Hello everyone.
Its been a rough couple of months but I am leaner meaner and have found a new place to rent to boot. I am fortunat eneugh that this new place has large master bedroom that is roughly 10X14 feet (Dimensions arrived by Pacing out the room)
It is here that I have decided that I will build iether this Railroad (The Central Midland) or my second choice Atlas HO-36 The Oregon Pass lines. Iether will do as these two track plan makes up about one half of my “Dream Layout” (The grand scheme is to build the track plans Back to back and build about a two foot spacer section between them for a track that effectivly connects the two plans.
Any way I am wondering if any one has build this model railroad or the oregon pass lines layout and what pit falls they encountered. I figure since Benchwork is my weak link in model railroading building a layout with published framing plans is going to help me out a lot. But learning about other problems people have had might help me from reinventing the wheel each time something comes up to.
Thanks for now and have a nice day.
James.
James:
I am leaning the same way. I heard from one fellow who built #36 and said there wasn’t much room for “town” structures. He also said that the clearence on the underpass leaves a little to be desired. He cautioned to check the height of your “stuff” before starting.
In addition, he has since torn it apart.
The plywood cut outs from the diagram in the book for #36 are a little confusing also, but there are “free floating” pieces that aren’t attached. They are cut free from the 4x8 piece and sit on risers. When you know that it makes a little more sense.
I’m still in “the planning” stage and haven’t as yet started anything. Keep me informed how it goes.
Hi Ocean Bear,
I can most certainly keep you informed as to my progress on my train layout. My intitial thoughts on both plans were that they don’t provide very much town space iether, however my train room situation permits me to build a town in for the railroad in what is otherwise wasted room space as the space the “Citiy” will occupy on my layout is to big not to use, but two small to build anything satisfying in HO. I will keep you all posted.
James
Found on the web (I haven’t built it, but it looks interesting) …
http://www.medcomres.com/OurHOTrains/original_atlas_plan.htm
Hi Msowsun. THanks for sharing.
Did you build this layout or just find it on a web site. Im interested to hear what reflections people that have built this layout may have.
James.
I’ve always liked that layout. The original version I saw had some 18" radius corners on the main which made me discard any thought of building it. Later versions seem to have removed that problem. I’ve always thought the double crossover on the yard throat could be removed if it was redesigned slightly so that double slips were used in the double wye. This would allow the yard tracks to be a bit longer and hence more useful.
Hey Zephyr,
I have also ling liked this layout but never had the room to build it until now. as for the 18" radius curves at the one end of the layout, to me its an interesting operating challange. But most of my rolling stock is in the 60 foot or less catagory and most of my locomotives take 18" radius just fine. My passenger cars will have to take the other main but then we cant have entirely predictible operations all the time can we. Besides I have conviced my self that if we wait until we all have room to build layouts with 40" radius curves and super elevated track. that many of us would never build a layout. Im tired of waiting and I can accept 18 " radius curves so Im going to build it.
I will keep everyone posted.