Model railroad layouts plans

Terry has been in touch a good tip for HO scale switch machines:

“Hi Al-

I found an easy way to deal with under table Atlas switch machines.

As many do, I build a layout and then later tear it down. I had used the under table machines on my last layout which had a 1/4 inch plywood table top.

After installation I clipped the “L” shaped arm that goes in the hole in the actual switch to make it move. No problem.

However now 1/4″ plywood has been replaced by 3/8″ plywood and of course the “L” arm was too short to move the rails.

I didn’t want to have to buy a whole new switch machine just to raise the arm another 1/8 of an inch.

I thought about it for a long time and finally realized that the plastic straw from a can of WD40 was just the right diameter to fit over the arm and extend through the hole to move the tracks.

After installing it I clipped it to length to avoid having running stock derail and so far it’s working great.

Regards

Terry”

A big thanks to Terry, it reminded me of Dean’s post:

Switch machine.

And John’s:

Make your own railroad switch points.

And Dan’s:

HO scale switch throws.

Then that got me thinking about detecting trains:

Model train IR detector.

Now on to Joe.

He’s been kind enough to send in a video of his stunning layout after his last post:

You can see Joe’s previous posts here:

How to make HO scale utility poles with wires.

12×8 HO scale (I do love seeing a layout from the very start!)

That’s all for this time folks.

A big thanks to Joe and to Terry for sharing his tip on the HO scale switch machines.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day you press the fun button and get started, 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.

There’s lots of model train shunting layouts on the blog, and Hall of Fame Brian’s is one of those.

This time, he’s made some improvements – he also hit on something that comes up quite often, and that’s how small, simple changes can have a big effect on a layout:

“Hi Alastair,

I was looking at the upper level of my layout last night and decided that it needs some refreshing in one of the corners on the upper level to improve operation.

I found that while doing some shunting to the stock pens, I had a small problem in seeing them because they were partially hidden from sight. Remember that the top level is almost at eye level.

By moving the stock pens to the opposite side of the track and the building (an industry) rotated it 180 degrees to where the stock pens were, the operator now can see where the stock cars / rolling stock need to be placed or collected.

Fortunately everything had not been fixed down yet so it was easily moved and is now ready to be placed in the ground cover.

Even the trees in front were moved for a better line of sight from the operators viewpoint.

It is amazing how something so small can improve viewing the layout and operations.

Here are a few photos of the corner section showing the before and after the move.

Before moving the stock pens and the industry. (photos taken while standing on a step ladder.

This is a simple move shown below as I had not bedded the buildings into the ground.

Here a check is being done to see that all rolling stock clears everything.

A view from above.

Almost an eye level view.

A few small bushes and grass as well as some stray cattle and sheep need to be added here to finish the scene below taken at operators level.

There is enough room in front for a farmer to bring in his heard of cattle or sheep to the stock pens ready to be shipped out by rail.

Now my fellow operators (me included ) cannot complain about not seeing the track for car placement or pick ups.

That’s all for now.

Alastair, please keep up the excellent site that you have here.

All the best to all the other modellers around the world. What a fantastic hobby this is.

Brian – The HOn3 guy from Knysna RSA”

A big thanks to Hall of Fame Brian for the update.

Here’s a few more of the model train shunting layouts on the blog:

British shunting layout.

Timesaver layout.

N scale swithching layout.

N scale small switching layout.

Next, David.

He has a problem, can you help?

“Al:

I read your blog every day and get great delight in doing so. I have a problem and am seeking help.

I feel stupid asking, since I have done this in the past, but my old age must be getting the best of me. I have tried to wire a 3 light block signal to a 3 way switch, as shown in the diagram, but only the red and green lights come on.

I can never get the yellow to work. I have fiddled with what I thought was every reasonable combination, but I only get 2 lights operating as I flip the switch.

Can any of your readers help me? I sure would appreciate a diagram.

David”

That’s all for this time folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day you stop dreaming and start doing, 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.

Mike’s been in touch with some of his HO scale farm scenes – very much looking forward to seeing this layout expand:

“Greetings Alastair –

So I have this big vacant basement room and my goal is to create a big roughly u – shaped layout that re-creates our annual journey from my home on a farm in Indiana to our summer place in the mountains of Wyoming.

I have the first 1/4 pretty well complete modeling Posey County Indiana in something like the 1960’s when I grew up. Warts and all. A prosperous grain farm, a slightly worn out commercial center, then rural living with a nice family living next to a run-down house serving as a meth lab. And getting busted!

The next modules (that won’t be 4’ wide- rookie mistake) I hope to show a switching yard like in Nebraska, then up the North Platte to the mountains of Wyoming.

It’s taken 2 years of (summer) work to get this far, might be 6 more to finish!

Next I need to get off my lazy butt and finish out the room, then build the rest of the layout – but I’m impatient and wanted to have a place to run trains and build some scenery to learn.

Like everyone else, I get up in the morning, get my coffee, and read your blog. Then, I try to remember to say good morning to my wife!

Cheers- Mike from Indiana/Wyoming”

HO scale farm scenes:

A big thanks to Mike for sharing his HO scale farm scenes. Whenever a farm layout lands in my inbox, I’m always reminded me of Peter’s: HO scale farm.

Now on to something completely different, but made me smile because it looked like a lot of fun:

“Hi, Al —

Such huge personal layouts! Magnificent! Here in the (East Coast) US, I’m seeing a real growth in T-Trak module building (mainly N-Scale) with railroad modelers getting together to “run trains”.

This past week I was traveling and went to a local train hobby store. Their train club has been building mini-dioramas (like a T-Trak lite) in N-Scale.

The store owner told me that the club is having fun with the idea and has created interest with some youngsters. Are you seeing anything like this from your vast community?

Thanks for all you do.

Mason”

That’s all for this time folks.

A big thanks to Mike and Mason.

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.