Richard Gonzales fantastic layout...pictures!

Alan,

 

I am very humbled.

 

Thanks again for taking the time to come by and see the layout. I deeply appreciate your kind comments.

 

And folks, just to let you know, Alan had Owen Collins and I up in his neck of the woods last spring. We attended the Springdale Mo. train show and he set up a wonderful layout tour.

 

Train, fun and fellowship that is what this hobby is all about.

 

Richard

Great looking layout. Love the steam area. Keep us updated. 

Richard - You have a great layout and appear to be a very good host as well.

 

Art

Beautiful looking layout.

Thanks to all for your kind comments.

 

Richard

Great looking layout Alan, keep the pictures coming.

 

Jack

Beautiful layout, Richard. Thanks Alan for sharing it with us.

This is a treat to visit Richard Gonzales's railroad through photos.  He really captures the look of the steam to diesel transition era well with his beautiful collection of motive power and rolling stock, the era when:

- freight trains had cabooses

- "house cars" had cat walks on their roofs

- most of the diesel-electric locomotives looked attractive and some could even be considered handsome

A joy to view.  Thanks for sharing.

I have always like this layout, I like the yard in the middle of the room with loops around, with bridges by the doors. I call it a "Flat Figure 8".  I think that is what I am seeing? Is there a basic track plan?  

 

Thanks for sharing a great layout

Brent

moed321....you are exactly correct about the layout as far as the plan.  Perhaps Richard will chime in...

 

Alan

Moed321,

 

Yes, I have a RR Tracks drawing of the layout. I will post it here tonight from home.

 

It is indeed a Water Level Route .

 

Thanks,

 

Richard

Great layout Richard! I especially like the fact you included Lionel operating accessories with your otherwise high rail layout. A man after my own heart.

 

Pete

Magnificent!

 

Peter

Richard, your train room is beautiful.  

 

- Mike

Very nice!!

Very nice layout. Looks like a lot of yard's & switching.

Moed321,

 

Here is the RR tracks drawing of the layout.

 

As you can see, I made a few changes after I came up with this plan. The original plan called for O 96 on the outside loop, and O 86 on the inside loop. When I started laying track I decided to go with O 96 on the inside loop. This change cost me a few sidings in front of the turn table, but I added several sidings where the single siding to the left of the the entrance to the roundhouse is located. The tracks leading to the engine service are ahead of the roundhouse were also changed after I started the layout. I also expanded the turntable area ; it now has 17 tracks. There is also a double cross over on the right side of the layout now.

One of these days I will make a new drawing of the layout as it is today.

 

Thanks,

Richard

 

Here is a PDF of the layout. I did not realize the left side of the layout was cut off in the drawing above.

 

Sorry, but the PDF is upside down. You should be able to manipulate the PDF if you copy it.

Norton, Yes I wanted to make sure I had operating accessories on the layout, but I did try to use the most realistic ones Lionel made. The Ross switches prevent me from running post war operating cars, up until now. I see that Electric Rail Road has a board that will allow the milk car to be ran off of TMCC. I plan on installing one in a PWC 3662 milk car.  I have also added a Williams remote control dump car, and log car.

 

Thanks again to all for looking at the pictures and your kind comments.

 

RG

 

Wow! This layout is very nice! Awesome job Richard!