November 1979 Wawbeek and Sunmount Track Plan by Leaonard Blumeschine - copy wanted

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Hello,

I searched the online articles on Model Railroader and didnt find a link to this plan I am looking for.

Am I missing something or can someone help me get this plan?

THanks

2

A quick Googleing of “Wawbeek and Sunmount by Leonard Blumenschine” reveals an LDSIG article from 2000 by Peter Conner Ford that claims the layout appears in “Track Planning Ideas From Model Railroader”, published in 1981. Not sure if it’s the same book, but www.Alibris.com lists used copies available from $1.40 up. These have a published date of 1991, maybe the 1981 date listed in the Ford article is a typo. Worth a gamble?

Lou

3

Could be either. I opened up the November 1979 issue in my DVD collection and found the article and layout in question. The Track Plan Database here doesn;t have nearly all of the layouts that have ever appeared, not by a long shot. Aquiring the issue, or if it is included in the mentioned book, that book, may be the only way to get a copy.

It’s a 6x10 island style layout, most switching is to the inside, which means operating it from around the perimeter is a little bit of a stretch. Given that the plan recommends a 2 foot wide aisle along two sides - this plan would be better expanded to 8x12 and operated from the inside. Takes up no more floor space that way, yet increases the ratio of scenery to track, and/or allows larger radius curves and more/longer industry tracks. The stock plan has a hole int he middle, but on a 6x10 that space is 2x6 - maybe you’re not a big fat guy like me, but crawling into a 2x6 pit is a bt of a tight squeeze. Opening it to 8x12 makes the hole in the donut 4x8, plenty of space for 2 or more people.

–Randy

4

The Wawbeek & Sunmount Ry. appears in the Kalmbach publication “Track Planning Ideas from Model Railroader. 58 Track plans from Past Issues” selected by Bob Hayden. The copy I have was printed (5th printing) in 1989. The article, as well as the track plan appears on page 32 of my copy. Nice Layout. I was, at one time hoping to build this layout but discovered that I didn’t have quite enough room for it. The design did inspire me to build a smaller, less complex version of it. That was my first HO scale layout