Model railroad layouts plans

Cary has been back in touch with his garden railroad.

Perhaps one of the things I enjoy most about my little blog is seeing a layout come to life over many months.

But some, take years.

Cary has been kind enough to post updates of his huge G scale project – he is in to year 6 now.

And I have to say, I’ve enjoyed every one of his updates (his last one is here), but this one is a real mile stone – his trains are running!

“Hello Al and All,

I/m six years into my Garden Railroad and finally got the main loop of track installed and trains running this summer.

My layout is approximately 60X20 feet and the main loop is about 130 feet of track.

Track Bed: Last summer I used a trenching shovel to dig a trench 4 inches wide and 6 inches deep.

I lined it with landscaping fabric, filled with ballast and let it pack over the winter.

For ballast, I’m using something my local quarry calls “Manufactured Sand” I’m happy with this material, it packs well and does a great job holding the track in place. It’s also easy to adjust the track if needed.

I spent a lot of time this summer joining track sections. I assembled the pieces into 8-10 foot lengths in my garage leaving jumpers wires extended on both ends. I then carried them out to the site and used water proof wire nuts to connect the wires.

I soldered jumper wires across each small section by drilling a 5/64″ hole and inserting a 14 gauge wire. I used my propane torch to solder the connections (after careful cleaning and applying flux).

I also used a #2 brass screw to hold the sections together. Yes the torch did some damage to my track ties but with some practice, damage was minimal. I’m also squirting some conductive grease into each joint prior to assembly. During my initial road trials this summer, I had no issues maintaining continuity through the track.

The main loop of my garden railroad track rises about 12 inches from the low point (operator's station) to the high point (just behind the pond). I used a level with a carefully sized wood block spacer on one end to maintain a maximum 3.5% grade although I think it's a little steeper in some areas. My Locos are doing OK pulling the hills but I I'll be making some adjustments Spring to at least improve the appearance.

I’m using an MRC 10 amp/ 24Volt DC power supply with only one track connection so far. It seems to be working fine with no voltage drops at the far end of the layout. At 50% throttle the track is 12 volts on level grade, but drops to 8V when pulling those hills. I’ve considered running a feeder wire to the far end but at this point don’t see the need.

Garden railroad track Cleaning: I know most garden railroaders eventually go to battery power, but I'm going to try my best to stick with track power.

I can have trains running great one day and the next morning I have to clean the track.

I don’t think it’s oxidation on the track, just the morning dew with dust, pollen etc.. from the trees.

I first use a broom to sweep debris off the track and then use a fiber mesh drywall sanding pad which leaves no scratches on the track.

I can clean the 130 feet of track in about 20 minutes. I think a scratch built track cleaning car is something I’ll be investigating further .

First I want to try some different manual methods to see what works best. I hear that swiffer brooms work well but have not yet tried it.

Well it’s time to hang up my shovel for the summer and turn my attention to some indoor projects like making more buildings and planning the train yard.

Once again, thanks for all that you do to promote the hobby.

I love seeing everyone’s projects and being able to share mine with people who have the same passion is something I really look forward to.

I had a lot of fun putting this video together, I hope everyone enjoys it.

Happy Modeling!

Cary”

I can’t thank Cary enough for sharing his garden railroad progress. Hope you enjoyed it as much I did.

Now on to other stuff.

Yesterday I posted about a backdrop download, and Andy weighed in with this fine tip:

“Al, short suggestion. Your info on printing backdrop banners was missing one important instruction. Office supply printers print banners in both high-gloss and matte finishes. You need to specify matte for the backdrop to look realistic.

Andy”

Thats all for today, folks. Please do keep ’em coming. And if any of you see some HO chaps, please do wake them up. It’s all gone very quiet on that front.

I’ll finish with this thought. Cary is 6 years in to his layout – so if you’ve ever mulled over starting a layout, take a page out of Cary’s book and start!

Course, I’m biased, but the Beginner’s Guide is an excellent first step.

Best

Al

Tom’s been in touch with his ON30 mining layout:

“Al,

I don’t know if you would be interested or not but here are pictures of my layout.

I am now in the process of changing it from a 52″ high layout, to 4 30″x60″ modules and will be making an interface to meet up with other modules in my area of the country, basically California, USA.

This is an On30 mining layout in the early 20th Century. My new modules will be 48″ high and I will be adding a couple of operating oil wells and storage tanks.

The interface track to other modules will create a Wye if needed, but the main use for the layout will be a return loop to the rest of the modular layout.

I have never sent anything to any publication before. I do not know what to say but if you would ask, I will answer you to the best of my ability.

The last picture is my live steam train in 1.5″ scale.

It is a walking beam locomotive with a toybox caboose from the 1960s.

I made it into my caboose for the train containing the deep cycle battery, air compressor for the train brakes.

