Model railroad layouts plans

Peter’s been in touch with his suspended layout 10×8.

“Good morning Al,

Last year I bought your Beginners Guide – very useful, thank you and each day when I receive an e-mail from you I look with interest as my 10′ x 8′ layout is just starting to take shape.

So my plan is to construct a railway with all rolling stock bought with grand-children in mind (or by them) so the theme has to be from all ages.

We have a hall that is multi-functional (dances, meetings etc) but I have ceiling space for the track.

Tomorrow I plan to start wiring all the points, I am trying to leave wiring the track until later – play time would be too tempting!

Later I will try to find some theme park rides (fun fair), but that could be a good year down the line (Ha!).

Look forward to hearing from you.

Cheers,

Peter”

“When I run my wires under my platform I put names on them so I know what they are for.

I use masking or adhesive tape to write on.

I do not just mark the ends but also if it is a very long run I mark in several places.

Also I run my wires through screw eyelets, this way I do not weaken the structure of the platform.

Also I use these to run wires under my ramps for track on mountains, this way the wire does not hang down and catch on other things.

Theodore”

“Hi Alistair,

I thought I’d been spending to much time on the things that I could do when the trains are up and running, so I’ve had a bit of a stock check and decided to get some track down, this is what I have at the moment, but I guess I’ll need more!

I’m experimenting curving long lengths of track as I want to keep the joints to a minimum.

I’ve been successful with soldering droppers to silver nickel rail, which I thought was going to cause me a headache…. not at all.

Hope you like the Barum circus train it was a rare find!…. didn’t tell the wife how much I payed for it by the way!!!

Sleeper retaining pins are way too small so I’m going make myself a little fixture that fit’s between the sleepers that allows me to drill a tiny hole in the baseboard for a flat head screw that bridges two sleepers hence retaining the track.

Just a last thought……. if any of you are nearing my age, 63 next week. Don’t go for ‘Z ‘ gauge it’s a tad small.

Happy modeling all.

Keith.”

I do love it when your tips come in – even after all these years. Please do keep ’em coming.

A big thanks to Keith, Theodore and Peter.

And if you’re still sitting on the side lines, you can dive in here with the Beginner’s Guide.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

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“Hey Al,

My name is Joe, I am a Diesel Electrician with Union Pacific Railroad. I start my HO layout a few years ago.

At the time I was Diagnosed with leukemia, so in between treatment I would work on it as much as I could.

I am now in remission and back at work after a long battle, but I still love working on it.

I build everything out of wood myself accept the electrical substation.

I still need all the scenery. Your website is great and I enjoy it very much.

Thank you,

Joe”

“Hi Al,

This is Mike again; you published a “how to” of mine a couple of months ago on a cheap way to make multi terminal blocks.

You have said a couple of times recently how you like to see layouts taking shape from inception to completion, so I hope you might be interested in mine.

A fairly lengthy explanation first. (If you choose to publish this, please feel free to edit the expalanation.)

Having had my loft converted specifically for the model railway, I started work on building the base framework in March 2015.

It is a large project measuring 22’ x 20’ with 2 internally projecting islands & with 1000 feet of track.

I was going pretty well until I unfortunately broke my shoulder in early September & the operation to replace it went disastrously wrong, leaving me very ill & unable to even get up to the loft until the end of January.

Since then I have been spending every spare minute up there – not as much as I would like as, although 70, I am still working & my work involves a lot of travel; I have already been abroad for 8 weeks this year with another 2 weeks coming up in July.

I am figuring at the present rate of work, I will need about 3 years to complete the railway.

Now the thing is, in February, while the loft conversion was being finished, I was diagnosed with stage 3 terminal cancer but I am very positive & am fighting it with everything I have.

They said 3-5 years but I’ll show ‘em – 8-10 at least. I’m not looking for sympathy. Don’t want it. Never have. Never will.

But I think the need to finish the project & leave it as a finished running railway for my grandkids to remember me by, is a strong motivator to keep me going.

I am absolutely determined to finish it!

If you see fit to publish this, I hope it may prove an inspiration to any others out there in the same position as me.

Just because you have a terminal illness does not mean you can’t build a model railway & have fun!

So, to the pictures:

Firstly I have included the plan, designed with AnyRail (great programme).

The video first to show the size of the room.

Then pics 1-3 showing the construction under way; then pics 4 & 5 showing the first completed section, which had to be made as a unit & then moved, because once it will be in place (see pic 6) in the corner, I won’t be able to reach it easily!

Kind regards

Mike”

A huge thanks to Mike, Joe and Alan. If they have inspired you to get going on your layout, then what’s stopping you?

Truly inspirational stuff from Mike.

The latest ebay cheat sheet is here and here’s the Beginner’s Guide.

You have everything you need, so why not join the fun?

Please do keep em coming.

Best

Al

Ray’s been in touch with his N scale DCC train set:

“Good morning Al.

I love the emails that I get from you with all the tips and sample layouts, videos, pictures, and helpful ideas.

I am amazed by some of the creative genius’ that share their layouts and ideas.

I have sent in a few things that you have posted so I figured I would try a video and some more pictures.

This is my third upgrade of my layout over the past three years and it literally takes up half my basement (I am running our room).

I run DC N scale all made up of Kato unitrack. My layout includes 25 turnouts.

I have a CSX intermodel yard and a Boston and Maine yard.

I do not have a track plan since I just put it together as I went along.

For me, I add things that I enjoy from all over the world.

I have spent time in Holland so I have a section with Dutch farms and a windmill.

I love to golf so I designed and built a golf course on my layout.

Since I enjoy fishing, I have a number of fishing areas from lakes to streams.

Since I am from Worcester Massachusetts, I built Worcester Union Station from a lazer cut kit which took me over 100 hours to finish.

I have even made a an area with my high school and football stadium.

Once again all things that are important to me that really don’t go together…but it all makes sense to me.

So I am attaching an armature video that I took with my phone to give you and idea of what I am busy with. I will also attach a bunch of pictures of different areas of my layouts.

On a side not, I am leaving to Holland today to visit my daughter and grandson.

While there, we will be visiting Hamburg Germany which was featured in your email today (miniature wunderland). I am looking forward to that and after seeing the video that was sent out I know it will be a trip worth taking.

I am sure I will come home with plenty of ideas, and probably a few more locomotives from Holland or Germany.

Please keep all the emails and ideas coming. I always look forward to getting them. Thank you!

Best,

Ray

Massachusetts, USA”

“Hi Al, just posted this video, may be a bit more interesting than the last one, I bought a Bachmann Pannier Tank Loco £45 on Ebay last week, just added new Decoder and she ran very good, so now done a little bit of cosmetic work on her i.e., painted the buffers Dark silver, painted the rear funnel in Brass (as some of these models have that ) and the handle for the front smoke box door white ,then added a couple of light`s which has improved the look of this model.

I am now sending it away for a sound decoder fitted and working lights …also just bought some GWR Clerestory coaches also from e Bay , so should make a nice video in the future ..with sound and the old coaches ..

Regards

Dave”

Now on to Jack:

“Al,

I live in Arizona. Been at this 3 months.

I read your emails religiously. Here is a satellite dish I made from a big drink lid.

A Popsicle stick that you put in Kool Aid and stick in the freezer.

A clam shell base from a HO train I purchased and 4 stir sticks.

BTW the THING is a mysterious place everyone must visit in southern Arizona.

Jack”

A big thanks to Ray for sharing his N scale DCC train set – and to Jack and Dave too.

That’s all this time folks. Latest ebay cheat sheet is here if you want copy Dave.

And don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide is you want to get off the side lines.

Please do keep em coming.

Best

Al