Model railroad layouts plans

I always marvel at what’s in my inbox each morning. A suspend model railway from ceiling? No problem, here’s Ian’s

“I have been building this layout over the last three years starting at the age of 65.

It is hung from the garage ceiling on four steel rods and can be winched up to allow my wife to park her car.

The board is 8X4 feet. Because of the tight curves I have used a number of diesel locomotives. I hope it is of some interest to your members.

Regards

Ian”

Ian’s suspended layout is fantastic – it reminded me of Gary’s, which isn’t suspended, but folds away:

Folding model railroad table.

Now on to Dangerous Dave, who has been in touch. I think he’s been on the sherry again:

“Hi Al

Not a lot happening as yet …been away on holiday ..then been doing a lot with my Koi Pond ..so to day first time for a while got to visit my loft and Model Railway …I have a new Loco coming this next week the Class 43 HST which of course has had a lot of publicity this last few weeks as its the 40th Anniversary of this famous High Speed Train …but to be going on with I have just made a fun video trailer which I am sure a few will find amusing !!

Regards

Dave”

Latest ebay cheat sheet is here

“I’m a 3 rail O gauger. I use Gargraves track and turnouts. I use chicken grit for ballast and paint the platform an earth brown. I decided that it is to critical to attempt ballasting the point area. Everything else gets ballasted and no one notices, or if they do, do not comment.

Thanks for the tips.

Ernest”

“Hi Al, I want to tell you about a rack I made to reduce neck strain while working on couplers and upside down ho engines. Can you help with that?
Thanks,

Tricky Dick”

A big thanks to Dick, Ernest, Dave and to Ian for sharing another suspend model railway from ceiling on the blog.

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.

Rod’s been in touch with some good advice on model train LED lights:

“Hi Al, you say you enjoy updates, well not much to report here but I have been adding some LED platform lights and a first set of 12v DC streetlamps.

They had to be wired in pairs to keep the intensity and the heat under control, these have been deemed a success so I shall have to get another pack for the rest of the layout, luckily the Italians are fairly sparing with their streetlights.

However I am rather sorry now that I didn’t make provision for adding lights in some of the buildings, it would be too much of a faff now they’re done and installed I fear.

I am just now trying to fathom a mystery cross feed in my fiddle yard sidings, every now and then I get a train moving when it should be isolated by points, resulting in some “interesting” (ie alarming but not really expensive so far) sideswipes.

I suspect it comes of stock with metal wheels bridging gaps somewhere, but to identify it I really need a full wiring diagram.

Like an idiot I didn’t do one as I was going along, thinking I’d remember. Blowed if I do!

Rod”

You can see Rod’s full layout here.

And if you can help Rod, please leave a comment below.

Now on to John:

“It’s been 20 yrs in the making, just never had the “gumption” to do it.

I always thought that because of the seasons we have that the maintenance would be a real pain.

Now that I’m retired what else do I have to do but put the effort in. Really, my adult son’s doings, I think they want to keep me busy !

I’ve shared what you have sent me on all the projects under way and that got them psyched. So my wife and I went away for a brief vacation and the boys went to work.( I’m still trying to figure out what they did that I haven’t found out about ! lol lol )

I will send you progress pictures and videos as we go. Awaiting for some what will be nice additions, Bridges and more rolling stock. Waiting till it all gets balanced and secured before we break out the real expensive toys.

Really a big work in progress every time I speak with the boys there always either a slight change here, siding there, new track coming for extension areas, I never know.

This I do know it will be a triple bridge extending over the pond stream, a tunnel which was planned years ago when doing the pond, a small rail yard and long runs with limited switches although there are a few manual/ powered.

So I guess you can call it an “Over under 8″. Hope to have track laid in beds this weekend ? Lot of rain is to be coming for the next three days as well as a holiday so I’m not sure why that does to the schedule.

Keep the ideas coming !

John”

Lastly, on to another John:

“Dear Mr. Lee…

Thank you for sharing my cardstock boxcar…

I have now done a locomotive…

A few details need to be added…

Sincerely, John from Cali..

John

Chatsworth California USA”

If you missed John’s last post, it’s here.

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That’s all this time folks!

A big thanks to both Johns and to Rod for sharing his model train LED lights advice.

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.

Tracy has been back in touch with his model railroad layout. Here’s his first post if you missed it.

And best of all, here’s the layout he made from the leftovers of the first one!

“These are all of the pictures I have of my lake and river The same layout 1and 2.

As you can see the second time went much better.

Hope you enjoy.

Tracy”

Model railroad layout:

I think Tracy’s water scenes are fantastic. He’s got them looking spot on.

Next, on to Steve:

“I would like to thank everyone for their comments model builders know how important that is. There were some questions asked I will try to answer.

I attached a wire diagram for the switches circuit you have to add resister to the LEDs depending on their voltage. Different color LEDs have different voltages. Red and yellow are 2.5 volts and green blue and white are 3.2 so you have to wire accordingly. If you put a resistor at the supply some of the colors will not work. You have to treat each LED separately. Just make sure you have enough amps in the power supply.

My layout is 2 boards one 5 feet by 9 feet and 3.5 feet by 10 feet.

I do go to the train shows in Brick and Toms River. I got a lot of my track and switches there. Shows are a good place for parts and equipment at good prices.
O27 is O gauge the 27 is the turn radius but the track is lighter.

When I say my system is D.C. Not DCC I know mine is really AC but most don’t think of AC as a system.

Steve from Toms River.”

(Stephen’s last post is here)

A big thanks to Tracy for sharing his model railroad layout, and to Guenther and Steve too.

That’s all this time folks.

Please keep ’em coming.

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.