Model railroad layouts plans

Scott’s been in touch with his N scale train yard track plan.

He has a question – can anyone help?

“Al — I have been an avid reader of your blog/emails for a few years now. I have learned much and been inspired in my own efforts in building my own layout. Thanks for your commitment and diligence in giving us all a place to “gather”!

I have been working at building an N gauge layout for the past 30+ years. Each time I have gotten started and made a huge dent in the project we decided to make a long-distance move. So, the layout was either sold or completely dismantled. At least, each move gave me a bigger basement, so starting over wasn’t too bad of a deal.

It happened again about 5 years ago. In the meantime, as I was planning and constructing yet one more layout I landed in the hospital with open heart surgery. All went well and I have recovered wonderfully (I am 71), but I am still not quite able to wield the power tools to complete the benchwork.

So, I took a small 2’x4′ module from my current project to use for a small engine N scale train yard layout with double run around tracks — transition era — with roundtable, engine house, diesel and coal fueling service pads, wash pad and RIP track. The double tracks will allow me just to run trains when I want to, and play with switching at the same time. I am also contemplating using your printable round house expanded to 3-4 stalls, in place of the small engine house I now have.

Given the smaller space, I have been struggling to set my track plan. I am not a super purist, but I do want something that looks right. I am not good with computer software so I layout everything “manually.” I would be happy for some suggestions. I have worked off of pictures and track plans I have downloaded.

The picture shows my progress. I would be happy for some suggestions from those who know more than I do. I am ready to lay track, but want to be sure my plan is workable and realistic.

Thanks again for all your efforts!

Scott”

Next up is Ed:

“Hello Alistair, my first note to you. I’ve been HO rr since 1985 I guess.

The model railroading products have skyrocketed along with technology and the prices. This brings me to my first question to you. How can you tell what resistor to use and how can tell when and when not to use a certain resistor?

I’ve seen LED lights going at different voltages so do I need to power up is another thing. Do I need to invest in a transformer of some type or several?

I think I have built 3 layouts over the years. I’ve only got a 4 x 8′ piece of plywood down now and I have no clue as to what layout to build. I’ve got 3 model rr layout books.

I’m retired (medically) since 02′ and life has been a challenge to say the least. I do love to build HO scale trains and cars and HO scale trucks. I will never put a Matchbox or life-like vehicle on my layout.

It’s just the machinist in me that demands perfection or what ever it is that drives my strange brain.

Most of what I build gets lots details, weathering upgrades and anything I see that would make a model look better may or may not get added to the model I’m working on. I’m not into DCC yet and may never get into it, I just don’t know at this point.

Here is an example of some of work I do. It may or may not go on ebay. This seems to be the only picture I’ve saved over the years.

Well that’s about all for now, nothing really eye grabbing. No layout yet. Thanks for all you do for modelers out there, its just awesome what you give to all of us. Plus your comedy is to die for. You are a happy nut and doing very well. Keep on having fun

Thanks

Ed Saunders

Norwood, MO USA”

A big thanks to Ed, and to Scott for sharing his N scale train yard.

Please do leave a comment below if you can help Scott or Ed.

Ed pics, and Scott’s track plan reminded me of one of the latest printable buildings – I think it would it fit in well:

(You can see this building and the others in the store.)

I’m slowly putting all of the printable buildings into one place… bear with me, they’ll all get there soon.

The houses will be next (there are some new ones too), here’s a vid of them from a while back now which always make me smile:

Every building is made from paper – they’ll all be in the store soon.

That’s all for this time 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 More N scale train layouts here if that’s your thing.

Need buildings for your layout? Have a look at the store.

The talented Ken has been back in touch with his HO scale switch rebuild:

“Hey Al,

It’s been about a year since my last update. I really thought I was done with my layout, but there was something bugging me about how the (3) industries on my industrial section were laid out.

The only way to spot cars into these industries was to back in and drop them off.

That created a problem in that if I had 3 coal hoppers backed into the power plant, how would I get the front and middle hopper unloaded. Same thing with the wholesale grocery supplier as well as the feed mill.

So, I decided to extend the layout out so I could bring the locos in from the back side and drop them off that way.

Plus I created a run-around track to give me switching opportunities. I always wanted to have a grist mill on my layout, but there wasn’t enough room. By creating this extension it opened up the opportunity to build a mill pond along with a grist mill.

I’ve posted a couple pics here but I’m also posting a link to a YouTube video of my layout showing several trains running. It is a compilation style. Please forgive me for its length, it’s 23 minutes long.

So if you have time in the morning having your coffee or tea please check it out and give me a like if you would. No narration, just trains and photos. Thanks a bunch.

Ken”

A huge big thanks to Ken for sharing his HO scale switch rebuild. What a layout!

You can see Ken’s last post here: HO scale layout plans

That’s all for this time folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

Is today the day when you make your big start?the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Remember, it’s the start the stops most people…

Best

Al

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

See this building in the store.

Dave’s been back in touch, this time with an update on his HO scale train yard layout scene:

“Al:

Like all of your followers, I enjoy reading your blog every morning. I get so many ideas for my layout and enjoy seeing the creativity that your readers bring to their layouts.

You may recall, that my basement HO train layout is 20 ft. x 30ft., of which 4 ft. x 8ft. is my O27 scale Christmas Village and Chicago Wrigley Fieldd and Soldier Field.

The rest of the room contains my HO scale layout which can accommodate 14 trains. The HO layout is divided into distinct sections:

* City of Chicago, Illinois
* City of Greenfield, Indiana (upper level)
* City of Cumberland, Indiana (lower level)
* City of Fortville, Indiana
* Old Town
* A waterfall feeding a lake and river with a logging operation
* Cambria Mining
* Cambria Train Yard featuring grain silos and farming warehouses and supply houses
* City Harbor
* City Train Yard

I just remodeled my City Train Yard after acquiring some neat buildings at a recent train show.

This yard is full of Train sheds and maintenance buildings, a grainery, a foundry, a steel mill, he harbor, and an automotive factory.

There are 7 lines/spurs within the train yard.

Some viewers may think that my layout is too busy, but remember that I am a kid from the city. We don’t know what a vacant lot is. All kidding aside, there are numerous green spaces and parks on my layout, along with a 3 story mountain.

One tip that I will share is that if I had to do it over again, I would have a cutout or another aisle in the center of my layout. I can not easily get to the center lower level of the layout very easily.

Hope your readers enjoy the pictures.

Dave”

A huge big thanks to Dave for sharing the update on his HO scale train yard layout scene – I do love seeing the updates and developments over the months and years.

(You can see a much earlier post from Dave here: David’s HO scale layout.)

Next up, some more news on the printable buildings.

I ran a competition to see if we could come up with a better name for one of the buildings, Carl’s brick store (it was a little dull compared to the others).

I got some wierd and wonderful suggestions, but I’ve decided on ‘Clipboard Carl’. So Tom, thanks for the name, and if you check your mail, you’ll find the link to all four of the new buildings.

Lastly, I’ve finally managed to start on ‘the store’. There’s just a handful of products at the moment, but I’ll keep adding to it.

That’s all for this time 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 More HO scale train layouts here if that’s your thing.

Need buildings for your layout? Have a look at the store. They’re great fun to make too.