The Virginian, a 4x8 with a little more if I remember the tag line correctly. This particular project railroad sparked a thread in the Layouts and Layout building section by a number of folks who chose to build a rendition of that layout for themselves. That thread is still being contributed to, two years after its inception.
I, like many, am enamored with The Virginian, in no small part because I got to see this Layout in person. I have enjoyed watching folks build the Virginian, putting their own spin on this layout concept.
Today, I happened upon a Youtube video from a gentleman building the Black River Junction, an MR project railroad from 2007(?). Now this may be solely based upon the fact that the project layout was built using Kato Unitrack, and Kato offers a track pack for this layout plan, but it still got me wondering. . .
Have you ever built a layout based on an MR project layout?
Do you know of someone who has?
Do you have a favorite MR project railroad?
My Top Five (and the lead builder) - 1.Cripple Creek Central (Jim Kelly) 2.The Virginian (David Popp) 3.The Pennsylvania (Dave Frary) 4.The Tidewater Central (Gordon Odegard) 5.The Clinchfield (Gordon Odegard)
Back in 1995, I built a TT scale version of MR’s 1984 Gold Hill Central layout for a manufacturer’s display (RailTech) at the NMRA Convention in Atlanta.
I pretty much only used the track plan, and built the layout on layers of foam board to sit on top of a table. The structures were a combination of HO and N scale components with TT scale door and window castings, and a couple of buildings scratchbuilt from styrene. Track was from Pilz, and rolling stock was mostly old HP Products kits with Kemtron brass trucks, with a Kemtron B&O “docksider” 0-4-0 for power.
I always liked the look of the Clinchfield layout, even though I’m not into N scale. Although it looked like it might be a headache to operate. One minute the train would be on the outside of the donut, and then it would be inside. You’d either have to duck under the layout, or hand it off to whomever was on the other side.
Steve,I saw the Clinchfield layout in operation during the National Train Show when it was in Cincinnati back in the 80s.It was a very smooth operating layout and I enjoyed watching it being operated.
I based my Cumberland Dickensonville & Bristol freelance railroad around that layout…I didn’t build the CRR layout but,copied some of the ideas.
The CRR project layout remains one of my favorites and second only to MR’s Kinnickinnic Railway & Dock Company project layout of '72.
i used the concepts from the Clinchfield to build my coal hauling Cumberland Valley back in 70s. Not the track plan but the ops scheme in HO. What set’s these apart to me is each had a unique theme and something unique about the build (loads in out, car ferry, sections etc)
Back in the '80s, I built a smaller layout that combined ideas from the “Jerome and Southwestern” with ideas from another smaller layout featured around that time. I used the dock scene from the J&S. I really enjoyed that little layout, all code 100 and atlas awitches. I got to plaster shell stage, never to scenery.
I still have the AHM Heisler and some other locos I ran on that layout.
The Portage Hill & Communipaw was a classic. That’s the layout that sparked my interest in model railroading 50+ years ago. I haven’t checked, but does anyone know if the PH&C is in the on-line track plan data base?
The BN Layout that MR built, I like that one. I also want to attempt building it with slightly larger curves for my passenger trains. It’ll be based in Washington though for the SP&S.
I started building the 4x8 Pigeon Hill from the Dec 1967 MR. The plan starts out as an oval, and ends up as a loop-to-loop plan. I got the initial oval built, and then had to move to a smaller house that would only fit a 4x6, not a 4x8. I hand laid the track because I couldn’t afford flex and manufactured turnouts at the time. I’m glad I never finished it because I’ve since learned that operating a continuously running “train” on small loop-to-loop plan on DC is an exercise in toggle flipping.
When I moved, I cut the frame down to 4x6 and started building the Tidewater Central (Dec 1954? and Jan 1955?). I eventually added a branch and turntable to the “yard”, and 2 spurs to the “harbor”. A lot of fun.
My favorite projects (in no particular order):
Tidewater Central - just a great, simple plan and theme, especially with a couple of additions
Portage Hill & Communipaw - I’ve always kept the Portage Hill track plan in mind as an LDE to build someday.
Jerome & Southwestern - similarly the add-on harbor track plan is something to consider using someday.
Ma & Pa - I enjoyed the series a lot, but I would never consider building the layout.
After an almost two year effort I have finally reached the point of beginning bench work. Gutted a mobile home and am building a enlarged and revised version from the layout article on layouts for a 10’ x 12’ room. I enlarged it to 13.5’ x 21.5’ plus a 7’ hidden staging area in another room. sky is painted the basic blue and now have to add the other “weather” effects and background details as I build the bench work. From a sunny day to thunder storms as you go around the layout. Had tried several track plans until I came across the one in the MR article. Now the FUN begins!
BTW, my CEO has 2/3 of the building for her sewing and e-bay projects. Some have said it should be the other way around. But she makes $$'s and helps finance the RR industry.
I recall two project layouts with Conrail. Curiously, neither were built by MR staff. . .kind of. The Appalachian Central (2001) was built in N scale by Lionel Strang. Mr Strang had a monthly column in MR called “Working on the Railroad” at the time this layout was published, but was not “on staff” as it were. The other was built by MR’s journeyman photographer Lou Sassi. Also in N scale, the Mohawk Division was published in 1993.
I believe that while both used Conrail equipment, neither was based on a specific Conrail prototype. They were both nice layouts though.
The Cripple Creek is definitely my favorite of all time as well. The series ran so long that another project layout was being published in MR before they finished up the Cripple Creek. The Cripple Creek series also became a book (as did a few other project layouts) titled “HO Railroad from Start to Finish”. While long out of print, it can still be found on the net. Personally, it’s one of the titles I hope MR publishes as a digital book. They would have at least one sale!
My “Onandaga Sub.” N scale show layout is based on the 4’ X 6’ MRR HO layout the Yule Central.I have added some sidings but the basic plan is still intact. [Y]
That sloping track goes to a (temporary) 32" X 8" yard destined to become a 14" X42" yard.
My own layout is based on a track plan and story by EE Seely back in December 73 MR. Not strictly speaking a Project layout but there you go! It is on my website www.xdford.digitalzones.com
Here in Australia, I have seen a very good copy of the San Juan Central by Malcolm Furlow as a Standard Gauge layout as well as a KR&D from the circa 72/73 era MR’s
