As some of you may know that I have had several ideas about layouts and ideas. I have come to an idea that I want a picture friendly layout. I am going to be working with HO scale and my era is going to be the 1940’s I have got off my obsession of large steam locos(for now) I do want a racetrack style layout with a small yard and a steam service area. I would like to run smaller steam engins on the layout such as 2-4-2, 2-6-2, and the largest would be 2-10-4 No articulates. I want to run 10-15 car long trains. I would like to have my secene be in the midwest. I am not completely sure one what railroad I want to model but I was thinking of just haveing the layout set up so I could model any railroad I want. I have 8ftx12ft to work with and was thinking a dounut hole shape but in a rectangle.
4664:
Smaller steam: Columbias and Prairies are neat but don’t forget the most common small steam of all: 4-4-0’s, 2-8-0’s, and 4-6-0’s (probably in that order, but not all three at the same time). Small steam doesn’t get the attention it deserves IMHO. Who doesn’t love a 4-8-4…but for every one of those built there were probably 100s of 2-8-0s over the years.
The kind of layout you want, oddly enough, was very common in the '30s, which makes sense, given that you have a lot of interest in the magnificent iron horse and its stable. So did they! It shows in the railfan photos too, of the time…which is annoying when we try to use them to research freight cars…
Here’s an example that just about fits:
http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b191/autobus_prime/rr/layout2_mc_3-38.jpg
Not what some people expect a '30s layout to be, eh!
(This is from the March 1938 Model Craftsman, which became RMC.)
These old layouts tend to have really good engine terminals…more complete than most of ours today. They could just walk down t
Sounds cool. Hey, I’ll see what I can do in the way of planning. I have atlas’s right track planning software.
I’m just wondering, why don’t you log onto NTRES anymore?
Your 8’x12’ space should work well as an around-the-room style layout, with plenty of opportunities for railfanning and photography. I’ve been told that my unfinished layout is good for railfanning, and one of the best sections on it, in my opinion, is an aisle that’s 9’ wide by about 19’ long.
You should be able to accomplish at least 30" radius curves, or even 34", like mine. As mentioned, some gentle curves along the long walls will add interest. Allow some of the scenery and/or structures to sit between the viewer and the train, too - this will help to divide the areas that you want to emphasise. A bridge or two, or even a culvert, adds interest. If you combine various elements from real life, be it land contours, structure styles and colours, or scenic elements, your free-lanced line could look like it belongs just about anywhere within “the midwest”. Don’t be tempted to add track just because there’s room for it: every track should have a purpose. Likewise with structures: the train (or loco) is the star of the show, with everything else reduced to the role of supporting cast.
While my space is a bit bigger, you should be able to include the elements you want without overcrowding things. Here are a few pictures - layout width is 30" on the long walls, 42" along the end.
Small town:
Rural scenes:
Water and bridge scenes:
Engine terminal scenes:
And another town, yet to be finished:
For your space, I’d suggest only one town, with the engine facility as part of it. Fairly wide-open scenery, and a low-level bridge over water will help to suggest the wide-open spaces. Add a few level crossings (a good place for the occupant of a car stuck at the crossing to take pictures - which will allow you to showcase new l
Thanks for that wayne, I love you layout. Those are the size of trains I would like to run on my layout. That is exactly what I want to do someday. If I had your layout there is only one thing I would change, have a larger turntable and roundhouse.
One questions wayne. How far does your layout come off of the wall?
In the first photo, the areas on both sides of the aisle are 30" wide, while that at the far end extends 42" out from the wall. Because the layout here is so low (that wood “cloud formation”, visible marring the “sky” in the first photo, is part of the support for a planned second level of the layout), it was easy to reach in to do the scenery. There’s only a single main line running through the area, so the things that might need to be reached are fairly close to the facia.
The enginehouse and other loco facilities were crammed into the narrow area between the main line and the aisle, and generally suit the secondary main line character of what I’m trying to model, although I was unable to find a logical area to fit in an ashpit. The second level of the layout will have a more complete engine facility, with a multi-stall roundhouse, larger turntable and coaling tower, and, I hope, many other ancillary structures.
It looks like I should also apologise for posting those photos: it seems to have frightened off any more responses, certainly not my intention. It’s easy to forget that many viewers are on dial-up. If you’d like some or all of the pictures removed, please contact me via PM and I’ll see to it.
Wayne
Dr. Wayne–
From my point of view at least, don’t remove a single picture! That’s a marvelous layout and beautifully detailed. You’re really an inspiration for me and I think a lot of other modelers on this forum will agree. Sometimes–at least in my case–I get so overwhelmed by the ‘forest’ that I forget to model the ‘tree.’ You’ve got wonderful individual scenes, and from the overview of your layout, you’ve connected them beautifully.
