Building a new layout for my Grandfather

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hey,

Me and my granfather, Father, and me are going to build a layout for him, and since being in a wheel chair for the past 3 years i would be hard to build a large layout for we decided on a new layout, a shelf layout that is.

Plan of action

First off, the shelf layout will be in the 1955 setting of Eastern Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. The layout will a shelf that can be added on too in the future.

I have been looking at some track plans and trying to design one my self, not much luck yet. Then today i have looked at a MRR track plan.

Here is the link.

http://www.trains.com/mrr/default.aspx?c=a&id=1447

This is exactly what we want to build, a layout that can be added on to, the team track is great. The layout will be DCC, with a NCE power cab or pro cab system. My grandfather and grandmother live in a retirement village, called Hersheys Mill, in Pennsylvania, the community has a wood shop where we have the bench work made for us.

Locomotives and rollingstock

We are modeling 1955 so there would be some steam locomotives left, as well as Diesels.

We are looking at smaller diesels like NW2, and early alcos, maybe a gp7?

For Steam we will have a K4 most likely, and a smaller locomotive of some sort. My grandpa has some brass that we will problay use in the layout.

EDIT

For all nonsubsribers i have made a rough outline of what the track plan will look like

thats all for now

Remeber that this is just a idea for a new layout, the track plan may be altered it the future.

Tjsingle

2

TJ - that track plan is only viewable to subscribers.

Maybe you can show us “your” version of it and how you’re going to adapt it?

3

I’ll have to make the ones i made (on paper) into computer files. Your not a subscriber? I need to pay but i still can view the file

4

I buy the mag. locally at the LHS.

Makes for a good reason to go down there. [;)]

5

gotcha, making a computer file now.

6

This sounds like a great idea.

If you decide to use “snap” track, let me know, I have some pieces II can put in the post to you, including a couple of decent atlas switches.

Cheers

7

Nice of you to help grandpa with a new layout. Don’t hide what you are doing at the retirement home, you may find there are others interested in the hobby and they could have some fun together. Also, if there is enough interest the home might have a place that a larger layout could be set up, I have heard of it happening.

One thing you might want to concider is a reverse loop or some other way to have continuous running even if unsceniced at first. He might get tired op operating and just want to sit and watch the trains run.

Good luck,

8

Well, its not really a retirment home, its like a gated community with very large homes, my grand parents basement is huge. There is also a model railroading club in the community, golf club, and many other things.

Constructing the layout should be fun.

9

Must have been tired last night - thought I had posted a sketch of the Mid-Atlantic plan that also showed (roughly) the scenery from the MR article.

Original plan from MR used custom built turnouts size no 5 - no 7. I just substituted Peco large and Peco medium turnouts.

Looks like a visually attractive plan for a pure switching layout - I in particular like the two level scenery plan - roads on right and left go under the railroad tracks, truck access to the coal dealer is at low level, road in the middle of the layout cross tracks at - umm - I forget what it’s called - at same level, anyways.

Edit: now I remember. Crossing “at grade” is the American expression.

There would be quite a bit of switchback mover to get into some of those industries, but (semi-)complex switching under somewhat cramped conditions is the whole point of this layout.

Anyways - looking forward to seeing some pics of this one being built, TJ.

Smile,
Stein

10

Jonathan Jones built this plan into a great looking and prize-winning HO switching layout that was featured in the May 2001 Model Railroader. (Wonderful urban modeling, by the way!) As noted below, though, some might find the switchback industry spur somewhat tedious to switch over time.

Real-life railroads try to organize things for more straightforward switching. The slight modifications of Jonathan Jones’ plan shown below allow switching of all industries without disturbing others with the addition of a “drill” track (which can also be used for “off spot” storage).

The neat team facility is slightly lengthened and now does not require that the industry at upper right be emptied every time any of the industry tracks at the left are switched (a situation the real railroad tries to avoid). The PRR interchange is also more straightforward. This version might be more engaging and less monotonous to switch in the long term.

HO Code 75 PECO turnout and crossing components have been suggested to ease construction (the original plan had handlaid turnouts). Either plan will work, but the suggested modifications might provide more realistic long-term operating fun.

Byron
Model RR Blog

11

Byron - I really like that modification - it keeps the cool crowded urban look and feel, but makes the switching a lot more sane. As always - good call.

Smile,
Stein

12

I like that verison much better, but one thing this layout will be expanded so the dual track mainlin will be added on too, and the interchange could later be spur for a industry so i like the new plan alot more, and i really like how you guys are taking intrest into my newest project, i’m newwer to model railroading and i am building my 4x8 now and i can’t wait to get started building the shelf layout with my Grandpa, and my Father.

I won’t be around for the next week going on vacation :smiley:

Cheers

Tjsingle

13

What number Turnouts?

14

Did a quick CAD test to verify whether there is enough space - looks to me like you ought to be able to get away with the following Peco code 75 turnouts: 4 RH (Right Hand) mediums, 8 LH mediums, one short Y and one short crossing.

You can always swap one or more of those three medium LH turnouts up in the upper LH corner for Peco code 75 short LH turnouts if space proves to get too tight there.

And you could go to long RH turnouts in the lower LH corner/along the mainline if you want to - but if what we see is your entire layout, you won’t be blasting through the turnouts at speed with long cars anyways, so Peco code 75 medium turnouts ought to be reasonably adequ

15

PECO HO Code 75 turnouts are not numbered per se, they are distinguished by the different radii of the diverging leg. So they come as small, medium and large and two sizes of wye turnouts. In the version I drew, the long turnouts (green) are used for the crossovers, medium (blue) for the yard, and small radius (red) for the industry tracks. The wye (pink) is the small radius wye (equivalent to the small radius turnouts). The crossing is their “short” crossing, about a 24 degree angle.

One or two of the small tunouts (labeled “T”) will need to be trimmed a total of about 5/8" to get everything to fit as shown.

Byron
Model RR Blog