Tom”

(Click to enlarge images.)

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This is a rough sketch, I am not an artist in any shape or fashion. I think everything is there as it is and will be after the modifications to the modular shape with 5 modules.

Tom”

A huge thanks to Tom. What a layout – some cracking pics. His live steam train looks fun too.

When I first saw Tom’s layout, it reminded of two posts.

One was the ‘wild west Saloon’ printable building, which is at the bottom of this post.

And the second was John’s HO scale mining layout.

Now on to something completley different, which has all come about after Fred posted a question on getting a backdrop printed out (Fred’s question is at the bottom of this post).

Turns out, it’s actually quite easy.

The consensus seems to be a 12″ by 144″ backdrop is easy to print.

Just put the file on a CD or memory stick, take it to any office stationers (Kinko / Office Max) and print it out on a smooth, self adhesive, vinyl with UV inks.

But then that got me thinking. Why are backdrops so exepensive to buy?

Could I create something – like the print out scenery – that is just as good, but cheaper?

And with some help from the Boy Wonder (well, a lot of help actually, with the technical and licensing side), I’ve come up with this: my first back drop.

Click on it to enlarge it.

The actual jpeg file is 12″ x 144″, and is a 66Mb download. The file was also created at 300dpi so it will print out great.

Even allowing for print costs, it slashes the price of a backdrop.

Anyhow, let me all know what you think.

If it’s something you’d like there a million and one that can be created.

You can grab the backdrop file, which is in a jpg format,for just $7.

As with everything on the site, it comes with a no-quibble 60 day money back guarantee. I do genuinely want you to be delighted with every product on the site.

I’ll leave it up for grabs for a few days then take it down. That why I can see whether to add it to the product range or not.

Please do let me know your thoughts in the comments box below. I’d love to hear what you think.

That’s all for today folks. I’ll finish with the latest from Hall of Fame member, Dave:

“Hi Al,

just uploaded this video, showing a couple of very useful items, the Railer is a great product for Loco’s.

I have a plastic one which is ok for non motorised stock i.e. coaches and wagons, but for the powered loco this is the answer, the railer picks up the power from the track and your Loco drives on to the track with wheels all where they should be on the tracks… also showing a buffer set with flashing light…

Regards

Dave”

Latest money saving ebay cheat sheet is here.

A big thanks to Dave and Tom.

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.

Hugh has been in touch with some proper nostalgia – his Pre war lionel O gauge train engines

Have a look at Hugh’s O gauge – and his fantastic poster too:

“Hi Alastair, Enjoy looking at your site.

I like pre war lionel o gauge train engines, tin plate mainly. So I built this layout for my Great Northern Railway trains. It is based on the 1956 Marx Rocky Mountain Express set and modified to represent the Glacier National Park area.

Most everything is from 1939 into the WWII era when tin toys stopped being produced. All the buildings are card board or wood.

The trains are custom painted Marx plus a set of wooden kit passenger cars that look like the trains GNR operated circa 1939. It is on a 71” x 40” coffee table.

We live in a Victorian house built in 1890 near Glacier Park. So I built a small table top layout that is like the ones Lionel sold in the 1920s and 30s. It is part of the living room furniture.

I some times run Ives, Hornby and Bing tin plate on it. The blue train is a Dorfan 53 with a Lionel motor, an AF mail car and 2 607 type Lionel coaches.

Some of the buildings are tin copies of German ones. I made them smaller to better fit the overall 0-27 scale.

This is one small loop and works good for clock work trains, too. It started out fairly simple and grew.

Hugh, Montana.”

Loved seeing the poster and the actual layout!

(Hugh’s reminded me of Bob’s: Lionel prewar layout.)

Now on to Fred:

“My son has helped me make a backdrop image on my computer. It is 12″ by 144 inches. Where can I get it printed as one long sheet???

Fred”

Next, on to Bill. Track cleaning is a subject that always pops up on the blog.

And Bill has thought of something I haven’t seen before:

“HI Alastair,

Came up with an interesting method of cleaning debris and especially bits of foam.

Plugged my keyboard vacuum which runs on the USB into my cell phone aux batter (morphie). Now I have a portable vacuum to clean my layout. It is still incomplete but coming along!

Regards,

Bill”

Who can help Fred? Please leave a comment below, I’d love to know too – backdrops are another subject that always pop up. There have been some cracking ‘how-to’s on them over the years.

Lastly, if you’d like to share anything, now’s the time to get in touch. It’s all getting a bit thin on the ground this end. And you HO chaps have definitely all gone to sleep.

That’s all for today folks.

A big thanks to Bill, and to Hugh for sharing his .re war lionel O gauge train engines.

Please don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide if it’s time for you to stop dreaming and start doing. It’s a sensible first step, whether you haven’t picked up some track in years, or you’ve never stopped dabbling.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

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