Model railroad layouts plans

Ben’s added to the collection of HO scale shelf switching layouts on the blog.

(His last post in is the middle of this one.)

He’s done a fantastic job too. I so love seeing the start and finish pics of your layouts:

“Hi Al!

I emailed you months ago about the ho scale shelf switching layout I was making. I wanted to share some photos with more to come.

I’m pretty much done with it, but I still have details to add.

Thanks for all you do to help the hobby!

Ben from southern California”

Whenever I get a switching layout sent in, I’m always reminded of Bill’s amazing layout:

HO scale switching layout.

Now on to Ernie:

“Hi Alistair

I am not sure but is all of this railway stuff becoming a bit secondary to the actual building and subsequent modelling around the railway itself????

I have found that after turning a small corner of my small layout in O scale from a store to a caravan park,I have become more obsessed with what is happening in the area rather than the locos and rolling stock running past, I noticed with Daves layout along with others there is a great detail in what is happening around the area rather than the trains themselves.

or is it just me looking at the small world within a world, perhaps i should lay off the whiskey and just play with my trains.

At the moment I am running a Mohawk with 4 reefer with sound cars, on one track, and a GP 35 with a couple of open wagon loads on the other.

Not sure what your viewers think, perhaps I am ready for the funny farm or glue factory???

Keep up the great work it has inspired me.

Ernie
Essex UK
(Old and senile 72)”

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And now, more from Hall of Fame member, Dangerous Dave:

“HI Al ,just posted this video on Youtube, its showing my model of the HST, with a bit of history shown.

It has been on channel 5 this last 2 weeks showing how this Loco brought British Rail back on the tracks as we might say, it was the first of the new type of Diesel Loco, which could run at 125 mph and still holds the record of the fastest diesel Loco in the world.

She started work in 1978 and was designed and built here in the UK, still is one of the most popular, and used Loco’s , unfortunately now after 40 years , they are starting to replace with Electric and more often ,not made here in the UK.

Regards

Dave”

Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

A big thanks to everyone, especially Ben for adding to the HO scale shelf switching layouts – I do love seeing a layout from start to finish.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day you be like Ben and make a start, 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 back in touch with his old oo gauge model railway.

There’s something about an old London bus that sets the scene!

(his last post is here if you missed it.)

“Hi Al,

As you’re always saying, you love an update, so here’s my latest one.

It’s been about nine months since my last one, so hopefully you’ll see quite a bit of progress.

Actually, I’m at a bit of an hiatus at the moment as I have a mysterious short which I can’t find, even with the help of an expert from my local club. Anyway, we press on!

Just to remind you, when finished, there will be 1000ft of track in a 22’x20’ room. I’ve had to do a lot of the scenery which I wasn’t originally intending to do until much later in the construction but as I’ve gone along, I’ve realised that quite a lot has to be done before I lay more track as the scenery & track are sometimes inter-dependant & some I won’t be able to reach later.

Talking of which, in order to get to the far corners for derailments etc. (& I remember one of your other readers commenting on this difficulty), I have constructed a right angle ladder that will self support when pushed against the wall & will allow me to reach those far off places.

As well as the video, I have attached a few photos taken from a oo gauge man’s eye view! I hope you enjoy them.

On my cancer front, things aren’t so good, as the immunotherapy has stopped working & the next pill they gave me didn’t work at all, so we are now on plan D. However, I will continue fighting & the knowledge that I have to finish the railway, which is probably another three years work, is a powerful incentive & focus.

Still really enjoying all your blogs & look forward to seeing them in my in-box; keep up the great work.

Thanks

Mike”

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A huge thanks to Mike for taking the time for this update on his old OO gauge model railway, and I wish him well and I’m really looking forward to see him finish his layout.

Which reminds me – some of you may remember Barry from Minnesota. He made this stunning layout.

Well, he’s been through a lot too recently. But he’s picked himself up and brushed the dust off and he’ll soon be making another stunner. Can’t wait.

That’s all for today.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if you want to get started on your layout, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

Al

Ken has been in touch with this excellent model train table height tip.

We all know if your table is too low, back pain will soon follow.

Too high and it’s hard to reach things, and of course, the grandkids can’t see it.

And what about when it wobbles, or you just can’t get it level? Ken has the answer:

“Hi Al,

I’ve been reading and enjoying your email updates from around the world for a few years now, and have a little something others might benefit from.

For those of you who have uneven floors where you are building your layouts, or who transport modules to shows and such, I have developed a simple method of adjustable legs.

The key components are threaded inserts and carriage bolts.

The actual size and length will be determined by your situation, but I used 3/8″ bolts and 1/2″ inserts. The inserts are threaded for the size of the bolts.
I purchased mine at a local Ace Hardware store, but I am sure you can find them at more locations.

First you mark the ends of you legs to get center:

Next drill a hole the diameter of the insert, and long enough to allow the bolt to screw into the insert as far as possible.

Thread the insert into the hole, and thread the bolt into the insert.

Since you are threading the insert into end grain, you may have some trouble getting it to thread in straight. I wound up putting the bolt into the insert and using a wrench to turn the whole assembly while putting pressure on the bolt to get the threads started.

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Once you mount the leg to the layout, you can use a wrench to turn the bolt in or out to adjust the height.

If you are worried that the bolt might move, you can add a nut on the bolt between the head of the bolt and the insert. When your height is where you want it, just tighten the nut against the insert.

I hope this helps someone out there.

I’ll be posting more as my railroad progresses.

Ken”

“Hi Alastair,

As promised some photos and a rough sketch of my shelving layout in my Summer house.

The Tile adhesive/grout was great for making rocks and road works, I used it to make the train crossing by spreading it across the rails and waited until semi dry to smooth it out and finishing off with black paint and white centre marking. The hardest part was cleaning the bits between the track close to the rail edge. but the trusty dremmel and a steady hand sorted it out.

Keep up the good work.

Ernie”

“Greetings from France

I have just finished my layout if you are interested.

Incline, decline, bridges and extra running track now installed giving 115 metres (5.5 miles at OO gauge scale) of running track with 6 crossings, 3 sets of points between lines and 27 sidings. All within a footprint of 4.5 x 4 metres.

Best Regards

Bernard”

Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

That’s all for today, folks.

A big thanks to Bernard, Ernie and to Ken for sharing his excellent model train table height ‘how to’.

Please do keep ’em coming. And don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide is here, if you want to get going on your own masterpiece.

Best

Al

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