Model railroad layouts plans

Bill’s been in touch – he’s not quite saying, “I love model trains” but I think it’s near.

I do by the way. There are very few hobbies that get passed to the next generation, and there are even few that lay dormant for decades, and then resurface when we have a little more time on our hands.

Readers of the blog will know Bill’s journey is a familiar one.

“Al,

I wanted to reach out and say how much I enjoy your site and all the great model railroads and tips that are shared on it.

I have always had a love of trains and it started with my grandfathers S gauge trains. When I was a preteen I built and nice layout and operated it for a number of years until just before graduating from high school.

I’ve attached some pictures of that HO gauge layout.

It’s from the mid 1970’s and the pictures were taken for a local newspaper story on it.

My next layout had to wait many years until the mid 1990’s and then I tried my hand at N gauge. That layout grew until a move necessitated it being torn down. I’ve attached some pictures of pictures of that layout. Sorry for some of the blur.

Here it is now another 20 years later and this winter I’ll start a 4×8 engine yard and switching layout. I love our hobby!

Thank you for your site where we all can share and enjoy each other’s pride and joys!

Best regards

Bill”

A huge thanks to Bill for sharing.

So whether you can shout, “I love model trains” from the roof tops, or just mumble a mild approval, I find it quite comforting to know that a first layout is rarely the last layout.

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’s post reminded me of this Triang model trains which is on youtube.

(Hugh’s post is here if you want to catch up.)

Well, every since then, I’ve been getting all kinds of train nostalgia sent in. And if have to say, I’ve really enjoyed it.

I do my best to keep the blog relevant, but in the same light, I usually find if I enjoyed watching something, it usually goes down well if I post it.

So here you, hope this makes you smile as much as me:

I’m sure there are lots of you out there smiling fondly over the memories of Triang model trains.

I’ve lost count of the posts that reminisce over the very first model train – usually a Triang that at first was a mysterious box under the Christmas tree.

Then it’s smiles all round as it trustily gives a few years sold service.

But then life happens. You grow up. Your Triang train is forgotten about after those fleeting years of enjoyment with the Old Man.

Then, decades later, something magical happens. The dusty old box is found, and to everybody’s surprise it still runs – that’s because in the good old days, they knew how to build stuff.

At this point, there is one thing that can happen.

The Triang finds itself underneath the Christmas tree again, but this time looping round, entertaining the grandkids.

What a hobby, eh?

That’s all for today folks, because it’s been on of those days already.

Please do keep ’em coming because it really is very thin on the ground this end.

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

Brian’s been back in touch with his HOn3 shelf model railroad.

“Hi Alastair,

Don’t think that I have sent these videos to before (if I have, call it old timers disease) and ignore them.

The first one is one is of a short run of my 2-6-6-2 locomotive running through log camp 4 on its way to Cascade Creek terminal on my HOn3 layout.

Next is a 3 truck Shay (logging locomotive) pulling a fully loaded log train to the yard for sorting and then on to the sawmill on my HOn3 Cascade Creek layout.

Last one is of my turntable now operational. It is an “n” scale Heljan turntable modified to HOn3. Will need to finish it of properly with detail added.

Thanks

Brian
The HOn3 guy”

Brian’s HOn3 shelf layout really does look fun – very much looking forward to seeing it come along.

Now on to Hank:

“Hi Al,

I have never posted to your website before.

I am in the unfortunate position of not being able to build my layout yet as the house I live in has a basement that leaks everywhere after it rains. Fortunately it is a rental and my wife and I are looking for a house to buy.

I will not let that stop me though, as you can see I am building new scenes for when I do build another layout.

The next one will be layout number 4 and get more complex every time.

The next one is going in a 2 a d a half car garage.if anyone enjoys this I will send in more.I have many scenes ready to go. I like to build the scenes and then build the layout around them.

Thanks for having a look.

Hank”

(click image to enlarge)

A huge thanks to Brian for sharing his HOn3 shelf model railroad, and to Hank too.

I really like what Hank has done – and it just goes to show yet again, that lack of space – or a bit of rain – should never stop you having fun.

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.