Starting to get this fleshed out, the design for the layout came from the Thortrains site, it has 4 sidings and I can run 2 trains at the same time with the abilty to turn the trains around and switch from the inner to the outer track. My early stuff did not like my Ross track and switches.
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Brad,
Welcome to the forum and to the wonderful, make believe world of tinplate trains. You can never go wrong when the railroad of your dreams is just a few steps away. Come on over to the, "Tinplate Forum" where you'll always be welcome to chat with others that hold your same interests. The website "Thortrains" is the brainchild of a fellow forum member. I've not seen any posts from, "Thor" in some time.
Welcome Brad. Great hobby, great forum. Every day I get closer and closer to buying my first Tinplate. Posts like yours just push me closer. I have a feeling I will be leaving the Allentown Spring Thaw train meet with an O gauge Tinplate engine and tender. Beautiful stuff. Again...welcome.
It looks like a nice fun layout that didn't take 7 months to get track down. In many respects, I am quite envious.
That's a great layout. You'll have a lot of fun with it!
That will be a fun to run layout. If I ever get aroung to building mine I plan to do the traditional tinplate track also. I have a number of old and also some repo accessories plus a bunch of plasticville to use on mine. Nice thing about a layout like yours is you can add on to it with out a major teardown. Have fun with it.
Brad,
One of the pieces of advise I usually give to new members who are just starting into Tin Plate is that Ross builds great track and switches, however it is not usually Tin Plate compatible. Your traditional tubular will work fine using Lionel 711 or 072 switches, with most Tin Plate Trains you can even use the 022 switches and the trains run fine. I switched to FasTrack and kept the old Lionel switches, the Tin Plate runs perfect transitioning in and out of the old Lionel switches. I like the FasTrack even better than the Traditional Tubular, because it has less problems after the track has been up for an extended time. Welcome to the Tin Plate world!
PCRR/Dave
Christmas 2012
Welcome, Brad. You have a fun-looking layout there! 
I appreciate all of your comments, I am having the time of my life with my relatively new hobby. A little background for you, I got my first train in 2009 when I was 53 years old. I started out with the late 70's early 80's Lionel Trainmasters and some Williams F3's, I then got into postwar steam, then into prewar which I am totally enamored with 37-42. My first layout was tin plate but I progressed to Ross ttrack and switches and buiilt a layout that is 12X20. However as much as I like my Ross my prewar does not hence my good old fashined layout. Both are a work in progress with the large layout anxiously awaiting my retirement in three years. I love this forum and am constantly learning from its members.
Looking good, Brad! Now you're going to need another tinplate train to make good use of that second oval. Do you have anything in mind?
Looking good, Brad! Now you're going to need another earlier-era train to make good use of that second oval. Do you have anything special in mind?
This one one should look pretty good on that second oval.
Getting closer, painted the table top with cheap flat latex paint purchased at Menards as mistakes, did a base of brown and a darker green over the top applied with textured roller, have a little more painting to do but overall pretty pleased with my result. I am still waiting for some manual switches to arrive.
I like it, I am kind of envious. First of all, I really like your work station!
Your RR is what my wife thought that mine should look like, instead of a 38 foot monster. Also, if I had done your's I'd have it ballasted, painted and running in a month. Instead it took 6 months just to erect the benchwork, almost three weeks to position the track and roadbed, and it's not even fastened down yet.
So keep going, get stuff running and have fun.
Brad
Nice layout you've got there.
What size curves are you using
besides what appear to be 0-27?
Your layout looks terrific, Brad. Lots of fun ahead!
Outer curve, 042, inside 031. This layout has been a lot of fun. Thanks for the compliments and comments.
Brad,
Nice layout! Are you using all 042 manual switches? What size is your layout?
Bruce
I have a shelf layout, around the room. But, I have space for a peninsula for a display layout, meaning this is more intimate than a linear one around the room. Your layout is inspirational. I like all the options.
Ace that is spot on, it was originally an 027 layout for a 4 X 8. The switches are all 042 manual.
Brad: Great looking 60x96 layout. What brand of track n switches did you use?
Ace: Thanks for the layout drawing. Always enjoy your work.
Alan
Track and switches are Lionel.
Brad,
Looks real good, have fun with your pre-war layout.
PCRR/Dave
Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership
