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Steam model railroad – Paul’s

Paul’s been in touch with his latest layout – a steam model railroad theme.

It always tears at the heart when you have to demolish a layout, but it also paves the way for another layout:

“Al,

You were gracious enough to post my initial layout from when I retired well over 10 yrs ago (Paul’s retirement project)

Unfortunately life events forced me to sell my house and I had to demolish my layout.

I packaged up some of the buildings along with all my Triang Super 4 track, locos and rolling stock and put it into storage for a few years.

Fortunately I was able to purchase another residence, this one had less room but I still managed to get one small bedroom and build a 7×7 layout, in the Super 4 track and sticking with DC.

I built this layout higher at 47″ (the last one was a lot lower for the little grandkids)

I wanted better access this time so only butted one edge flush to a wall and left about 12″ around the others with a bit more on the control side with a closet behind.

I made one large access panel, so all areas can be reached fairly easily. (There is also a removable panel behind the hill with generous access inside).

I opted to use a full 1.5″ foam board on top of 5/8″ plywood. Track was layed on cork and I decided on foam (the same sheeting cut up and stacked along with expanding spray foam) for the hill and smaller embankments.

Both inner and outer tracks incline up 2% on Woodland Scenics product, covered in plastercloth and spray foam.

I wanted more water this time so did a few ponds and a small river with a small lake on top of my only access cut out.

Only one turnout off the inner loop and a cramped disjointed yard but I had to make things fit as best I could.

A castle was a must (I had visited Dover castle in the 60’s), this time as well as an airfiled commemorating my dads time at RAF #2 Grading School at Kirton-in-Lindsey airfield on the Tiger Moth in 1952.

Both inner and outer lines are controlled separately as well as the yard. (Although the yard will probably just focus on detailed staic scenes for the most part)

On this layout I decided to wire every single piece of track, even the numerous 1″ long 1/4 straights. I also did all the droppers on the underside with wires through a single hole drilled through the track center.

Although I feel I did a decent job on my first layout, I wanted to improve the quality on every aspect. Although things can look great from a distance the proof in the pudding is those close up pictures. It needs to look close to real.

Note mine is far from prototypical and generally spans Era 3-5.

I did not use any electronic track planning other than using a 7×7 template made from coroplast sheets, that were layed on the garage floor and played for a few weeks with different ideas.

I am now close to completing the perimeter of the layout, mostly finished the insert, next will start the farm, finally I will put in the station.

I will put together further updates as things progress.

Regards,

Paul (In Vancouver)”

Steam model railroad:

A huge big thanks to Paul for sharing his new steam model railroad – actually, with this theme, I suppose it should really be steam model railway.

Anyhow, hope you enjoyed it as much as me. Stunning stuff. Really looking forward to seeing more of Paul’s fabulous work.

Paul’s first post by the way (the one he’s just demolished), is here: Paul’s retirement project.

Also, whenever I see a castle on a layout I’m reminded me of these posts:

Model railroad castles.

Bob’s N scale.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day you join in the fun, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

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.

HO train industries

Don’s been in touch with his display which has a whole collection of HO train industries going on:

“Good morning Al,

I enjoy seeing all of the emails about trains displays and figured I would share my train display.

I’ve been playing with trains since I was very young, my Father put up a large Christmas display every year.

It was shaped in a letter u 12ft x 24ft x 5ft.

One year we had fifteen trains running on his display. I somewhere have pictures of his display, I’ll have to look for them and see if I can post them.

Since my Fathers passing, I have taken on the challenge to put up displays. I change them every year. 2 months to assemble,

Leave up for 4 months and 3 weeks to tear down only to start over again.

These pictures are from 2 years ago, I was able to find numerous steel buildings, blast furnace (2), rolling mill, coke ovens (4), electric furnace (2), lots of bottle cars, hot metal cars.

And even scratch built some before assembly of the kits for dimensions.

Layout is only 8ft x 11ft. would love to have a larger space, have many more buildings to use.

I learned many tricks from this site, and will continue to follow for more information.

Thank you

Don G”

HO train industries

A big thanks to Don and his HO train industries. It reminded me of Carlos’s layout: HO scale industrial layout.

Now on to Jim:

“Hi Al,

I just finished adding some new lighting and thought that I would send some nighttime pictures.

Thank You,

Jim”

(You can see Jim’s previous post at the bottom of this one: N scale diorama.)

Next up, Dave. He sent this in which I found interesting:

“Hi Alastair.

While not a model train, I thought you might be interested in these photos I took here in Shelton, Washington, the other Washington (lol).

This town around south Puget Sound has always been a timber town. Many mills, one of the biggest was Simpson Timber. They had their own railroad, like many timber and mining companies.

Tollie was one of their first. She, and her load of logs and caboose are permanently positioned in front of the town’s post office.

Hope you enjoy.

Dave”

Now on to another Al:

“Attached are photos of 3 of your buildings constructed with basswood.

I consider them as kitbashed as they are exact.

Perfect for the Altoma & Tide Creek.

Thanks again for all you do

Al”

(You can see more of Al’s stunning layout here: HO model train log cars.

That’s all for today folks. It’s been quite a mixed bag today: HO train industries, a bit if real steam, and a whole load of buildings.

I never know what is going to turn up in my inbox – I hope you all find it as interesting as I do.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day you join in the fun, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

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.

HO train freight loads

Dan’s been back in touch again with a video on his HO train freight loads:

“This video follows a reefer train.

When various seasonal crops came in the railroads ran solid blocks of reefer cars.

An interesting thing about the blocks of produce. Often the produce was not sold until on the way east. For example, a carload of oranges could go to Chicago, St Louis, Pittsburg, or other large cities for distribution.

Produce was not the only thing shipped in freight reefers. The Great Northern Railway had “silk” trains. The pupa of silkworms was shipped from the west coast to mills in New England for the silk to be removed and woven into cloth.

During the winter apples, potatoes and other produce the cars had to be kept warm to prevent freezing. In the ice bunkers, they place charcoal heaters to prevent the loads freezing.

In the HO video where the train passes the Swift plant, notice the long piece of rail along side the track. This is a point of interest. The railroad is going to replace a section of welded rail here sometime later.

The ties (sleepers) have already been replaced and a track gang will come along later to change the track. This is an easy way to have visitors ask, “what it is for?” I can now teach them about rail work. Once a teacher, always a teacher.

Dan”