Model railroad layouts plans

John’s been back in touch – this time with his HO scale oil refinery.

I have no idea how long it took to make, but seems very worth it – I can’t wait to see it on his layout:

“Hi Al,

Well, it’s been awhile since I wrote to you and the thousands of model railroaders but rest assured that I read the Blog twice a day – every day.

Since retiring in April last, I’ve been just to busy to get around to sending an update…it’s complicated.

Anyway, I’ve completed another module to “finish” all the scenes and main aspects of my West Virginia Energy railroad.

This is the shale to oil processing and refining plant. Here oily shale is separated from it’s sticky crude oil and refined into good old low sulfur diesel fuel.

As is the case with most of the WV Energy businesses, it’s working on a string and a prayer. Some leaks and stuff always needing help. Rust always attacking anything not covered in oil or old paint.

Some brave souls climbing those ladders!

When it finely gets installed in the corner of the layout I’ll send more.

Regards to you and all our model railroad friends across the world.

John From Baltimore”

A huge big thanks to John for sharing his HO scale oil refinery. I do love his layout – his last post is here:

HO switching layouts.

And another oil refinery that springs to mind, is Fred’s:

N scale oil refinery.

Next up is Bill.

He’s sent in the below, and I’d really like to hear your thoughts – it’s a subject we all mull over:

“Alastair,

I am sorry to say that I have to give up this hobby.

It has just gotten too expensive for me as I am a senior on a fixed income.

Locomotives that used to cost $100 or less are now $300 and up with DCC and DC locomotives are becoming increasingly rare.

Passenger cars that I used to get for $25 are now twice as much.

Freight Cars are up in price also.

Just can’t afford it anymore.

Bill”

Please do leave a comment below if you’d like to add to the conversation.

That’s all for this time folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the big day when you get back in the saddle and join in the fun, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

Al

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.

Rob’s been back in touch with his Lionel O Gauge trains:

“Hi Al,

Thanks for posting my corner cliff last week. The comments from the gang are all appreciated. Nice to know you’re doing something right.

Lot’s of questions were posted so I’ll try to do my best to respond.

First some history- I grew up in the 60’s-70’s with HO trains. My father had Lionel Tin-plate trains that we would set up occasionally. He built me a decent size HO layout when I was 8. I could run 2 trains and had a nice 5-track yard.

When I was a little older, we took this layout down and built a larger 12×8. We moved when I got out of High School and the trains got packed away, never to see a layout again. I’ve kept a few of my Rivarossi steam engines that I still run occasionally. I always had a loop under the Christmas tree each year.

I started building this layout 10 years ago this month. It took serious negotiation with the CEO but she has tolerated my obsession gracefully. Yes- 4×8 is small for any layout, especially O gauge, but I’m making the best of it.

My original plan was to incorporate some of Lionel’s classic operating accessories but my track plan and lack of space didn’t allow for them. I’m an operator, and enjoy doing switching operations, but I also like to sit back and let them run while enjoying a nice single-malt scotch.

O gauge and O scale are two different animals. Most people hear Lionel and think of the Post-war toys that many of us grew up with. Most of these are compressed and not true 1:48 scale. Modern O scale builders have joined the industry over the years further growing the hobby. I’m running both PW conventional, and modern trains. Also running Lionel Legacy and MTH DCS systems.

Since my layout is basically done (yea- no layout is ever done), I started to expand into engine builds and upgrades. I’ve added electronics to conventional locos and also modernized older command engines with the newer version boards. Lionel developed a Lionchief line several years ago that uses a Bluetooth communication system to control an engine. No added hardware besides a remote, or any smartphone/ tablet via their Cab 3 app.

Back to the layout. I had never done much scenery on my old HO layouts so I’ve really enjoyed the adventure this time around. My background as an electrical contractor certainly has helped as the layout has developed. I don’t have room for many buildings given the space, but I’ve squeezed in one or two. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that I love your printed buildings and have used several on the layout.

First a full shot of the layout. Part of my real estate negotiations with the CEO was to win the air right over the file cabinets.

Factory siding (the background building flats are your paper prints)

Team Track- someone had asked about the retaining wall – also paper prints on cardstock.

Passenger Platform and Yard

Yard office- I repurposed an old Lionel caboose

Yard stuff

Corners are always a challenge. The rear left corner was particularly challenging since I had to climb on and over the layout to work on it. I built most of it as a diorama and then installed it on the layout. The retaining walls are also paper prints, I gave them some depth by adding balsa timbers. The hill is made from more rigid foam, covered with plaster cloth and scenic’d

Finally- the upper level. I built a girder bridge using Lionel bridge girders. I added a signal bridge that’s controlled by an infra-red sensor (Lionel 153-IR) on the right, that changes the aspect from red to green as a train approaches. I did some weathering with various powders on the girders and accessories. The center section is removable to access the main level tracks below.

MOW crew is on the job too.

This was a platform cutout that a switch sat on in my original track plan. Good spot for a couple of signal boxes.

That’s about it Al.

Thanks for all you do to keep the Blog running.

Bob from New York, USA.”

A huge big thanks to Bob for sharing his O gauge lionel trains.

I do love an update – and if you want to see his last post, it’s here:

4×8 O gauge layout.

That’s all for this time folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day you grab the bull by the horns, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

Al

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.

Frank’s been in touch – he’s added to the Kato unitrack layouts on the blog:

“This plan is based upon a layout I saw online.

The original is a great layout in a very small space. I have just added to it a bit.

This plan has an additional island and a larger (fiddle) yard.

This layout uses Kato Unitrack. The plan, as shown, is for a 3 foot by 8 foot table.

The program that I used has resulted in some minor "irregularities" where the tracks don't meet (shown in red circles) but in practice, all will fit, though one or two may need "special" modifications.

The track parts are shown with the suggested location of feeders to allow long stub tracks to operate while operations continue on the loops.

The fiddle yard and engine facilities are expanded from the original. One track of the engine facilities tracks could connect to a larger layout, but even this small layout is busy enough to keep several engineers busy.

Frank”

If it’s Kato unitrack layouts you are after, here’s a few more:

Kato track N scale

Kato WGH track plan

Kato model railroad

HO scale Kato model layouts

Next up is Dan again – he really is the gift that keeps giving:

“A lot of your posters show night scenes. I never operate or show the layout in a night setting. (As you have seen, the layout is a walk in layout.It would be difficult to get around without possible damaging things on the layout.) The lighted buildings are all fully decorated inside. I built these before I had begun the layout and had the time to do them up.

Railroads operate 24/7 year round. Here are some views taken 12 hours apart…

Photos 1,2, 3 and 4 The engine house at Sharon Springs a division point on the railroad.

Photos 5 and 6 The freight station at Goins Valley.

Dan”

(You can see more of Dan in the Hall of Fame.)

Next up, is Ron.

He’s a man of few words:

“Can anyone submit their layout for consideration?

Ron”

My reply:

“Absolutely!

Please just me email, Ron, and I’ll do the rest.

Al”

So if you’ve got a layout you’d like to share, please do get in touch – it’s that simple.

Anyway, back to Ron:

A big thanks to Frank, Dan and Ron for adding to the Kato unitrack layouts.

That’s all for this time folks.

Please do keep ’em coming – really – just mail me like Ron did.

And if today is the day you stop dreaming and start doing, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

Al

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.