HO scale shelf layout ideas – look what Henry has done to hide a staging yard:
“Hello Alastair
A great part of our hobby is creating illusions. I am creating the illusion of unit coal trains running between a coal mine and a coal fired power station.
I do not have the space to model either industry to scale, so a photo backdrop helps to create the illusion.
But where do the coal trains go? My answer, a hidden staging yard.
How do you hide a staging yard on the upper deck of your layout?
You build a mountain.
Here are some pictures of how the mountain progressed.
Once fully installed, you cannot see the staging tracks, so I installed 2 mirrors above the staging yards, so that you can see the clearnce markers (white ties).
Occupation indication is via current sensors in each track, that changes a LED from green to red when track is occupied.
Henry”
Here is a youtube video showing the whole mountain with a few trains running past.
A huge thanks to Henry – nicely done! Always good to see HO scale shelf layout ideas. It reminded me of Mike’s: 2×8 HO scale layout
I do love seeing how you all solve your glitches and problems.
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 More HO scale train layouts here if that’s your thing.
Need buildings for your layout? Have a look at the Silly Discount bundle.
great looking lay out…………….well done and we see the love………..
Very effective …Dangerous Dave
Nice work on the rock faces did you use molds?
Henry great looking Mtn!!! well liked!
Al Otis, yes I used woodlands scenics moulds, check on my youtube channel, there are two videos showing the process
Beautiful mountain scenes. Thanks.
Remarkable. Great worl!
Ok looks pretty kool.
Your website is wonderful. I love seeing all the tricks used, and beautiful finished products it displays. I wish there were more sites like yours!
I know you have a way: but, how do you know where the trains are when they go behind the mountains? I’d like to use this idea on my own layout.
Wynn Sands
Bent layout is nice.
@Wynn Sands, there are two mirrors above the staging tracks so I can see where the fouling point markers are. They are visible in the 3rd and 4th pictures.
really good layout.
Some of the best ‘rock’ wall I’ve seen PLUS the neat idea of showing climbrs!
Nicely done Henry, keep up your great work.
Brian – the HOn3 guy in Knysna RSA
Great looking layout! I especially like the fascia treatment with the rock molds. This is what I have been advocating for years now. Including the fascia in the overall scenery draws your eye in and makes the whole thing look sooo much better and deeper into the scene. Well done!
Thank you Rob, I only did the facia treatment to one area of the layout. the other areas’ scenery makes it a little more difficult, but a defnite MUST for a next layout if I ever have to move or break my current layout up.