Model railroad layouts plans

Joe and his HO scale elevated trains have been back in touch.

(his last post is here).

“Hi Al; Thanks for putting up the pics.

Here are some more “construction” pics.

The layout is a ‘free lanced’ 1940 – 1950 steam era set roughly in the “town” of San Juan Creek in N.W. New Mexico.

The main industries are coal mining and lumber.

I can’t tell if I already sent these. IF they are duplicate, please discard.

Laying roadbed. Elevation for inner main line completed. 2.75% grade.

Have attached HO scale elevated trains track plan.

Joe”

One of things I enjoy most about the blog is an update – seeing an empty table or bench come to life over the months or years is absolute joy.

And now more from Dave – another fab video:

” HI Al, just downloaded ? Or is it uploaded ? …my latest video, showing the easy way to paint your ballast with track grime, then adding the rust effect to the rails.

Think I can say this is the layout completed again for a while? But you know me by now, always have to change something… anyway I have also shown a good few of my Loco`s and rolling stock having a good run, with also a extra long haul (rake we call it in UK) shows the power these little Diesels have…

Regards

Dave”

The very latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

A big thanks to Dave and to Joe for sharing his HO scale elevated trains – all these years on and I still love seeing these updates pop up in my inbox.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day when you shun the armchair and join in the fun, 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.

Mike’s been in touch and added to the ‘N scale train layout on a door’ collection:

“Hi Al….Started a new one this year…Hollow core door and will have a 4ft extension off the back left….Have a good week….

Mike”

There’s quite a few N scale door layouts on the blog now. When ever I see one I’m always reminded of Nich’s:

N scale door layout.

Now on to Don:

“Dear Alastair,

I came across a substance that I used for making my roads in and out of my township. I went to a local supplier to a builder of houses that the outside was Stucko. (plaster with fine sand mixed in) The have lots of grades of sand to choose from as well as colors.

What I loved about it most of it was mixed wrong so I got loads of it enough for a supper highway. I had my railroad in 0-27 three rail.

My city was all of plaster houses as well as some other O scale buildings. these building blended well with the mid centery look I was aiming for. I also was able to make the roads to have a hump for the middle of the street and at corners as well. It really worked well for the scale.

I am a guy that love the looks of real RR layouts but do love the three rail aspect of it being a toy. My entire layout was 17 feet long and 6 feet wide. within that I was able to put a long loop, a siding, two reverse loops as well as a figure 8. My curves on the main line were 054 and 031 for the logging area. I made it so I could run three trains at the same time on connected with one another and yet have 4 different levels of tracks. Yes it look as if it really was a toy train. I loved it.

Now its no longer because of my health I have taken it down and is just in my mind. I sold my one and only 4449 in the freedom colors . I’m from Portland Oregon and grew up with that locomotive. Mater of fact…. I sold the two doors from the original locomotive. I will write you when I think of other things I thought up for the dream I once had.

Don”

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“Al

I sent in pictures of the start of the helix addition to my train layout. And I said I would send some videos of the trains running. I am just using my cell phone as the camera.

Because the helix is no where near finished the trains can only run from each side to about 90 percent of the first ring. The first ring has the track running but the rest of the mods (trees, people, train stops, etc) to the ring is not finished in the pictures. So I am sending two videos. One with both trains on the left side and one with both trains on the right side.

I have finished the first ring and tested it again (after I made the videos). and found out that I have made the trees too fat and they interfere with the passage of the train. So still working. Will send more probably when the helix is half built.

Lawrence”

The very latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

That’s all today folks – thanks to Lawrence, Don and to Mike for adding to the N scale train layout on a door collection.

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 N scale layouts here if that’s your thing.

Brian’s been back in touch with some more stunning pics of his HOn3 logging railroad:

“Here is a collection of photos showing detailed scenes of my HOn3 layout along a 12 inch wide shelf around the walls in a 14ft by 10ft room.

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I hope to have a video soon of trains running on the layout.

All the best for now.

Brian”

I do enjoy seeing Brian’s updates. There is something about his layout, it has such character, he really does know how to create a scene.

You can see more of Brian’s stuff in the Hall of Fame.

And when it comes to logging layouts, Al’s always springs to mind:

HO logging layout plans.

Now on to Jim:

(His last post is at the bottom of this one) if you want to get up to speed.)

“Greetings, Al. I’m still weathering freight cars and putting together videos. But I thought I’d send this one along to your site.

It’s a train ride with a 4-4-0 Santa Fe and old time passenger cars operating from the “B & B” Depot excursion facilities. I changed windows in the passenger cars, weathered the trucks and wheels, added seats and passengers. Hope you all enjoy.

Jim AZ”

The very latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

A big thanks to Jim and to Brian for sharing the latest on his HOn3 logging railroad. All these years on and I still love seeing how your layouts develop and evolve. It’s wonderful to see.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming because it’s very quiet this end.

And if today is the day when you decide to join in the fun, 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.