Model railroad layouts plans

Tom’s been in touch with his HO scale scrap yard layout:

“My Two Tier HO Scale Model Train Layout – Baltimore & York Railroad (B & Y)

The B&Y Railroad is a two level model train layout which wraps around the perimeter of an 8 by 22 foot room.

A hinged swing gate opens to a 38” center aisle. A single track helix measuring 4 by 4 feet is adjacent to the layout which connects the two levels.

Each level has north and south bound main rail lines and numerous service sidings.

The layout supports up to 10 rail operations simultaneously, along with trucking services for several industries and retail stores.

The lower level encompasses a retail district and the Catons industrial park. The retail district features a dozen or so shops plus the J. S. Wilson lumber yard, suppliers of lumber to the growing community.

An Amtrak passenger/commuter train station lies adjacent to the retail district along with a small freight depot, a parking garage and two apartment buildings.

The industrial park is home to Nick’s Scrap Metal Yard, Clearwater Freight Company, CSX Intermodal Container Yard, Allegany Power & Light (APL) and Wonder Baking Company.

The East Side CSX rail repair facility is also situated on the first level.

The upper level is home to several key businesses that supply goods and services to the retail district and industrial park customers.

Rail and trucking services deliver coal and coke from the Davis Coal & Coke Mining Company which supplies coal to APL for the generation of electricity. Catons, a fuel oil distributor, supplies fuel oil, gasoline, and other petroleum products to customers throughout the community.

Petroleum products are delivered to Catons by rail and distributed to its customers by tanker and delivery trucks.

Wilkins Flour & Milling company supplier of baking products to Wonder Baking Company and other customers.

The Heritage Furniture Company manufactures wood furniture with a retail store in the business district.

Mission Electric Engine Company manufactures small, medium and large industrial electric engines as well as parts; like Heritage they have a small retail store in the business district.

Layout Specifications

Name: Baltimore & York Railroad (B & Y)
Scale: HO (1:87.1)
Room Size: 8’ x 22’
Helix: 4’ x 4’ single tack
Prototype: Freelance
Location: Mid-Atlantic
Era: 1980s to mid-2000’s
Style: Double deck on all four sides of room with center isle
Mainline run: 60’ to 230’
Minimum turnout: #6
Minimum radius: 24”
Maximum grade: 2 percent
Benchwork: Open grid with ½” foam board on top of ½” plywood
Height& Width: lower level 42” H – 30”W, upper level 65” H – 16” W
Track: Code 83
Scenery: Cardboard lattice covered with Hydrocal plaster towels. Fall season is depicted on the layout
Backdrop: Wallpaper with clouds and mountains
Control: Bachmann E-Z Command controller
Access to Train Room: Duck under lower level or engage swing gate

Nick’s Scrap Metal Yard

Clearwater Freight Company

CSX Intermodal Container Yard

J. S. Wilson lumber yard

Status of layout:

Lower level 90% completed
Upper Level 20% completed

Tom”

A huge big thank you to Tom for sharing his HO scale scrap yard layout.

It’s funny how just naming the businesses and places really bring a layout to life.

I really like what Tom has done – hope you enjoyed it as much as me.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day you stop dreaming and start doing, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Remember, it’s the start that stops most folks…

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

PPS If HO scale train layouts is your thing, there are more here.

Rob’s been in touch with his model railroad airbrush findings.

He has an expensive one, but wondered how a cheap one would compare.

He’s made a very informative video – because like most things, the quandary is:

Can a cheap one do a good job? Or would that be a case of ‘buy cheap, buy twice’.

Do you really have to bite the bullet and buy an expensive one?

Well, have a look at Rob’s video, and what he’s done with the scenery around his layout.

You’ll be pointing in the right direction when if you are thinking of buying an airbrush for your layout.

He’s pics really do show it off too:

A big thanks to Rob.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this one if you use an airbrush.

Please leave a comment below!

Now on to Bernie:

“Hi,

I just finished 80% finished my first HO layout for my grandkids you can see the pictures.

You can see it has a small yard and industrial spur, and another spur for the farm and a team track.

It has three blocks for two cabs.

And now I’m looking into building a bigger yard set up.

I hit on your switchman nightmare Mota vacation and I thought it was pretty nice so that’s why I was kind of looking over your stuff for anything else about yard design.

I’m kind of stuck with a 4 x 8 plywood

Bernie”

Next on to Bill, who sent this in:

“Hi Al,

I ran across an article in Tennessee Magazine about the history of the telegraph in the US and specifically, in the state of Tennessee.

It occurs to me that the telegraph has been an important part of railroading (in the USA) and therefore, model railroading for a very long time yet, most of us don’t make the effort include “wired” poles along main rail lines.

While it is a lot or work, I think the result is worth it especially with steam era layouts.

So, I quickly figured out that the poles can’t just be freestanding and must be anchored in the layout base.

Next dilemma is the “wire”.

For HO scale, fishing line is too thick and thread is the same if not worse.

What do the Hall of Fame guys use and can you post some photos of the telegraph wire on the poles and to buildings?

Bill”

Who can help Bill – any ideas?

A big thanks to Bernis and to Hall of Fame Rob for sharing his model railroad airbrush youtube. I would love to know your thoughts on it.

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.

Dan’s been in touch with his 35×15 HO scale:

“Here are some views of my 1958 to 1960 Santa Fe layout.

It is 35 by 15 HO scale in and around the New Mexico area.

The layout is basically a single deck with run through and storage (staging) under neath. It is DC and not DCC.

I primarily like to run the trains with very little switching. (I get all the switching and operations on the other layouts I have built or done the scenery work.)

I use a lot of ceiling tile for the rocks because it is easy and takes coloration and scenery materials well.

As I do the southwest, it has a more colorful look and a dryer feel.

I will send other photos of much greener and wetter look later.

The rocks are easy to make and arrange for the natural look. It would take a lifetime to carve plaster to look like this.

Santa Fe Dan”

A huge big thank you to ‘Santa Fe Dan’. I absolutely love what he’s done to the tiles for his scenery.

Don’t forget, if you want to search through years and years of the blog. the Golden Key is here.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day you decide to stop dreaming and start doing just like Dan, 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.