Tom [bow]
Great scene!
Thanks to you all for the kind words. I think that pictures are the best way to illustrate one’s ideas, although I’d also be pleased to elaborate on anything that requires further clarification.
Wayne
My layout is much the same. A donut shape geared to photography as well as operation. The main line weaves in and out of and around low hills, copses of trees, and buildings.
The main yard:
Engine Terminal:
J Class pounding over Barger Run:
Reading freight rolling over Plaster Creek:
Meet at Lack Tower:
Switching Plaster Falls:
Nick
nb:
I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned how much I like the name “Plaster Falls”. I don’t remember reading an etymology of this excellent placename, although if it happens to be located directly below a second-floor bathroom I think I can guess.
Some nice-lookin’ scenes there, Nick. [:)]
Wayne
Here is a progress shot of my around the room HO layout. It is pretty small, and has really presented me with some problems thus far. The room is 11’ long, and the back half of the room is 6’ 8" wide and the front half is 4’ 0" wide. (Sort of an 'L" shaped affair…) The four tracks against the far wall will be hidden staging tracks, covered by elevated terrain with access ports in case of problems. I originally used B’mann EZ track, but now it will only be used inside the staging area.
I am using rerailer track sections in every track section possible in the staging area… to hopefully minimize trouble. Outside of the stage area. I will use Micro-Engineering Code 83 track and turnouts. My biggest problem is the narrow aisle space… 19.5" wide by 70" in length!!!
I’m sure this will be prone to “elbow” and “reaching” type accidents… comments and advice welcome.
Bob/Iron Goat
Narrow aisles can be a problem, although, if you’re the only operator, you’ll have a lot more control over the situation: a “no loose clothing” rule will take care of most of the causes of mishaps and a modicum of care should ensure that there are no serious problems. You say that the layout is “L”-shaped, but it looks more like a “U”-shape to me: is it point-to-point, or is there continuous running? By the way, Bob, nice job on those coved corners. [swg]
Wayne
Autobus, you’re close. My layout is in my finished attic. The roof leaked and sent several chunks of plaster crashing down on the layout.
Wayne, thanks. You’re layout looks awesome.
For any interested parties, here’s my track plan:
Nick
dw:
My railroad has that rule, but only for shapely female visitors.
FRYINGPANNED
Referring strictly to the missus, of course. Ow.
(It’s not like the V&E gets any visitors anyway…)
It’s actually a continuous run layout, with the tracks on the other (West) end disappearing into the wall and making a turn-around inside the Utility Room area. The track on the left side of this photo will connect via a “lift-out” section that spans the sliding door opening to the train room. I haven’t done as much work on this end yet, so it still looks rough. Once again, all the EZ track outside of the staging area will be replaced with Code 83 track & turnouts.
Bob/Iron Goat
How’s this? Built for running trains, it features a 4-stall roundhouse, engine servicing area, 4-track stub yard, generic midwest industries, and broad 22 in. radius curves. I see the yard having an 0-8-0 switcher, and the mainline being operated by a 2-8-0 consolidation. the mainline frieghts (A lot, for this is a bridge line) would use 2-8-2 Mikadoes and 2-10-4s, like you want. Some short run units would use 2-6-0s and 2-8-0s. There would be cattle trains running out to the cattle pens, and a locla would handle the other three industries. It would run out and switch the industries, then run to staging, pick up more cars there, and return. The train would be broken down in the yard, and east and west bound trains created. Some through frieghts would drop off cars.
I’d call the town w/ the cattle pens Dodge City or Abilene, ya know, after the big midwest cattle towns, and the yard after some big city. Or, you can come up with your own. I could also see a road parreling the main. Give me a second to double track this, and I’ll post the new one in this one’s place. The grain elevator would get covered hoppers/40’ boxcars, the farm supply would get tank cars, boxcars, hoppers, and flats of tractors or other farm heavy machinery. The cattle pens will see long trains of stock cars, and the warehouse recieves boxcars. the inner loop is west-bound, and the outer loop is eastbound. Westbounds will have to diverge to the eastbound loop if an eastbound stock train is in the pens. The grain elevator will be switched by the local after it ties up in the industry town, leaving the other cars on the cattle pen siding to clear the main. The cattle pens might see a single car or two from time to time.
Edit note: dbl. track plan posted. See the different plans at:
Thanks for all of the replies. I think I am going to do something like wayne’s layout, just a single main line and maybe add a small town if there is room.