Show Recent Improvement(s) That Enhanced Your Layout

First photo shows the north side of my 12’-by-8’ layout as completed in 2004 (see article in OGR Magazine Run 214). There is a recess in the basement wall styled to look like a window. In 2016, I began to post layout pictures on the OGR Forum and the “window” was not a good background for photographs.

In 2021, I began to build a removable module to improve the appearance of the “window” (see article in OGR Magazine Run 327). Second photo shows the completed module.

The module base is a piece of 1-inch-thick extruded pink foam that rests on the rear edge of the layout and the “window” sill. The distance between the wall and the rear edge of the table is about 12 inches – too narrow in which to work. The module and structures were built on my workbench and are removable to allow for track cleaning and access to the rear of the layout. I built the A&P warehouse from scratch and the other structures from kits.

MELGAR

My project is a little like MELGAR's in that it stemmed from a need to find a solution to a problem.  I had no where to put the locomotives and rolling stock that I "play with" on the layout if they were not in service at the time.  It meant packing them up and stacking them under the layout, a tedious effort.  So (Picture 1) I had the flat top of a storage cabinet under some of my display shelves.  I decided to convert that space into a "yard" with tracks to simulate a storage or switching area.  This is an illusion because the yard is not really connected to the layout but it serves as static storage.  I laid the track on top of some protecting foam board and I have been slowly "scenicing" the back wall with flats and I hope to get a background scene poster.  Now I have temporary storage for items just not in use at the time.

Here (picture 2) is the finished yard but the back wall (below the first shelf)  is still in progress.  I got a Menards gas station "flat" that fits up against the wall and the recent Menards "Suburban Station Stop" to model the end of a trolley, interurban line transporting workers down to the "wharf" area (no ships as yet but that is my long term plan for a back drop a harbor scene).  By the way, the tower, huge freight station, and over track crane that you see are from my Marx collection and they date to the 1950's.

Best Wishes (Neat thread Arnold)

Don

I have nothing to show that is photo worthy as of yet. My layout is undergoing a MAJOR re-working. Due to physical disabilities, I can no longer climb on the platform or get under to work on wiring and my son, Chris is consumed by his employment and has no time to help. Fortunately, a young friend who was my former French horn student at the Maryland Conservatory of Music and also worked for me in my French horn repair/customization shop, likes to work with her hands and comes to my house for several hours each Sunday morning and works with me on the layout. On her next visit, I will take a photo of her working and introduce her to all of you.

So far, improvements that have been accomplished are as follows:

• Replacement of Lionel Fast Track loop around the city of Christopolis with Gar Graves O-48 Track.
• Installation of Vinyl roadbed under all track around the city.
• Installation of 2 new crossover interlockings between track 1 and 2 on the city loop.
• Addition of a side-by-side, double siding to serve a new industrial building between the zoo and the NY City backdrop.
• Addition of a siding on the wharf at the harbor.
• Inclines (steep though they may be) connecting all 3 levels of the layout.

Future enhancements include:

• A layout diagram control panel with all track switches operated by momentary toggles and momentary buttons to activate uncoupling/unloading devices.
• A new holder for transformers.
• 120 Volt AC to 12 Volt DC converter for connection if new LED lighting for all buildings.

Sray tuned. There is more to come as a slow progress is made. Until then, enjoy my forum postings of recycled photos of the older iterations of the

The inspiration for this thread is to have a place for model railroaders, especially those with mature layouts, to share, and obtain, ideas for new projects.

I believe a train layout is never finished, and one can have fun for a lifetime making additions, modifications and improvements. Arnold

Shortly before I added my removable river, I added an approximately 8 foot by 3 and a half foot extension to the layout where I have several Plasticville structures, the Pre-War Lionel City Station, plus Woodland Scenics' Morrison's Doors Factory and Sully's Tavern, as shown in the photos below:

The above extension, which I call my Plasticville extension, enables me to have sufficient space on my layout for several of my favorite, and IMO most charming, Plasticville structures: the City Hall, the hospital, the gas station, and the school.

