have there ever been plans for this layout published?
Believe MR ran a story with trackplan several years ago, but can’t give you a date. Not sure if his railroad is even still active as there hasn’t been anything published that I remember in recent years.
Bob
There’s a name I have not heard in a while. Back in the early seventies, I got to visit the layouts of Bill McClanahan (he autographed my MR cover that featured his layout) and Cliff Robinson. I didn’t realize at the time that these fellows were icons of the hobby.
I don’t know, but would doubt if either layout is still active - just based just on the passage of time.
Jim
Before Dave Frary wrote his outstanding scenery book, Bill McClanahan’s book was the scenery bible and the one I started with when I got involved in the late 1970s. Obviously, there have been some new techniques developed since that book was published but a lot of it is still useful today. I believe that book has long since been out of print.
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Using the index of model railroad magazines database (available on the Model Railroader Magazine website),
it shows that MR ran a two part article entitled “Operation on the Texas and Rio Grande Western” in December 1958 and January 1959. Supposedly the December issue installment included a track plan.
It also shows an article in the October 1974 Railroad Model Craftsman titled “Texas and Rio Grande Western” that suppsedly included a track plan. They also show a similar article (at least the title is similar) in the Sept 1981 RMC, but no notation of a track plan being included.
Regards
Ed
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I, too, was lucky enough to see the T&RGW in its native habitat back in the 1960s. Quite a railroad for its time. It occupied a slope-roofed attic space, crossing the stairway with a head-knocker bridge (don’t ask why I remember that!)
Regrettably, Bill McClanahan passed away in 1981.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Did a check on Google and found a reference to Spetember 81 RMC … I may still have this or have donated it to my club ( which means I can still get it). If you want a copy of the article scanned, I can try and track it down for you here in Australia!
Hope this helps
Trevor www.xdford.digitalzones.com FYI
By todays standards it is archaic. Brass track, sloping ceiling problems in an attic, fixed controllers at a panel and a big dogbone with no staging. BUT excellent scenery and ideas for a generation where 20" radius curves and 5’ x 10’ railroads were considered huge.
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The October 1974 edition of RMC did have a track plan.
Bill McClanahan died many years ago, and from an account of acquiring a structure from the layout an olf friend of McClanahan’s, I would believe that the layout no longer exists.
Bill McClanahan and the T&RG…now there’s a name I’ve not heard in a long, long time…
Welcome to the Forum, Matthew. A good score, there. I do hope you give them an occasional run.
Cheers, the Bear. 
Here are two articles that I know of relating to Bill McClanahan’s Layout.
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Texas & Rio Grande revisited/Bill McClanahan, layout track plan and history. RMC, September 1981, p. 53.
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Operation on the Texas & Rio Grande Western, Part 2, article by Bill McClanahan, MR January 1959, p. 86.
Jim
Cary shells on Hobbytown drives?
Bill McClanahan and his Texas & Rio Grande Western were an inspiration for me in the early days ( 1970’s ) of my Model Railroading adventure. It’s hard to believe that He’s been gone for 40+ years. It’s good that we do remember.
Mark Gosdin