Denny’s been in touch.
It’s a joy to post his layout because it’s easy to see he’s had fun.
And frankly, that’s all that matters:
“Good Morning Alastair,
Spent two years during the pandemic and fighting an incurable cancer and my amateur train platform doesn’t come close to the professional looking job that others have posted but thought, what the heck, here are some evening pics of my platform.
Denny”
Now on to Arnie:
“HI Al,
Arnie here from across the pond in hot sunny Florida working on starting again on a layout.
Fell 2 yrs ago and broke my femur and using a walker. Makes it hard to get close to the table. Anyway decided to downsize from 60 x 72 to 30 x 72 and work on a new layout.
Enclosed is a copy of the plans with pictures to come in the future.
The layout is done on SCARM and is 69×31.
Have several different routes on the layout and can go from the outer to the inner and back again. The table is 30 x 72. I have foam on it and it extends the table a bit.
The track is Bachmann N scale e-z track and it has 15 points of which several move depending on the path of the trains. We can run two trains around and switch them back and forth between routes.
Based on no era I decided to just put it together. The switches are wired and powered up and the engines do run over the layout over different routes.
The control is Digitrax DCC.
I want to thank you and all your readers for being there and sharing tips and tricks for your blog.
I do belong to a club in the community I live in and we run both N and HO scale.
Please keep up the good work as I look forward to your blog each morning as I read my E-Mails.
Attached are two different versions of the layout. I haven’t decided which way to go yet. Maybe your readers can help.
Arnie”
“Hi Al…
Been back up in North Yorkshire again, with a visit to Goathlands better knows as Aidensfield in Heartbeat, with of course a ride on the Railway, being hauled along by the Big 9 F Steam Loco, and at last it had cooled down enough to just spend a bit of time in the loft and run a few of my own Trains for a change.
Regards
Dave”
A big thanks to Denny, Arnie and Dave.
And please do comment below on which track plan Arnie should use.
That’s all for today folks.
Keep ’em coming.
And if today is the day you stop dreaming and start doing, the Beginner’s Guide is here.
Best
Al
PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.
beautifully done
Denny , I like what you’ve done , I especially like the old trains you’ve chosen . Looks like you simply had fun . Great job
Arnie, my vote would be for Mod 2
Denny,
Your layout looks great, no need to put yourself down by saying it’s not up to the standard of others!
Annie,
Go with the turntable every time!
Dave,
NYM stunning as ever, who doesn’t love a ride o a steam train
Hi Arnie , sorry to hear you had a fal and put you on to a walker , my wife broke er femur and leg 8 years ago now and after 12 months walked with a limp but manages very well , good luck with the new layout, th e 2nd one looks more interesting , but could be harder to control and set up …but you are a master in the hobby ….Denny looks a great job you have done th4re , hope the cancer can be cured and may you have many years enjoying the hobby
Good for you Denny –
I’m in Florida too – I’d be happy to stop by and help if we are close by each other – I’m near Cape Canaveral.
Arnie – the turn table option is always a good choice I’d go that way for sure!
Denny
You’re my kind of guy. Maybe the artistry aint Mona Lisa quality but its full of character. If you love it then I love it. Most important is that you get over the big C and work like hell on your layout because they’re never done you know.
God Bless you and keep us up to date on you & your trains.
Arnie
The trolley gets my nod. IMHO I would parallel the outer loop, which I would designate the passenger line, with the inner loop which I would call the freight line. Go with what makes you happy & Get crackin’ with the tracks! LOL
Dave
Much thanks for the morning ride both in & out. So good to hear from you. Best to you & the boss.
Big Al
Great start this AM! Cheers!
Denny,
Don’t put yourself down, it looks great! As long as you enjoy it, you did it by yourself, be proud of the accomplishment. Remember “Its my Railroad”.
Denny…Great work. I will be incorporating some of your ideas once I get my setup started. Thanks for sharing.
Overall layout size can be challenging…consider a second level? Gives you an excuse for tunnels and overhead bridges… Also, on a layoujt this size, turntables/roundhouses take up a lot of room; and become the focal point…if that’s what you want, makes sense…Otherwise, maybe not. Good Luck and happy RR-ing!
very nice lighting set up. nice set up for the trollies too.
I would forget the turntable as it takes to much room and you you can use the sidings to store different locomotives, etc.
Love all.
I like mod 1. Depending upon your era, a turntable may or may not be suitable. I also like the flow of the first one, as well as the additional sidings.
Arnie, previously from Staten Island? With that great and highly detailed layout? If so, I can’t wait to see this one. But if not I’m sure you will make your decision and it’ll be great. But I too would opt for the trolley version.
Jim AZ
Denny’s layout has a lot going on. I love the sports complexes. No home run derby on that baseball field.
Jim AZ
Arnie, I hope you are doing OK. I loved your layout. I have a turntable on my ho scale so my vote is for the turntable layout. Rest and get better my friend. Look forward to your new layout.
I vote for the first one. The trolly down the middle sold me, great use of space. Roundhouses are a pain to deal with, way to much trouble for the effect you get. Hat
Denny, you can run trains and your scenery is more than basic plywood. Your lights remind me of the Christmas layouts from decades ago with lights everywhere when the room lights were turned out.
Arnie, if you like big steam then the turntable and roundhouse tracks will be put to good use. My last two layouts took their lead from Age of Steam in Sugarcreek Ohio where they have several large steamers and many smaller engines. I noticed the trolley on your first layout and given more space for roads and houses it may be better for general modeling and giving the trolley something to do. Tough choices when space is at a premium! Good Luck!
Dave’s videos are always appreciated and remind me that I really need to get after my track workers to actually lay track. Ray
Danny that is one hell of a effort mate, we have not tried half what you have done & most likely won’t get there it’s just a fun set for the both of us & the grand children & visitors here. This is something we have never done before & as Jason has to do 97% of it because I am in a wheel chair & can only do some things we thought we would just do our best this time for fun & training for maybe the next go at it for I can see things now I want to change but don’t want to upset him so for now I keep quite ha ha ha ha, Loved your layout mate keep up the great work Heather.
I vote for the trolley. The other is good but I think it has too much track. Too messy.
Arnie I prefer model 2 because I’m not a fan of a roundhouse unless you got lots of layout room. I would consider 2 changes to model 2. First make the trolley track follow the line established by the switches . It more enjoyable to watch than a simple straight. The I’d consider making the layout on 2 levels . Let the track rise over the remaining at around sw6 and bring it back down on the far right of the outside loop and even better make it cross again to an extended piece at that end. In short make the layout assymetrical as opposed to a rectangle
I love trams/trolleys but basically you turn it on and it runs up, down, up… and so on. By comparison, taking a loco off shed, coaling it, watering and shunting it onto a train is great play value, changing power was a big part of railroading and most modellers end up with more locos than trains, so the roundhouse makes sense.
love the night lights