Model railroad layouts plans

The very talented Glyn has been back in touch with his new Marklin HO 3 rail layout:

“Good morning Al,

Thank you again for all you do for the hobby.

I am enclosing a link to my latest layout build now that I am retired to Santa Fe New Mexico.

It’s a 23’x13′ Marklin 3 rail AC layout in 2 parts – the left limb represents a Swiss German border town as I have a large collection of Swiss-German locos and rolling stock which I moved from my previous layout in Peoria Illinois and which you have kindly featured in the past.

The layout passes through a mountain range and slowly morphs into a Depression era New England coastal town to accommodate some of my US locos and rolling stock.

I had a few US style buildings which I have added but am in the process of constructing several large kits from George Selios’ stunning FSM kits.

These are highly detailed and take forever to build but the results are well worth it and will be featured in upcoming videos.

I thought I’d start with this overview which represents about 2 years’ work. I will submit further videos showing the basic framework construction as the layout evolved, as many people new to the hobby love to see how we build these complex creations including all the scenery that brings them to life.

I have a long way to go but at least it is up and running now and I have included some locos running to demonstrate the layout in action.

Much more to follow but I hope your viewers enjoy this early selection.

Regards

Glyn”

Marklin HO 3 rail:

A huge big thanks to Gly for sharing his latest Marklin HO 3 rail.

Here’s some of his previous posts, which are absolutley stunning:

Marklin layout

HO train table construction

Model train yard

HO scale castle

Rock molds model railroad

HO track layouts

Marklin HO layout

Making mountains for model trains

A big thanks to Glyn.

Lastly, if you want to grab the silly deal on the Big Kahuna printable buildings for $29, the link is fixed now.

That’s all for today.

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.

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

Dan’s been back in touch. He’s shared some more HO train layout with rivers:

“Good morning Al.

Here is the second part of the river and ponds I promised to send to you. These are from 4 different layouts I have done.

Photo 1 This is from the Boston& Maine layout I posted last summer. My construction methods are the same as all of my work. Ceiling tile rocks, plaster cloth, sculpta mold, plaster, and Envirotex water. The bridge pieces are Atlas as are the piers. The color matches the B&M bridge colors that the owner of the layout remembers.

Photo 2 Details showing the rust that forms even on the piers.

Photo 3 A pond on the layout.

Photo 4 Same pond with the in flow.

Photo 5 More photos of the river on the Hoosier Hills RR. Similar views of ones I posted some time ago. In case you missed the original set.

Photo 6 Folks fishing.

HO train layout with rivers:

Photo 7 Another view of the river gorge.

Photo 8 Hoosier Hills loco. A CF7 that the Santa Fe made from F units.

Photo 9 This set is from a layout that has no name. The owner runs all kinds of trains just for fun and there are plenty of operating opportunities. I will feature the rest of the layout at a later date.

Photo 10 This river is an Ox Bow bend in the river. The water is dark to suggest depth. It serves a power plant.

Photo 11 A small stream. One of our club members found these flat rocks along a highway cut. He brought back several pounds of them. You will see more of these on another layout to come.

Photo 12 Close up of the flat rocks.

Photo 13 Out floe of the river.

Photo 14 Just past the previous photo.

Photo 15 These are from an unfinished layout. The owner passed away from leukemia. The basic bench work and track work was done. The roughed in farm pond and the run off drainage.

Photo 16 The run off drainage ditch to be.

Photo 17 The finished farm and pond scene. I ma just concentrating on the pond.

Photo 18 Here is the finished run off spillway. It uses kitty litter for the rocky base.

Photo 19 This set is also an unnamed railroad. I will feature this one later, also. There is a good story about how I did the scenery on this layout.
This is part of the pond I posted when I showed how I did the Lilly pads.

Photo 20 The layout has many opportunities for fishermen.

Photo 21 and 22 What do you do with corners. Make rivers! These feature the flat rocks.

Photo 23 Below the bridge

Photo 24, 25,26, 27 Anglers having a good time.

Thanks for taking the time to look at some water scenes.

Santa Fe Dan”

A huge big thank you to Dan for sharing his HO train layout with rivers – I think there are 5 layouts in all.

Here’s his first post if you missed it:

model train river

And here’s some more water links:

Model railroad river scene

N scale river

HO scale river

How to make a river for your railroad

How to make a pond for your model railroad

HO scale water ponds

HO scale waterfront layout

Model train waterfall

N scale waterfall

Mode train water effects

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day you poke boredom in the eye and make that start, 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.

Brian’s been in touch with his HO scale small town shops, saw mill and farm:

“Hi Al

Brian here from southern British Columbia Canada.

I came upon your blog back at the end of 2021. Enjoyed reading what people sent in and viewing the photos. This inspired me to finally start building my own layout.

Like most of your modelers it started with receiving a train set at christmas. I was not different.

My first train set was a Lionel set that went in a circle. A few years later I got a fold up table with tracks, rolling stock, a couple of buildings and some farm animals. Not sure what happened to it, but I think my parents gave it away as I was not playing with it.

Moving on to when I was in high school one of my class mates’ dad was heavy into modeling railroad. His layout took up the entire basement. That layout got me more interested in model railroading.

For several years I was wanting to start a layout but either did not have the space or not enough extra funds to get going on it.

Also at that stage in life had other interests but I knew one day I would have the space to work on building a model railroad. Over the years my thoughts kept turning to doing a model railroad. Would get out pen and paper and start drawing a layout. But I never seem to come up with one I like.

Fast forward to 2021. One day Al your blog showed up on my computer. That sparked my interest again. So kept reading your blogs every day the modelers send to you.

After doing some research decided to go with HO scale. I knew I wanted 3 different areas. A town site, a saw mill, and farm site. I now have a work shop that I can build my layout…

The layout is 6 ft.x 14 ft ft. So now is the time to start. I started constructing the table on December 1.

In the photos to follow are the different stages of construction. It was great fun planning and building all the different buildings and learning new techniques. I think this is the best hobby anyone could have.

Brian”

HO scale small town shops, sawmill and farm:

A huge big thanks to Brian for sharing his Ho scale small town shops, sawmill and farm layout.

Brian’s post put a big smile on my face, I do like it when the blog inspires anyone to make that all important start, because that’s what it’s all about.

Here’s a few more town, sawmill and farm layouts for you:

HO town

HO scale town

HO scale town buildings

Model train town layout

HO scale sawmill layout

HO scale lumber layout

HO scale farmhouse

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day you grab the bull by the horns and make that start, 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.