If you’d like to ferret through years and years of posts, and find all the ones relevant to what you’re doing right now in your layout, and still get all the mailings as normal, you’ll love the Golden Key ‘search box’.
But it comes at a cost. Sorry. Don’t worry though, it won’t break the bank – just $9.97. And that’s for life too. So one payment gets you a life time of searching. You can search until the cows come home, it’s yours for good.
Here’s what ‘the golden key’ will do for you. Press play and have a look:
I found the lack of hight between the top & bottom yards made it impossible to turn the train without de-railing everything. So I have made a rather basic means of turning by constructing an extention leading from the FY on to a legnth of track just long enough to accommodate a train.
FIrst thing to consider is the fact that it will be just a few inches from the door, it cannot be a turntable.
As the fiddleyard is at an angle to the door there has to be an intermediate curved section which also has to be hinged to allow access through the door. ( first picture )
A support leg needs to support this curved section when in use, I have a temp. one at the moment.
Also, a support on the wall has to be fitted to rest the cassette on. I carefully measured the hight and drew a line on the wall but when fitted I found that it was !mm lower than tha line. when I test fitted the cassette complete with rail I realised that it ran under the baseboard supporting the canal. There was 1mm of clearance!!! ONE CASE OF A MISTAKE BEING A GODSEND!
Of course I don’t need to turn the diesel raicar or auto train, just a goods train but I have just tested the cassette and it works perfectly.
When the train runs on to the cassette I unclip the electrical connection, lift and turn it (very carefully I may add) and replace on the supports. The train then runs off on to the fiddleyard ready for the return journey.
I have included a seiries of pictures showing an overall view of the layout.
Please excuse the mess.
Happy modelling
Alan”
I do love seeing how folk solve the problems their layout throws at them. Big thanks to Alan.
Jim’s been in touch with his big new project. He’s added to the collection of HO scale mountain layouts on the blog.
“Hello from Buffalo New York, from across the GREAT BIG POND.
I thought I would give an update on the new layout currently under construction.
However, before I get to the update I want to share something. In October I lost a friend of over 30 years.
His name was George Schewnk. George was a good friend and a model railroader. He had “O” gauge Lionel trains and accessories. He really enjoyed playing with his trains, and what a collection he had. I will miss my friend very much. He leaves behind his wife Darlene and a son Garret.
Garret is also involved with model railroading in “N” gauge. I can remember one night George called me with a problem with Garrets Peco switches. So over I went and between my experience with them and George being frustrated they worked perfectly. What a good time for both of us. Rest in Peace my friend.
And now on to the update! I have included some pictures regarding the Construction of this massive layout. Now keep in mind this layout is a backward “7” of sorts. The total layout in size is a little over 105 square feet total. Not impressive by some layouts but keep in mind the drawing that I sent originally. Here is what the layout will look like:
There have been some upgrades to the layout not shown on the drawing above. There has been a small yard added to the area of the container terminal, a lake added to where the mountain is located and have added several extra turnouts for a total of 21, all controlled by Tortoise Machines. The DOUBLE CROSS OVER was not working correctly so it was replaced with a new turnout configuration.
The next few pictures show the table completed, the track laid in the first stage minus the road bed.
And now for the bridge. This bridge is 5 feet in length which leads to the reverse loop that is in the rear of the layout.
The next pictures show the Transfer Table deck is in place and the 3 Maintenance Buildings are now set in place. The actual moving table needs some repairs to it, so it is presently on my work bench.
HO scale mountain layouts:
The mountain is starting to take shape. I have installed the cardboard webbing so far and in a couple of days I will place the screen material before I place the plaster cloth
As you can see the Mountain is quite large. I added an access portal that is not shown here on the inside of the mountain from underneath just in case there a train mishap. I am crossing my fingers that will not happen, but as we all know from Newtons Law, “what can go wrong will go wrong” or something like that. There are three entrance/exit portals for the mountain and two of them are visible here the third one is on the other side. I marked them all with arrows on the picture.
So far the following have been completed: TRACK AND ROADBED (minus the ballast) TRANSFER TABLE, CONTAINER TERMINAL, most of the switch machines have been installed and the MOUTAIN is starting to take shape.
It is taking much longer to complete this layout than I wanted. With the old layout I had numerous issues with trains not running correctly, jumping the track, stuck in the tunnel of the old mountain so with the miserable experience from the past, I did decide to take my time, test the engines on the layout to make sure there is no issues ( and knock on wood so far so good ).
I will post more in the coming weeks leading up to my summer away from the house at my summer house and NO I am not taking the layout with me.
Until then HAPPY RAILROADING
Jim
Starr Point Railroad”
“Hi Alistair,
Having been a follower of your site for some time and enjoyed and appreciated the content and comment, I feel obliged to make a contribution.
The pictorial content is somewhat, significantly different from that which you normally publish.
Please note that I will not feel in the slightest offended if you feel that you cannot use the attached material.
The attached photographs depict the external views of my shed, called the Railroad Tavern.
It is a retreat in which I can quietly indulge in my three ‘S’ pastimes. Steam engines(the North American variety), Springsteen (Bruce of that ilk) and Single Malt Whisky (in moderation of course).
Regards the station name plates, some artistic license and some tongue in cheek improvisation has been applied. Humour, colour and places actually visited being the criteria.
It is not a hobby if there is no degree of fun associated. I have even had T-shirts printed with the Railroad Tavern logo for family members.
As explained to any visitor to the premises, the KGB are still looking for the one purloined in St Petersburg.
And of course, Castletown never actually existed but was part of a film set. However being a life long John Wayne affectionado, it was essential that it be included.
The other station name plates are self explanatory.
If you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact me. Perhaps one day, once I have tidied it up, I can send photos of the interior.
Hoping that your response is favourable
Someday
Tom”
That’s all for today. Please keep ’em coming.
A big thanks to Jim for adding to the HO scale mountain layouts. Keep your eye’s peeled for his updates – can’t wait to see them. Just goes to show all railroads are ugly ducklings.
