Model railroad layouts plans

“Al,

Thanks for posting my drawings of potential layout modifications and video recently about the expansion of my model train layout, Farland Howe.

Although I am modeling (attempting to anyway) Britain in 1967 and 68, I live in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado in the US. People frequently ask me why I am modeling Britain when I am clearly from the USA. The answer is, I lived in Britain as a child for a while with my family, and we would travel around the country sightseeing by train. I was fascinated with mechanical things at that age and particularly fascinated with the trains. I clearly remember asking my father to take me up to the locomotive for a close up look. I was only 5 years old at the time. As a result, I will never forget the red buffer beams on the steam locomotives at the time.

I started planning Farland Howe July of 2012. My first expansion began March 2013. My newest video is Part Two of a short series which is all about my second expansion, Expansion 2. I plan to show my progress (and challenges) in a bi-weekly video. The Part One video was about the planning stage. The Part Two video shows construction underway.

I am expanding my layout for a couple of reasons. First and most importantly the inclines proved to be too steep for long trains pulled by steam locomotives.

Secondly, I would like to have another bypass (siding) where I can park longer trains that I am not running at the moment. Running long trains was not such an imperative when I started the layout, but I have found great pleasure seeing the long trains run on the layout. Expansion 2 will bring a change to one of layout’s banks (hills). Eventually I may decide to change my other bank, but I have no plans to do it right now.

I really enjoy your emails with links to what others have been up to and all the tips and pointers regarding model railways. I find it very inspiring and have used many an idea garnered from your readers and contributors.

All the best,

Rob”

A big thanks to Rob for his second installment!

Don’t forget the ‘Big kahuna’ bundle deal is still running for the moment. It’s here.

That’s all this time. Please keep ’em coming.

Best

Al

I normally steer away from the folk that type in CAPS, but thought I’d make an exception in Joe’s case. What a layout:

“I’M EIGHTY EIGHT YEARS OLD CAME DOWN WITH CANCER OF THE BLADDER HAD TO STOP WORKING I WAS TIRED OF DOING NOTHING THATS WHY I DECIDED TO TRY AND BUILD A RAILROAD IN MY GARAGE. I WAS IN THE 101ST AIRBORNE WORLD WAR II FOR FOUR YEARS AND SPENT TWO YEARS IN KOREA I’M MARRIED AND HAVE 8 KIDS AND 22 GRAND KIDS THAT KEEP US BUSY GLAD YOU LIKED MY LAYOUT AND WISH I KNEW MORE ON HOW TO BUILD A GREAT LAYOUT GOD BLESS

JOE”

(Images are clickable)

A huge thanks to Joe for sharing his stunning layout – just have a look at the comments at the bottom of the page!

(And to those doing the math, this is a repost from quite a while back.)

Next up, Kim:

“Hi Al.

I been messing with making traffic street lights from junk.I installed the green,yellow,and red leds.Ive made a post to hang 3 sets for a 3 way traffic light.

The one on the left is a UK traffic light.notice the len’s.made them realistic as possible.not happy with one of the paint job’s and will do again.made from an old credit card,tube plastic coffee stir stick for the len’s , and a black tie wrap large.I made the post from the same tube plastic coffee stir stick.I added more wires inside to be able to wire up 3 sets of traffic lights.

With all the wires inside it becomes very stiff.When you go to drill any holes in the tube sticks make sure to shove something lesser the size to be able to drill a perfect hole for the wireing.

For the horizontal post I drilled a hole big anough to slip the cross post into it and instant glue solid.The wireing held it there.In the second photo with the post the leds aren’t in it to give you the idea how it goes.

Kim”

Thanks to Joe and Kim. Have a look at the comments below!

And if you find Joe inspiring, what’s stopping you? Here’s how to start.

Anyhow, that’s all folks. Please keep ’em coming.

Best

Al

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

“Alastair,

Enclosed is my son’s HO layout which he completed a few months ago.

When my sons were 6 and 9 years old we would put together layouts every Christmas Holiday season.

Themes each year would be Wild West, Modern Military. Calvary and Indians and modern city layouts circa 50s and 60s.

As they grew and became adults their hobby was put on hold and all was put away . Since I am a graphic artist and painter were all hand painted and the boys early on would build, paint and produce their own layouts.

Jump now to today, and the boys haven’t done any train layouts since they were very young.

The three of us we reminiscing about the great times we had in years past working together building our “train platforms”.

So my youngest son decided to start a new HO layout.

Work begun and was completed a few months later. We all contributed and my oldest son researched and purchased people and vehicles from all over the world while my youngest planned and built the 3.5′ x 8′.

I surprised the boys by telling them I kept all the buildings, houses, people, track & etc. ( I can’t believe how expensive today compared to many years ago).

A lot of new track, foliage, people and vehicles along with some hand built buildings, docks, billboards, etc.

Please take a look and let me know if you would like to see more photos (and video) as well as track design and details of the design.

Best regards

Vince”

(images are clickable)

“Hi Al,

Just uploaded my usual Xmas effort Al, all the best to you and members for the coming season.

Regards

Dave”

That’s all for today folks. A big thanks to Dave and Vince.

Please do keep sharing and keep us all smiling.

And don’t forget the Beginner’s Guide is here if you’re feeling left out.

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.