Model railroad layouts plans

Bill’s been back in touch – he’s added to the HO switching layout track plans on the blog.

If you missed his last post, it’s here.

What’s clever about Bill’s module, is that he’s designed the second module so it can plug in at either end, for maximun switching fun.

If he get’s bored, he can unplug it, swap it round, and play with the different switching combinations. Genius!

“Hi Al,

I continue to be in your debt. Having come across your site months back and seeing everyone’s work really motivated me to get started again.

You don’t need the dream layout room to build and have fun in our modeling hobby. You just need to start.

It’s the day after Christmas as I write this and my work has slowed down a little so I took over the dinning room table and started to build a number of kits I had for my engine yard, shops and yard.

Some of the kits are almost as old as I am and have been in storage far too long.

I now have all major structures positioned where I want them. All need painting and weathering but that can come later.

I also have all track located and cut and fitted. I’ve run rolling stick over every track to ensure I had no derailments. The track is code 70 so I’m going to use semi-Scale wheels.

Next step is to mark our locations for everything using a red marker and then start to glue the cork down. Once that is done I’ll start on the track.

I have some old track and switch’s I’m going to practice my very rusty soldering skills on. I will add feeders near rail joiners in most cases and once all is set and tested I’ll solder the joiners as well.

I’ve plenty to do for a while!!

Bill in Virginia”

A huge thanks to Bill for adding to the HO switching layout track plans – there are quite a few on the blog now.

Here’s one of Bill’s earlier posts if you want to see the progress: 4×8 layouts for model trains.

It’s wonderful to see his layout coming along. He’s right about one thing too: making a start is what this hobby is all about.

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.

Peter’s been in touch again. His last post is here.

“Just thought about how much I got done this past year.. If you could post these it would be most appreciated.

pic 1- loco I started with

pic 2- got it down to brass bones and added WP standard freight things; new pilot, hand rails, horn arrangement, radio antenna, etc.

pic 3- final

video of it moving..

Thanks, Al

Peter”

Latest ebay cheat sheet is here – goes silly at this time of year.

A huge thanks Peter. Amazing stuff – always love seeing his updates – there’s been quite a few now. It’s a joy to see his layout come together.

And if Peter inspires you, don’t forget, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

Al

Jim’s been in touch again with his HO scale curved trestle bridge – his last post is here.

“Hi Al.

Jim from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada back at ya.

Thought I would send Part 2 of my train layout video.

I started the layout in the winter of 2003 & only worked on it each winter since.

It has basically been finished since about 3 years ago except for purchasing new engines, rolling stock, people, animals & scenery.

Watching Dangerous Dave’s tear down & rebuild is starting to get to me, but then again, so is my arthritic knee & that keeps a tear down & rebuild in the far background for me.

I very much enjoy receiving your e-mails every day & there always seems to be a good tip in each & every one.

So keep ‘em coming & kudos to you & all the model railroaders out there who are submitting their efforts to the cause.

You can see a track plan in the previous posts.

The HO scale curved trestle bridge was not a purchase. I cut 12″ long by ¾” thick pine boards with a bandsaw into strips of ¼” x ¼”.

Those pieces were then hand cut into various lengths for the cross members & struts.

Over 500 individual pieces were used in the making of this trestle. With cutting, gluing, clamping & drying it took me approx.3 weeks of afternoons & evenings to complete.

Interestingly, I assembled it upside down on a work table & when finished, fitted it into the space reserved in the layout & then plastered in the quarry & gorge to the trestle footings.

The mountain & waterfalls were already finished & in place before placement of the trestle.

The HO scale curved trestle bridge is 28″ long by 9″ high and 4 ½” wide at the bottom and tapers to 1¾” at the top.

HO scale dimensions are: 203′ long, 65′ high.

I fitted the coal cars with a false bottom & then glued down about ¾” of real crushed Cape Breton coal found between the old railway tracks about a mile from my house.

Will send Part 3 of my layout at a later date.

Many thanks to the viewers for their interest & very kind comments.

Jim”

A huge thanks to Jim for sharing his HO scale curved trestle bridge – just goes to show it doesn’t matter at what pace you build your layout, they are all fun.

Slow and steady really does the trick. Jim’s fabulous trestle bridge demonstrates that in spades.

Please do leave a comment below, I’d love to hear your thoughts on how ‘long’ a layout should take.

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.