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Railroad layout in a case

“HI – Al,

I have started a model train layout on a table 6ft square with a 2ft square hole in the middle, i have put 2 tracks around the outside & a 2 rail goods yard & that is it i do have a station.

Also couple of biuldings & a station canapy & i am going to put a station on the right side of table but i dont know wat to do with the rest of the space i have, perhaps some of the modelers on her could give me some ideas.

Regards

derek; this is a photo of the set-up so far;”

“hi alastair,

9 months work and still going.

never did any railway modelling before this.

regards peter.”

“Well being that I am new to the model train hobby, I have what NOT to do tips.

1. Do not use flexi-track unless you have a PHD in math.

2. This stuff called AMI instant Roadbed do not lay your tracks on it unless you have a crowbar to remove your track from it when you make a mistake.

3. Make sure your switching tracks actually work when you throw the switch, To not check it and have your track all nailed in and find out is broken… sucks……..

4 lastly do not lay your track so close to the edge of the wood that when it is traveling it falls over and drops about 3 feet to the floor.

Hope that helps

Dougan :):)”

“Hello again Al.

Here are the original pics from many years ago.

I’ll go through the ones I have and pick out some more that look OK. Because of the size of everything its really hard to get much in focus with my point and shoot digital camera. I’ve heard them referred to as Phd cameras. “Press Here D…head” .

I’m not sure which country you’re from and whether that’s a term you’d be familiar with but here in Australia it’s a common term for someone not so bright.

I can get nice and close with the macro setting. But then the depth of the field is minimal. Just to give you an idea of size, the phone box is 5mm tall by 2×2.5mm and the petrol pumps are 4mm tall. The little tractor which I had to make, fits on my little fingernail with room to spare.

Ken”

Thanks to Ken – a remarkable layout. So small!

Please keep ’em coming. Just hit reply to any of my mails to get in touch.

That’s all for today folks.

And if today is the day you bite the bullet, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

More from Alan and his wonderful layout

Alan got lots of comments on his layout – in particular his canal scene.

(You can see the original post here).

Alan has kindly got in touch with some more pics – and more importantly – how he did his canal.

“Hi Al,

This shows more of my railway and how it’s operated.

There are two branch lines which merge at the main terminus, Bryncoch. It is set in 1955 ish and at that time the canal system had been superseded by the railways and improved road infrastructure. But a few did keep going for several years as was the case with my fictional South Wales Union Canal Co. It survives by transporting coal to remote areas and where there are no suitable roads for deliveries.

Also it transports timber from the forrests to the local timber merchant. There is a creamery from where milk is transported to the towns & cities, a brewery and a mill. Most of the fleet are tank locos, 2 panniers, 2 praries, a 0-6-2 South wales tank and a B.R. standard class 3 tank. I also have two Somerset & Dorset locos, a 2-8-0 7F and a B.R. standard 5 No. 73050 which worked on th S&D. ( was going to model the S&D ) Can anyone come up with an excuse for an S&D 7F to be in South Wales!!?

I prefer to model small branch lines as I find the large layouts with lots of trains going round & round at speed very boring and unrealistic. But everyone has their own opinions likes and dislikes. I also operate on DC as I do not think DCC would be worth the expence for a smal branch line. I can operate the two lines independently with my dual controller anyway.

The water in the canal basin is only picture mountboard painted a muddy green/brown and given 4-6 coats of polyurethane varnish.

kind regards

Alan”

(Images are clickable.)