The "Encourage Others Challenge": Post a picture of your layout...how many will post???

My small layout had to be taken down and stored for about 6 months.  Just now getting some stuff running.

The track pattern will probably not change much, but some alternate switching will need to be made prior to

putting too much scenery down.

Jeff Horn, your layout is really nice. It's not Gigantic, it's not real small, it's Simply a very Nice, manageable size, and looks to be Fun to Run. Wow....Enjoy the moment. I love your trains, thanks for showing them to Us....

To Seacoast and PS1 from Chris A.   

I will try to figure out how to post a plan view of the layout plan.   Yes, it's around the room 23 x 28 when it's done.  The engine service area is on it's own penninsula, one modue from the entrance up to the 26 inch bowser turntable, then another module including the turntable and roundhouse.  The modules vary in size and shape, but they all can be moved out of the basement and up a flight of stairs.  Minimum radius on the upper level is 48", (096),  most switches outside the yard are 0120/096 curved, or Ross 11 degree/ or Ross 096.  Yard switches are Atlas 072 connected to Ross 11 degree.  Smalles radius on the lower level inside tunnels is 088.   I made changes as I was building it, almost every change  was to use the widest radius curves I could use.    

I shot a quick video link is shown immediately below this paragraph.... Hopefully this will answer some of your questions about the layout design.       

                                                      https://youtu.be/1zSZl-3jEP0

The trackplan was done in RR v4.0, I have not upgraded to 5.0.   Essentially its an upper level single track loop with a 7 track classification yard, very long switching lead (capacity = 13 - 14  cars between the first ladder and the engine pocket.   I added a second arrival and departure track around the back of the yard, both arrival and departure tracks can accept a train about 23 cars long.  I am glad I added it, I can use it as a passing siding, or a train can arrive, while I am making up a train on the other track to depart.  The upper level also has a passing siding (holds 16 car train). along side the engine service facility.

The lower level is also single track loop connected by a 2.25% grade.  The lower level will also have a hidden siding capable of holding the California Zephyr passenger train with 7 cars, plus the WP F3 AB...

If someone is using RR Track software, maybe there is a file save format that would allow me to post an attachment....  Only drawback is I didn't build the plan in "layers" so there are areas that are difficult to differentiate upper and lower level tracks.   Worst case, if either of you send me an email, I can print out a copy and mail it to you... Yeah I know it's really old school... US Mail  

Hi Chris,

Thanks for updating us. I believe you can save your track plan and export/save it to your desktop as a bitmap? I am not near my rr track software at this time,  you can save the track plan and upload it if you like.

Thanks Mr. Boyce for the accolades... Yes, my model RR is defiantly a switching model RR now with the

ten car need at this paper company. There are others being made too.. more to come..  Dan

BXCXDan posted:

Thanks Mr. Boyce for the accolades... Yes, my model RR is defiantly a switching model RR now with the

ten car need at this paper company. There are others being made too.. more to come..  Dan

Looking forward to seeing what else you come up with!!!

Wow - how in the heck are you getting back to this corner?

I feel for you I am ripping up an area now and reach will be an issue!

JDADDY,  Regarding getting to the corner...... There's an aisle between the engine service penninsula and the small classification yard.  The plan is to leave the triangular area in the corner as an access hole.

 The radius back there is 48" (096) so it's not that tough to stand up in that hole....  Pretty sure I will put a triangular shaped warehouse building on a removable 1/4" Luan plywood base...  The track height on the upper level is around 43 inches from the floor, 

I actually worked  quite a while back there in that corner, when I added the second arrival / departure track which is the last track going around the back of the yard.  

Stangtrain, Wow, I like your layout...Nice. Looks like tubular O GUAGE track, with Ross or Gargraves switches....Very nice, let's see more pictures, Ok? Thanks.

Stangtrain,I did my layout the same way with added ties on the tubular track,your track work looks great.

