Model railroad layouts plans

Ken’s been back in touch with his HO double oval with crossover.

He really has created his own little world, and it’s a real stunner:

“Hey Al,

It’s been a while since I’ve reached out. As you know, you’re never really done with a train layout.

I’ve added a bunch of grassy areas and weedy undulations around the layout to give it a sense of depth.

I’ve included a new YouTube video with three 20 car trains concurrently. It’s about 13 minutes long.

One of the best things I could’ve done is install Keep Alive’s on each locomotive. With an imperfect track I would occasionally get the dreaded stall, but since the Keep Alives are in each locomotive, they just run and run and run!

I also installed the Broadway Limited Lightning machine. It does add a cool effect when the lights are low.

I hope you enjoy it. Let me know.

Ken”

(Watch on youtube here.)

A huge big thanks to Ken for sharing his HO double oval with crossover layout.

If you missed his first post, it’s here: HO scale layout plans.

I do love the detail Ken has added to his layout, it’s packed with different scenes that really bring it to life.

Did you spot the UFO and aliens?

The train room is impressive too – the monkey made me smile.

I’d really love to you hear your comments on this one, please do leave one below.

That’s all for this time 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.

Need buildings for your layout? Have a look at the Silly Discount bundle.

Dan’s been in touch with his Christmas train display.

And Dick shares a bit of fun too:

“Al,

I began getting things together for a G scale train setup for a city conservatory. I formed a small crew of 4 to get the job done.

We get the annual train setup running. Get the locos and rolling stock ready to go. Then the conservatory crew does all the setup with at least a hundred Poinsettias and village plus a train around a tree.

It is joint effort and the conservatory crew also puts lights in the plants photos also inclined.

Next My model railroad club helps setup a display at a local bank. I have been getting everything ready for several weeks.

The train around the tree.

Part of the set up.

More of the setup.

This is a large part of the village.

The lights on the plants.

The bank display.

I am at the bank the entire moth of December running the trains and talking to folks visiting the display. It is a banker’s hour day all month. This will be my 34 consecutive year.

I have had parents bring small children and then the children bring their children and now grand children are coming.

I talk trains and I have helped many get started in model trains and I also help solve model train problems.

Dan”

(You can see more of Dan’s bank display here: Model train display.

Now on to Dick who’s been having fun with a Christmas train cake:

“Al, I hope you can share these for Christmas.

Layout base was cake, train bodies were little cakes, then frosting, sprinkles, cinnamon bears, licorice, etc.

Next I will update my next setups which includes the G scale, Lionel 3 rail, HO, TT, and N scale layouts.

Merry Christmas Al and prayers for good health to you and family.

Dick”

A big thanks to Dan for sharing his Christmas train display, and to Dick too.

(There’s more Christmas fun here: Christmas model railroad.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if you want to get stuck back in to the fun of trains, 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.

Need buildings for your layout? Have a look at the Silly Discount bundle.

Dean’s been in touch with a missive on the program he uses for a model train simulator:

“Al, greetings from Dean in New Mexico.

I’ve been spending a bit of time on the computer program, SCARM (“Simple Computer Aided Railway Modeller”), which you may remember I’m using to design my layouts.

They have a free version which has all the capabilities of the paid version except it’s limited to 100 items (track sections, cars, buildings). I soon outgrew the free version and bought the paid ($45).

Recently, I’ve gone back to test out an extension for this program, “Model Train Simulator”, which allows you to set up trains, run, them, operate switches, etc. It is very powerful and a good way to check out your layout designs or just play with your trains.

Below is a SCARM drawing for my double layout which I’ve talked about. It combines the two smaller layouts that are mostly built. I’m working on this larger layout now and will keep you posted.

One of the very powerful features of this SCARM program is the ability to see your layout in 3D. You can easily move it around with your mouse.

The program extension “Model Train Simulator” (free or $29 for the full version) that allows you to set up and run a train or trains on your layout. With the free version you can download a limited number of cars and locos, but that’s not the case with the paid. They have many cars and locos you can download, most from England and Germany. See the photo below for examples.

I downloaded several cars and a loco from the list which is shown here. Most are “no name”.

So, here’s an example: I placed three boxcars, three gondolas, a caboose and loco to play with for switching exercises.

It’s difficult to show results with just photos, but here are several photos of how the 3-D rendering looks:

You can see the train running around with switching and uncoupling on my video here:

(Watch on youtube here.)

One thing that I realized is that a part of my layout (shown in the photo below in red) looks like an Inglenook puzzle. All I have to do is limit the size of the four sidings, and I can run the puzzle, either in the software (easy) or on the actual layout (more difficult).

Cheers, Al, for keeping this website going

Dean”

A big thanks to Dean for sharing his model train simulator video.

You can see Dean’s last post here: Woodlands Scenics scenic ridge.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if you feel like you’re missing out on the fun, 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.

Need buildings for your layout? Have a look at the Silly Discount bundle.