Model railroad layouts plans

Jack’s been back in touch, with his take on painting model train backdrops – he’s added some perspective.

(His last post is here).

“Hi Al,

Continuing on the preliminary work on my backdrop I found another perspective issue. I have the beginnings of a parking lot at the edge of the layout, so I need to continue the parking lot onto the backdrop. I taped some tablet paper to the layout edge and marked the edges of the parking lot on the paper. From the area where the scene is viewed I approximated the angle needed to continue the edges of the parking lot onto the backdrop.

I then took the paper down and from the point where each lot edge meets the background I drew a number of lines at different angles like spokes. Reattaching the paper, from my viewing area I chose the lines representing the best angle for each side of the lot. I then drew the lot on the paper and quickly sketched in some scenery. The photos show the final sketch and what it looks like from the viewing area.

I transferred the parking lot onto the Masonite and sprayed it to match the blacktop on the existing lot. I photographed cars on the lot from the perspective of the viewing area, printed them out, cut them out and pasted them on the lot. They aren’t perfect, I may redo them, but it gives the impression of cars parked on the lot.

For the grass, I used spray glue and sprinkled Woodland Scenics blended turf on it. I painted the sky blue, added some darker streaks and clouds. My real problem, and I could use some comments on this, is that I wanted to make it look like you were looking off into the distance. It just doesn’t look like I imagined it would. I think maybe my horizon is too high. Maybe I should start it just behind the parking lot. Maybe I should start a hill just beyond the parking lot. Any ideas would be helpful.

Jack”

Jack’s previous post is here: Model train 3D backdrop.

Now on to Barry:

“Hi Alistair,

I have been signed up to you for a while now and have gleaned a lot of information from a lot of your people. My first train set was in the 50’s. My first model railway was in the early 1970’s but did not last that long as my wife and I were not doing too well. Now wife number two and I are very close to our 25th wedding anniversary, my model railway is up and running and failing and being tweaked in many places.

I have joined the throng of camera recorders and have just posted my first and short Video on You Tube. Have a look at it and if you think it is worth it please publish on your site. It is under, Castlebridge. OB owner.

Barry”

Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

“Hi Al

Best tip I can pass on is one to help with the frustration caused by dropping tiny screws and other parts on the floor.

Buy a white dust sheet from a DIY warehouse – or grab a sheet from the airing cupboard if you like :-). Spread it on the floor below the bench or table where you are working.

Since tiny screws, nuts and bolts are seldom white, when you drop them, as I often do, they stand out much more clearly than they would do on a typical shed/workroom floor or carpet.

Regards

Steve”

A huge thanks to Steve, Barry and to Jack for showing us his take on painting model train backdrops.

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.

Dave’s been back in touch again.

If you’re unfamiliar with ‘Dangerous Dave’ have a look at him in the Hall of Fame. You can see how he got his name too…

“Hi Al,

just loaded this video, shows adding some weights to rolling stock, we have so many these days that are light and do tend to derail on points etc, adding some of these can be a big help in curing that problem.

All the best from

Dangerous Dave”

Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

That’s all today folks. There’s just not enough time in the days at the mo.

Beginner’s Guide is here for everyone that wants to start their train journey.

Keep ’em coming.

Best

Al

Cary’s been in touch with a post about the General locomotive.

It is perhaps a bit off the beaten track – but I enjoyed it so I hope you do too (Cary’s last post is here).

“Hi Al,

I’m still plugging away on my outdoor G scale layout, will send you an update in a month a so with this summer’s progress.

I know you sometimes share stories and photos that are not related to model layouts but rather actual trains. I put this together and it includes some family history. I understand if you don’t publish it, it’s a little “off the tracks” from what you normally do. However your readers might find interesting and most of all I had fun putting it together!

Thanks much!

***

The Great Steam Locomotive Chase, American Civil War 1862

In 1862 spies from the Union Army went south in an attempt to disrupt travel, communications and supplies of the Confederate Army.

Their plan was to steal a locomotive in Georgia then travel north to Tennessee destroying tracks and telegraph lines along the way. The locomotive they stole was known as “The General”.

A group of confederate soldiers followed them relentlessly, first on foot, then by hand car and eventually commandeering a locomotive of their own. The Union spies were soon captured and executed.
End Of The Run – The Stolen Engine, “The General” Abandoned.

