO model railroad mountain town.

I do love the scenes he creates with the people on his layout. He did a great post on adding people to your layout which is here:

Model train people.

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.