Mikey

I am enjoying this thread!!  Thanks guys for all of the great pictures and ideas!  Get those cameras, phones, or whatever you use to take pictures and share more!  Photographing what you are doing on your layout is another way to enjoy the hobby!!  Here is a slide show I did a year or so ago....it is currently on my YouTube channel with other videos.  Since I put together the slide show (which I posted here on the forum), a lot has changed on the layout but hopefully there will be some newer members that have not seen it yet and will get some ideas of either how to do something OR how not to do it...LOL!!

Thanks,

Alan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xab94_EowVw

Leapinlarry, Mark Strittmatter, and Lee/P51, Thank You  for your words of approval. I much appreciate your taking the time and having the motivation to do so, which is something I take to-heart.

My sincere Thanks, also, to those who sent me "Likes" upon seeing those photos of the whole shebang: Garret76; SouthernMike; Joe B; Country Joe; Fridge56Vet; Mark Strittmatter; Mark Boyce; Suzukovich; Chessie1971; Leapinlarry; p51; trainroomgary; James B&S Railroad; texastrain; PatKn; CoulstonR; TRK; WP; bigtruckpete; leavingtracks; Sean007.

FrankM

Frank M,

I always appreciate you saying thank you to those who commented and liked your posts! It is a habit I should emulate!!

chris a posted:

JDADDY,  Regarding getting to the corner...... There's an aisle between the engine service penninsula and the small classification yard.  The plan is to leave the triangular area in the corner as an access hole.

 The radius back there is 48" (096) so it's not that tough to stand up in that hole....  Pretty sure I will put a triangular shaped warehouse building on a removable 1/4" Luan plywood base...  The track height on the upper level is around 43 inches from the floor, 

I actually worked  quite a while back there in that corner, when I added the second arrival / departure track which is the last track going around the back of the yard.  

Chris - Amazing how designing a layout will give you a PHD in Ergonomic Engineering. 

I had to mock up the double deck heights on my layout 2 or 3 times! And lets not forget the wee people!

Mainly shots of trains, need to do a little more to the walls before I pull back.

Here's another shot of the Hampden Terminal.. 

dandeo50 posted:

Erik C Lindgren posted:

Some really good stuff!

 

im enjoying it!

Some scenes around my layout 

 

 

Thanks fellas!

BXCXDAN, that's neat the way the train goes between buildings. This reminds me of a video of The Late, John Armstrong, author and writer of layout planning books. His layout was 2 rail, with an outside 3rd rail operation. Thanks for the pictures.

7 pages and there are still some fellas missing - SIRT, the 'Original' Munoz Lines, Cesar Buno, and quite a few others. Where are ya'll at?

Here are a few more outtakes  of the AT&SF with the Lionel NYC Alco PA's from years ago and an early MTH Hudson No.5344 being srviced

Your welcome FrankM!

My grandson playing on the layout.

Guys...you don't know how much you have inspired others with these posts!  You all have turned this thread into a great resource of ideas just by looking at the pictures!  AND...I agree with Sam above...we have a lot more folks that could post great stuff!!  Even if you have pictures of past layouts, post 'em!!!

Here is another video for those that haven't seen it before...

Thanks,

Alan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdsdNidgiI8

c.sam posted:

...Here are a few more outtakes  of the AT&SF with the Lionel NYC Alco PA's from years ago ...

 

All your photos in this latest set, C. Sam, exemplified by these, show such nice broad, deep vistas. What a happy place it all seems. Congratulations on such success at making a miniature world offer play and joy.

FrankM

Thanks LEAPINLARRY! I tried to get the feeling of a Holyoke MA or Lowell, MA or there of.. Or just a New England feel with textile and paper mills.. I am building more now for the layout.. I love working on it! It is so much fun and relaxing.. Model RRing is such a cool hobby!  Thanks for the accolades.. Dan

This thread has been fantastic. A lot of great work and ideas.  I finally feel I can contribute to this thread now.. Been updating a few things on the layout before I would post .  Been having issues with movie/photo program, internet  and laptop issues.  Video will follow at a latter time.   What Winter themed layout would not include the appearance of PE1225 even if its S Scale.   Get your jackets ready!