I have several other Plasticville structures, and down the road, I can rotate these structures on and off the layout.

Unfortunately, I don't have sufficient space in my basement to have all my structures and accessories on the layout at the same time. This is a common problem, and I have discussed this issue with several of my local  model railroader buddies. IMO, the long term solution is to rotate the structures and accessories on and off the layout. Doing so is usually a manageable project and can stimulate interest and creativity in the long term.

Some structures are permanent for me. For instance, my Popsicle Stick Yankee Stadium and Polo Grounds are going nowhere because of my lifelong passion for baseball. However, I'm not as attached to other structures so they can be changed after several months or several years. Arnold

Enhancements to [sometimes long-existing] Pikes. Excellent topic. From its inception in Sept 2016 'til the present the Plywood Empire Route has been a work-in-progress, an evolution through time as I learned what worked for me and ...... what did not. What was fun and what was just busy-ness without adding satisfying drama.

Anyways, sometimes relatively subtle change can enhance the overall project. I was just not impressed by the old standby "coaling tower" as an industry car spot so eBay to the rescue.

First the old:

Its right there but seems like a place-holder. Now the new:

With a not significantly larger footprint the much taller Menards offering has instantly become an integral element of the scene. I wondered if the animated waving American flag billboard might be a bit garish and over-the-top but fits right in, caricature being a useful tool in modeling railroading.

Also adding to the scene is the absence in foreground of the Gantry Crane traverse-movement  winch which has been moved behind the crane with it's large winch drum now hidden under the table. The winch cable and pulleys are just visible behind the RailGon and that large patch where the winch-drum sat will be covered with "dirt" or a bit of "vegetation". Little things make a difference:

Oh, and the "Coaling Tower" has been moved to the other spur where it interestingly fits in much better. This also adds a car-spot bringing to (7) the number of industry car-spots in the East End, number six being a furniture-grade finish-lumber mill with that B&P Box spotted at it's loading-dock (another recent enhancement to operation):

IMO, little changes/improvements can make a big difference, and, add to our enjoyment of our trains, layouts and the hobby.

About 2 hours ago, the thought occurred to me that I can improve a scene on my layout. The scene involved the area near my Popsicle Stick Yankee Stadium, the Automatic Gateman, a subway station and two O Scale rats carrying slices of pizza. LOL.

Initially, I considered removing the subway station and rats, and replacing them with the Automatic Gateman. I had reservations about this because I love the subway station and rats.

Then, I thought maybe I could have my cake and eat it too: have the gateman, subway station and rats carrying pizza, all on the layout at the same time.

I will share a few photos to explain.

First, is the original scene with the gateman but no subway station and no rats:

Then, about 6 weeks ago, I took the Automatic Gateman off, and added the subway station and rats that I got from a local model railroader who is also a good friend of mine.

As much as I love the subway station and rats carrying slices of pizza (recreating my favorite Facebook video that went viral), I missed having the Gateman on the layout. It's a crowd pleaser, especially with little kids. When I showed it to my kids when they were little, and my granddaughters more recently, we would call it the pop-up man, and the kids loved it.

So now I will show you how I got my cake and ate it too:

I'm very pleased with this simple improvement, it only took about an hour to do it and, most importantly, I had a great time doing it.

I share this as an example of how those, like me, that have mature layouts can make adjustments over time that can bring us a lifetime of enjoyment. Arnold

Incidentally, the above improvement involving the gateman and rats, which took very little time to execute, took a long time for me to dream up.

I knew, when I took the gateman off, and put the subway station and rats on, the layout 6 weeks ago that it would not be the permanent solution because I like them all a lot, and want them all on the layout.

I periodically thought about it for the past 6 weeks. Possibilities included periodically rotating these items on and off the layout, or keeping them all on the layout at the same time but in different places.

It wasn't until today that I came up with the above solution whereby I could have all these items in the same scene. Arnold

Good job Arnold, glad you found a way to keep the rats, I thought that they were really neat!

Don