Dan’s been back in touch again with his HO switching layout plans:
“This installment of the Santa Fe layout has the switchers (shunters) at work. The layout has to earn its keep.
Photo 1 The grain elevator has its own loco.
Photo 2 New farm equipment arriving.
Photo 3 Picking up a TOFC load. (Trailer on flat car)
Photo 4 Moving machinery to the trans load facility. This is one of my very lightly weathered locos on my switching layout. I can do it. I just prefer not to do much weathering.
Photo 5 It looks as there will be ham at a market soon. Also notice the trainman at the call box. He will be asking for permission for track and time to the yard.
Photo 6 Moving a HO caboose.
Photo 7 Loads on the way to a farm show. I used the date of the show to set the time period of the layout.
HO switching layout plans:
Photo 8 Tale of two HO switchers. Both are Athaern locos. 2685 was 56 years old in 2015 when the other loco was purchased. The older loco was a kit. You had to build up the gear drive. The loco is still in service and is a little noisy.
Photo 9 Switching in the industrial area of the layout.
Photo 10 Scrap loads. I did removable scrap loads for a friend. His cars were “colorful” to say the least. His layout was featured in the post about the scenery on the helix.
Photo 11 A road HO switcher on a work train doing repair work. (Road switchers had higher horse power, different trucks and geared for higher speed.)
Photo 12 A special move. The load is on one flat car and an idler car on either side to allow space for the load to be moved.
Photo 13 A close up look. I use #8 button thread to lash down the load. The thread goes through the stake pockets on the flat car and kept in place with super glue.
That is all for now. I have a few night scenes to post next before I move on to other layouts I have done. If Al lets me 8+)
Dan”
A huge big thank you to Dan for sharing his HO switching layout plans and pics. And yes, please do keep ’em coming Dan.
That’s all for today folks.
Please do just mail me if you have anything you’d like to share.
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.
PPS More HO scale train layouts here if that’s your thing.
Nice work Dan and all explained with the pictures and descriptions
has a very clean look . thats good
I’m expanding my N Scale switching layout, good ideas here. Thanks! I agree with others here, it has a “clean” look.
I agree with the very clean look. That was the first thing I noticed. Great job.
Amazing beautiful detail. Love the extended load with idler cars.
Could you provide a track plan for your switching layout? I’m in the process of designing one for myself and from your pictures, I would like to incorporate some of your ideas into mine.
Dan
You learn something new every day-TOFC, idler car. Great looking locos working on a fabulous layout -Awesome.
Much thanks for today’s show. Cant get enough.
Big Al
Hope you have a joyful day. Much thanks for your hard work.
The track plan has been published before in a previous post.
I am about to send some videos ans it will be in one of them.
Dan*
A stellar example of beautiful track work. Contributes to the “clean” look everyone loves on this layout. Great Work!
Nice layout and scenery
Fabulous. Full of inspiration..
Thanks, Al for finding the track plan.
Well done.
Dan*
Wonderful Layout Dan,
Andrew in Oz
very nice
That sure is a nice layout!
Great layout Dan! Very impressive overall detailing and thoughtful actions on the tracks. I’m also a Santa Fe fan and love the 1960 time period for your layout.
Thanks for sharing.