The General locomotive eventually fell into disrepair but was never scrapped. By the early 1960’s the Louisville & Nashville railroad found itself in possession of the old steam locomotive. They decided to bring it to Louisville KY and refurbish it in commemoration of the Great Steam Locomotive Chase of 1862.

They had a drawing among railroad employees to see who would get to operate the old steamer. My grandfather was an engineer for the L&N at the time and he drew fireman.

During the summer of 1962, The General made runs around the eastern United States pulling a restored passenger car and meeting excited crowds wherever it went who wanted to see the old machine.

My grandfather (shown left) Bill Price Sr. 1962 onboard The General. The gentlemen to the right was known to our family as “Poppy Doyle”.

This photograph hung in my grandparents house while I was growing up. Shortly after my grandfather’s death in the early 90’s I asked my grandmother if I could borrow it to have it scanned so I would always have a copy.

Not quite the end of the story.

By the late 1960’s my dad was working for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad in the South Louisville Shops where the old locomotive was stored. I’m not sure of the exact details, but the L&N wanted to acquire track line from a railroad in Georgia. As part of the deal, Georgia would get the General, however the state of Tennessee also wanted the General.

My dad told me they put the locomotive on a flatbed car and tried to ship it to Georgia only to have the state of Tennessee stop the train and make it return to Louisville. They tried again covering the locomotive with a tarp and sending it in the middle of the night. This time the locomotive made it to Georgia and to its final home in small museum in Kennesaw Georgia.

As a kid I was always fascinated by the photograph and heard the stories of the great locomotive chase of 1862. Maybe I even thought my grandfather was part of the raid, what’s a hundred years give or take when your six years old. I’m so glad I had the photograph scanned when I did, at this point I’m not sure what happened to the original.

The General shortly after restoration in 1962

Cary”

Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

A huge thanks to Cary.

The General rang a few bells, I think it’s been in a few posts, like Ralphs:

The General model train.

Now on to Tom:

“In the 1950’s I grew up with a Lionel train table my dad built in the basement of our house in Berkley Michigan.

About a year ago I decided to build a N scale railroad in my house. I first had to do a lot of reading about the changes in model railroading from the 1950’s. DCC what a change from having to section off different areas of your layout. Also what materials are now available for landscaping from card stock buildings to ground cover.

THE THEME:

The theme of my railroad takes place in the early 1950’s on the Baltimore & Ohio rail line between Baltimore and Cincinnati. The village is in the mountains of West Virginia along Highway 50.

The main line along this route takes you through the mountains into the rolling farm lands of eastern Ohio. There are two spears one that will take you up into the village with a stop at the passenger depot. The second spear is to the local coal mines and trucking fright yard.

SPECIAL SCENES:

Forest with a fly fishing river
Cabin in the woods
Tunnel through Mountains
Local park, swimming and picnicking area.
Canoeing on a lake
Rapids that end in a fishing lake with a viaduct running over the fishing lake.
Cave/wild animal den
Apple orchard
Farm with live stock
Wood frame Farm Houses
Local auto repair shop/gas station
Corn fields
Biker bar
Trucking depot
Engine house
Coal Mine
Village
Town Hall/Fire Station/Police station
Barber/Beauty shop
Bank
News Paper Stand
Train Depot/Post Office
Family restaurant
Doctor’s Office
Consignment clothing store/Bed and Breakfast
General Store
Trading Post/Auction House
Butcher Shop
Farmer’s Market/Produce Stand
Gas Station/mini mart
Church

Tom”

A big thanks to Tom and Cary for sharing the General Locomotive story.

I really do love the backstorys that folk share – for me it really captures the essence of a layout: it can be whatever you want it to be.

I hope I’m posting layouts for many years to come, but sadly, this may not happen.

Sales of the Beginner’s Guide and the printable buildings have slumped, and now, I’m not covering costs.

So if you’d like the blog to rumble on, please support it – I’ve put together a very silly sale for the next couple of days.

I’ve created a PDF of 142 track plans and bundled it with the Beginner’s Guide.

There’s also a membership option (and it is entirely optional). Even if you only stay for a month or so, it would make a massive difference to the blog.

Like you, I love seeing what’s in my inbox each morning, and I’d love to keep that going.

Please, if you enjoy the blog, help me to keep the show on the road.

Best

Al