Model railroad layouts plans

“Hi Alastair,

I have been enjoying your emails and content for quite some time. Many of the layouts and suggestions are excellent and inspiring in some cases.

I have taken the liberty of sending you four snaps of my N Scale 3′ by 4′ layout … I would love to receive feed back … this was my very first attempt to build a layout and n scale was the choice because of space limitations …

Thank you

Geoff”

“Hello Alastair, its been a while since my last message, but I have been busy building a high level continuous circuit above my South wales layout. I,ve also been on Hol to the Isle of Man.

The new track has several purposes, one to enable me to run-in new locos, to have something running when I’m working on the SW layout and not operating trains, and also, last year I bought an express passenger train set which would look silly on a small branch line. ( It was half price, too good to miss a bargain like that ) I can now run it with 6 or 7 coaches. Having said that, it cost me more to pay for all the timber & track.

But I enjoyed doing it. So I can run two trains while I solder, improve the branch line in some way or assemble a kit etc.

Hope this is of interest.

Alan”

I think Geoff’s done an amazing job crowbarring all that detail in to such a small place.

That’s all for this time friends.

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

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

“I have not seen this tip from anyone, but it may not be new.

I save the saw dust from any wood work I do, (train table, remodeling, etc.).

Then I mix different colors of scenery grass and small foliage with it for landscape base.

This saves money by extending purchased material it looks good. Especially if you are doing fall or spring scenes.

Secondly, I mix water and alcohol with carpenter’s glue to the consistency of milk and use it as scenic cement. You have a comment?

Terry”

“Hi All, lately I’ve been making my own trees with things we throw away or find in our yard. I have many Oak trees on my property and when the branches fall I pick the Lichen off to use as foliage.

I also use grape vines. These will dry nicely which can be trimmed. No painting is necessary as they dry to a nice brown natural color.

I use a household glue that is thick to attach the lichen to form the tree. When dry, a little diluted water based green paint will give the tree highlights.

Frank”

“Hi Al,

Thanks for so quickly publishing my recent video to you on the Bachmann DD40AX.

I’ve gotten a lot of comments and requests for more information about my N scale layout.

The most frequent request is to see a copy of the track plan. So I’m attaching a copy of it.

If you are agreeable, I would like to have you share with the readers some further data about my Susquehanna Valley & Gulf Summit Railway:

> The layout is only 8ft. x 5ft. but has two levels (the lower Valley region and the upper Gulf Summit region).

> Three transition tracks join lower to upper levels and vice versa. One transition track is actually a 4 foot kit-bashed trestle with a 3% grade.

> Four trains (2 upper and 2 lower) can run simultaneously, or one train traversing the upper and lower levels in a multitude of patterns….

> The layout incorporates built-in environmental and railroad related sound effects and day-to-night lighting and environmental sound transition that can be activated by just turning on and off the room’s overhead fluorescent lighting.

> The layout is DC powered by two dual throttle MRC Tech 4 280 power packs; one for each level.

> Wiring scheme and control system panel was created by me. The control panel is entirely toggle switch operated using 55 toggle switches to power/activate 27 turnouts, approx. 10 sound effects, track signals, and lighting for numerous buildings and station platforms.

The layout was actually featured in “N Scale Model Railroading” magazine in the May-June 2007 issue (#41). As mentioned above, I am attaching a copy of the track plan that was used in the article.

Some readers have asked to see a video showing a more comprehensive view of the layout. Al, you previously published a video of mine entitled, “LIFE ON THE SV&GS.” I think this would fit the bill (you can see it here).

Once again, I thank you Al whole-heartedly for being so accommodating and providing this arena for the readers to share and enjoy each others’ work and ideas.

Arnie”

A big thanks to Arnie for taking the time to answer our questions.

That’s all for today 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.

“Hi Al,

Despite the long hiatus since my last contact and submission to you, I have tried to keep up with your postings; working them in around my professional and family responsibilities… The posting submissions seem to have grown in number and diversity. Really nice to see the “World’s Greatest Hobby” growing and being shared internationally.

I am forwarding to you a short video I put together a couple of days ago. It features the recently released version of Bachmann’s N scale DD40AX diesel locomotive equipped with DCC and Sound. It’s Bachmann’s first sound equipped N scale loco. The number of sounds of these locos running on my layout are limited since I have a DC not DCC powered layout. Full access to the spectrum of sounds can only be accessed in DCC mode. Nonetheless, the automatic sound control when operating in DC mode still renders a good impression of the quality of the sound and the power of these impressive locomotives. The engine sounds are so bold and powerful that I had to reset them significantly lower for operation on my layout; and still the sound is impressive.

For the viewers unfamiliar with the real DD40AX, (really designated as the DDA40X) here’s some info: It was first made back in 1969 for the Union Pacific railroad; the only railroad to own them. It was a behemoth at 98 ft. 5 inches long and each loco had 2 diesel engines that yielded a total of 6,600 horse power. Today, it still remains the largest diesel locomotive ever built. There’s only one in operation today and runs for special excursion purposes only and as UP’s inspection train. There are 13 others preserved and now housed in museum display.

I hope you’ll find the video interesting enough to post.

Thanks,

Arnie”

Stunning stuff from Arnie – and a big thanks for sharing.

I couldn’t resist seeing how much these locos with DCC sound were – so if you’re curious too,

That’s all this time folks.

Keep ’em coming.

Best

Al