Model railroad layouts plans

(If you missed Alan’s last post, it’s here.)

“Hi Al, well, I’m very pleased a lot of my fellow modellers think so highly of my layout, thank you to all.

To answer several questions, firstly only the high level track is a circuit, the main (lower) one is terminus to fiddle yard (FY) I have included a picture of the garage entrance, and it shows a narrow gap between the Canal & FY. – No trap door! It also shows how I lowered the backscene at that end to allow more light in through the windows.

I intended to extend the H level track up to the windows and door, but then I thought it would cut the light and be awkward to get through the door, so it only goes 2/3rds of the way round. I did keep bumping my head tho, so I’ve stuck a load of bubble wrap to the underside of the bit that straddles the width of the room.

Yes I do make as much as I can from scratch, I find picture mountboard very useful for lots of things such as the coaling stage, platforms, scenery etc.

It also saves money & I have enjoyment making them. Paper clips, parts of old Biro’s, infact anything might come in handy.

I will send a trackplan at some time, but it’s nothing special, the main station/goods yard started 4 yrs ago as a Peco set track plan (Wallingford) but after moving house, it sort of evolved into what it is now.

The tracks from the FY’s enter the goods yard or station. There is a carriage siding which can be used for freight if no coaches are using it, a short spur leading to a crane also used for the station pilot when not shunting. Another track leads to the brewery, creamery, goods shed and canal wharf.

Then of course the are the tracks to the station and engine shed.

There is a second G shed opposite the Loco shed The point switches are SPDT (spring loaded to the centre)

I have included a picture of a sea foam tree which I think you’ll agree looks fantastic. they come in a box all jammed in tightly. It’s a job to seperate them as they are so delicate. You can either use them as they are or add a little scatter to replicate more leaves.

20.50 pounds a box so quite expensive but you get a lot of trees.

By the way, the layout is DC operated, not DCC.

Thanks again for all your comments and thank you Al for a great web site

Cheers

Alan”

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I do love opening my inbox and seeing what the day brings – so a HUGE thank you to Alan for sharing. Hope you enjoyed his pics as much as I did.

That’s all for today folks.

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.

“Alastair,

Here is an update on my layout. Phase two will begin construction in the coming weeks.

The buildings are scratch built, kit-bashed from manufactured units, and put together kits… No complete building kits are used.

There is a mix of incandescent and LED lights.

Paula is my wife, she has a huge Garden – thus the “Greenhouse… Daughter Geenamarie is working inside in one picture.

Bobby Shuttleworth is my son-in-law (Keeper for NE Revolution of MLS) the Pub is for him… Not the hooker, of course.

My son Nico’s spot is in phase two. My father and uncle worked for NY Telephone – so the crew is for them!

Here are more pictures.

James”

And now on to Dangerous Dave, who has also shared a vid.

He has one of those layouts I can look again and again and still spot something new.

“Hi Al , I have just done a bit more on the layout , and its now looking a lot better…

Regards

Dave”

Dave has quite a following on the blog, and has contributed a lot to Beginer’s Guide.

Keep ’em coming. A big thanks to James and Dave for sharing.

Best

Al

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

Download this building here.

I got this in from ‘J’. It’s short and very to the point – but looks great!

“This lake is made from left over marine varnish. The color is from dried boiler sludge.

J”

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“Hello Al.

To continue the tour of my South Wales layout, I’ll start at the station terminus. I deliberately did not put in a run round feature so that it would create another shunting movement for the station pilot. When a train arrives at the buffers, it uncouples and moves forward to an isolated section of track operated by a switch. As it is DC operated this is essential. When the coaches are taken away, the loco can go to shed.

The 3 way point was retro fitted so it was too difficult to fit point motors below so I had no option than surface mounted ones. The scratch built signal box hides them.

Most of the rest of the pics speak for themselves as I have annotated them fairly comprehensibly.

I have just taken delivery of some sea foam trees, but they havn’t been planted yet.

The final instalment will follow in a few days which will include pictures of the fiddleyards.

Happy modelling

Alan”

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Thanks to everyone. I’m deeply envious of Alan’s set up and chair!

That’s your lot today peeps.

Keep ’em coming.

And don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide is here if you want to make that big start.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.