Has Anyone Ever Tried To Build This Layout?

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Just wondering if anyone has ever attempted to build the layout from the 1998 Kalmbach publication “A Realistic HO Layout For Beginners”. Just wondering. Maybe viewed negatively by forum members to build from a book like this. I have admired Lou Sassi’s work for a long time from articles and photos from MR, and really like the look of the layout, so I thought I’d give it a shot. Just wanted to know if anyone has tried it, and if they had any thoughts or ideas they wanted to share about building it. Thanks in advance for any reponses.

2

Mike - this is an excellent tutorial and a very practical and fun layout to build! I incorporated much of this layout’s design, with just slight track modifications, into the peninsula portion of my current E-shaped, point-to-point layout. Virtually this same layout (perhaps the original to the one shown in the book and also by Lou Sassi) was written up in MR as a project layout series under the title (I believe) “Building the Berkshire Division”. I think it started in December 1992 issue. It’s definitely worth getting a copy of that issue for further reference.

If you follow the book point for point you can’t go wrong and it builds a very nice layout.

CNJ831

3

Thanks CNJ. Now if I could only get mine to end up like Lou’s, I’ll be happy. Heck, it won’t end up like his work, but I’ll be happy anyway.

4

i had a look at the dec. 92 issue , and this is a pretty standard 4x8 plan . nice , not too complicated , and it would be easy to add a second switching district on the left side of the layout , especially if you used some kind of vertical ‘wall’ down the middle of the layout as a view block

have fun !

5

Yes, that’s essentially how I approached the peninsula version I built as a section of my full, E-shaped, layout. I extended the dimensions to 5x10 and used a 2-foot high, T-shaped, scenic divider placed roughly down the center. I also added an interchange track and an a further industry to the less complex side of the layout (where Lou had done the winter scene). Incidentally, my layout is set all in autumn, rather than having two seasons. The book version is set in summer, as I recall.

CNJ831

6

Yes I have it is the center of my layout i started with it then added . Marks PRR & NYC