Model railroad layouts plans

If you’re after narrow gauge layout ideas, Grant’s layout should get you thinking:

“Hi Alastair, and all readers.

Today I have for you both an update on what I am doing and a request for advice from your readers.

Over the past couple of months I have been starting a Narrow Gauge 009 layout called Foyers Falls. Today i finally had the track powered and the first run of my locos.

Foyers is a small town on the coast of Loch Ness that at one time had a small narrow gauge line to supply a local hydro plant and attached Aluminium Foundry.

It ran down to the small pier to gather bauxite and deliver processed ingots.

Eventually the foundry was closed and the power station upgraded to supply the local town.

While the foundry was open, a small Andrew Barclay was used to run the line. “The Fair Maid of Foyers” is in a museum today.

After the closure and for the upgrade of the power plant they used a Runston Hornsby diesel

The original line was a simple 1 mile stretch with a spur to the pier. I prefer circle run layouts so I added a great deal of artistic licence. Here is my track plan.

On this the “Goods Shed” will be the Foundry, with the power station on the far lower left.

Here is the track all laid out. there has been some editing.

Next is the control box. My father in law, an electrician and train enthusiast built this for me.

Today it was all running.

Now, to the questions I have for the group.

I tried very hard to source either a working model of the Andrew Barclay Fair Maid, even commissioned a local man to scratch build, all to no avail.

Finally I have this minitrains Kraus loco which I will somewhat edit to make into the Fair Maid.

There are already limitations on how close I can get it, so true prototypicality is beyond achievement. Also, the carriages I have are also German.

I want to know, beyond a fresh coat of paint any suggestions your audience may have to make these things more British.

I have already cut the smoke stack, removed the steam reservoir and bought a green paint.

I was considering extending the side tanks to match the original, but the loco has such wonderful detail on the side of the boiler, it would be a shame to hide it.

I will be going for an extremely weathered look.

Anyway. I hope this has been interesting and that there are some good suggestions and feedback coming.

Regards

Grant.”

Can anyone help Grant with his narrow gauge layout ideas? Please do post a comment below if you can.

Next, on to John.

Here’s the engine house he made from the printable buildings:

“First timer, so fingers crossed….

I must commend the artwork it really turned out well.

Thanks again and regards.

John”

Doesn’t it look great? And it’s one of the printable buildings too.

That’s all for this time folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if there are any stragglers out there, today is the VERY LAST day for the silly sale – 36 printable buildings and the Beginner’s Guide.

Tomorrow, it will be back up to $27 – and no free printable buildings or track plans.

I can’t say more than I’ve said over the last few days.

If you’re still mulling it over, grab it now, there’s a 60 day money back guarantee, so you really have nothing to lose.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

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

Here’s another ‘how to’ video from the talented John.

I gave John the latest offering in the print out scenery range, so he could have a tinker with it.

But I have to say, I was amazed with what he came up with.

Believe it or not, it’s all made from just one print (printed out lots of times…)

It really does show how this embankment is only limited by your imagination.

You can make an embankment as long or as short as you like.

Here are the pics of his ‘creation’:

So how did he do it? Well, John was kind enough to record this ‘how to’ video:

I really can’t thank John enough.

(The embankment print is HO scale at 100% – as they all are. Print out at 54% for N scale).

You can see more of the print out scenery here in the store.

For all you arm chair modellers out there, if the stone wall doesn’t get you excited for a first project, there’s always the Beginner’s Guide.

And now for the latest from Steve’s layout:

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“Hi Al

The modern engine shed area under development!

This is the latest area following the station projects and this shows it partly finished as above which will hopefully be useful to viewers.

Many ancillary buildings and other parts are yet to be placed, paths, fences walls etc are partly fixed.

First I thought was a perimeter wall to keep train spotters out!( always a challenge in the old days but I always got in!).

I had some fun with this as I have left a small gap in the wall to creep though!

Note the 3mm of cork packing under the shed to compensate for the foam ballast this will be covered completely once completed similar to the small shed by the station shown in the first photo.

Learning from my own errors here is what to watch out for

1) Curves will create fouling issues always double check as the track is laid relative to buildings and other solid objects!

2) check track spacing for alignment and centre to centre ( you can buy ready made spacers for this)

3) Check the track fits in the shed correctly this often requires altering the approach roads or centres to fit and remember long locomotives will requires more space.

3) I laid the walls first immediately in front of the( rear) main line to create a realistic barrier

4) in an effort to convert the train set to something realistic think about buildings and services typical of a depot , car park, freight entrance, offices, storage buildings, roadway approach, gates, paths and equipment, some compromise is usually necessary but well worth thinking and “playing” about shows with it until it is as near right as it can be!

Hope your viewers find it useful and this addresses some of the questions and thanks for the positive comments,

Steve”

That’s all this time folks.

Thanks to Steve and John.

Please do keep ’em coming.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

Simon has been in touch with his N scale suitcase layout:

“Hi Al,

Winter German themed case layout

Have been taking lots of notes from your emails and bits from gaming blog sites and have spent a lot of time building and adding bits and people (birthday and Christmas presents) to my layout in a tool box, it is an n gauge oval made from 2 bits of flexi track, with a bit of bending to fit within the case.

The station and platform are scratch built from card and match sticks with some jewellery wire for the rails. The base snow was made from bicarbonate of soda mixed with pva which over time has turned yellow (may need to paint with a wash of white) the tunnel and hills are just polystyrene carved to shape. Winter trees were off eBay

Hope you like the layout.

Like to hear everybody’s thoughts.

Regards

Simon”

N scale suitcase layout:

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Dangerous Dave mailed me this – he has been busy with his camera again, this time filming the Flying Scotsman when it was in his neck of the woods.

(If you want to know whether the Scotsman was / wasn’t the fastest steam train recorded, have a look at the bottom of this post).)

“Hi Al , not sure if you are interested but managed to film the Flying Scotsman to day up on the NYMR…

She sure performed good.

Dave”

Latest ebay cheat sheet here.

And lastly, this came in from Jane. Can anyone help? Who knows, fingers crossed they’ll send in pics of their train themed office:

“Hi Alastair,

I hope you don’t mind me getting in touch. I am an interior designer currently designing an office space, and my clients would like to turn their office/room into a 1950/60s train carriage. They suggested that I get in touch with you for advice. Would you happen to know where we could source any train salvage parts like seats, luggage rail etc in the UK?

Thank you very much for your help.

Kind regards,

Jane”

Thanks to Simon for his N scale suitcase layout layout – I ‘ll add it to the collection. Embarrassingly, it’s been sitting in my inbox for an age. I stumbled over it this morning when I was doing some ‘house keeping’.

That’s all this time folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

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

Best

Al