I have to tell you the first tie I saw a few pics of your layout I thought I should have done that. Lay some track, put down a few buildings and dump on buckets of snow. Don't even worry about details or landscaping. Now that I look closely at the pics that's some really outstanding work you've done.

joe

Suzukovich, nice job on the winter landscape.

Doing scenery for the winter time has it's challenges.

Suzukovich!  I did need my LL Bean Baxter State Parka!

Some great new scenes I hadn't seen before!  Excellent effects!

Lots of great layouts and some amazing work.  

Mine really is not much and it is changing all the time depending on what the grandkids come up with.

I guess you can say it is permanently temporary. 

We run N, HO, S and O gauge and are now doing some Lego trains also. 

suzukovich posted:

This thread has been fantastic. A lot of great work and ideas.  I finally feel I can contribute to this thread now.. Been updating a few things on the layout before I would post .  Been having issues with movie/photo program, internet  and laptop issues.  Video will follow at a latter time.   What Winter themed layout would not include the appearance of PE1225 even if its S Scale.   Get your jackets ready!

 

 

   Frank M  is that you reading the Paper?

 

 

Video uploaded finely.

This thread shows the real hidden Talent that many Modelers poses that very few folks know about.  I mention to many of my fellow workers about my interest in toy/scale model trains.   Very few of my friends at work have ever visited my layout, just seen pictures.  It's time to have a Real Party....Its time to invite my friends at work, 200 plus, for an evening with Trains....Keep your great pictures coming...Wow.

dobermann posted:

I have to tell you the first tie I saw a few pics of your layout I thought I should have done that. Lay some track, put down a few buildings and dump on buckets of snow. Don't even worry about details or landscaping. Now that I look closely at the pics that's some really outstanding work you've done.

joe

---

 

Thanks. I wish it was that easy. Unfortunately I now live in the Tampa area so I don't have the ability to just dump snow on the layout. 

Good Sunday Morning!....I keep going back to the posts and great pictures in this thread...a wealth of ideas!

Here is another video take on the layout that I had posted many months ago...hope you enjoy!

Thanks,

Alan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOLLNGBDmls

I posted a few of my photos of my 12' x 18' O scale 2 rail DCC layout - West Hayleyton and Emmaus Railroad- on the 2 rail thread and I thought I have moved far enough to post some photos here on this great thread.

Hope this encourages every modeler to get out of the chair and start that layout in your mind.

Remember, you can't fit it in your casket or urn !!!!!

Life is too short, play more with your trains !!!

Enjoy!!! John P.Dunn Sr.

Larry Sr. posted:

A picture or you can get on the train and take a quick ride around the lower level

Larry

Hopefully this link will work?

 

 

Larry,

Great Layout and well done video. That rock work must have taken mega hours.

Here's my modest layout, 15x17.  Like most everyone else, it's a work in progress, but I enjoy working on it and running trains now and then.

jdunn posted:

I posted a few of my photos of my 12' x 18' O scale 2 rail DCC layout - West Hayleyton and Emmaus Railroad- on the 2 rail thread and I thought I have moved far enough to post some photos here on this great thread.

Hope this encourages every modeler to get out of the chair and start that layout in your mind.

Remember, you can't fit it in your casket or urn !!!!!

Life is too short, play more with your trains !!!

Enjoy!!! John P.Dunn Sr. Scale2Rail Promotions   Strasburg show-10-15-16

 

Nice work!  People talk of needing a lot of room for 2R layouts. I think you have proven it could be done using a small space and still looks good. Thanks for the inspiration.

Lehigh Valley Alco FA1 #534 

Elmer, I like your layout, and your construction methods. Looks like you have a higher level layout to.  Neat. Thanks for posting.

Bar GP 7 #63--- I like your train and the setting....Nice layout. Please post some more pictures.....

This is really a fun thread, so much Talent, so many many Variations....Wow.