The page is part of a project railroad designed to develop a better starter layout by moving away from 4x8 layout designs. This layout design page is sponsored by Layout Design Service and is free for the new members to our hobby and to those who are building their first layout. We are here to help you, so feel free to ask questions. We recommend that you join the HOGRR e-group to find out the latest on the layout design and its construction.
This track plan is based on the modern day Heart of Georgia Railroad, or simply; The HOG. It is a small railroad that hauls many different commodities such as agricultural products, pulpwood, wafer board and aggregates. They run older first and second generation diesels and have a very slow-paced, Southern appeal. However, the bridge traffic brought in by the Norfolk Southern and Georgia Central can keep things hopping!
Layout at a Glance:
Name: Heart of Georgia RR
Scale: HO (1:87.1)
Gauge: Standard
Size: 8 x 9 feet
Layout: 32 sq feet
Room: 17 x 10
Ere: Modern Day 2006
Locale: South Central Georgia
Layout Style: Open Pit
Layout Height: 50"
Benchwork: Open Grid - Domino Style
Construction: Modular with removable legs. Semi-portable
I could do a very decent double-track Pennsy N scale layout on that table. I could even stick a hidden staging track behind some building flats on that table.
However, the very recent debate on 4x8s seems fruitless. There are times when a 4x8 is a better option than an around-the-walls, and other times where a 4x8 is a terrible choice. It’s situation-dependent.
My layout started as 5 modules from a club layout. It is pretty much like what you have. I agree, that is the best way to start. I recommend that beginners with little space just build one 2/4 ft. module at a time.
I am well into the process of building this layout (with some modifications) and it is progressing well. When completed it will give me nice opportunities for some operation and scenic detailing. The Yahoo group dedicated to this concept contains photos of my work plus that of others and also many, many posts. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HOGRR/
I’m doing G scale in my backyard now but when I was doing HO I had 2 4x8’s connected in an L shape. If I ever did another HO layout I would do the exact same thing. Those layouts with huge holes in the middle look retarded I would much rather fill that area up with scenery than have EVERYTHING built along the tracks [B)]
Railroads by their nature are very linear affairs. If your interest in running trains involves trying to simulate that, a 4x8 with a big circle on it doesn’t “feel right.” You can use a view block in the middle to help, but at the end of the day you’ll always be restricted to a short train chasing its tail.
The HOG takes the 4x8, which has its merits in simplicity, and turns it inside out. Running the track around the walls doesn’t solve the roundy roundy, but it does help promote the illusion of distance, and provides more running space for a longer train.
The downside of it is the requirement of some sort of duck under (none of us is getting any younger) and the requirement of an entire room to commit to the railroad. But I believe it provides a much more creative approach to a beginner’s layout, and has many merits for any scale.
But I think “retarded” is a bit closed-minded, and a tad offensive to those of us with family members who have to deal with disabilities…
You are absolutely incorrect. Please rephrase your statement. It is neither close minded nor offensive. My daughter lives in an ICFMR which is the United States Government approved wording for care facilities for the mentally retarded. It stands for “Intermediate Care Facility for the Mentaly Retarded”. It neither offends me or my family.
I got a private message that someone considered this advertising. I don’t know the guy that runs this deal. I thought it was a cool idea. Is it advertising when Fugate talks about his DVD’s? or when someone talks about any product?
Lee, as an educator and a psychologist, I believe I have some sympathy and appreciation for your sentiments expressed rather nicely above. Under the pretext of wanting to assert their rights of free speech, some people discard the socially sensible practice of keeping language from being overly judgmental or inconsiderate, particularly when the target of the offensive language is a minority or disadvantaged group that is unable to champion its own claims to the same rights.
However, this is merely a forum for sharing experience and opinions, so nothing that anyone says here should be taken as anything more than an indication of what it is like to live between their ears. For some of us, it is unthinkable, while for others it is a way of life. Either way, it is a choice.
I also understand those who disdain the ellusive search for a word that fails to take on a pejorative tone over time when it is one used to characterize limitations in either ability or appearance. The term “retarded” was not offensive until it became campy to use the term in a derogatory manner in school playgrounds in the 50’s and 60’s. If the term is used to ascribe and not to describe, that is when it becomes offensive, to my way of thinking.
You know, as my low back gets worse (herniated disc and all; here’s hoping I can hit military retirement while I’m still fit for service!), I’ve been giving some thought to layout design based on that.
At first glance, one would say “no way!” to duckunders for people with a bad back. My wife suggested, though, that if I set the layout height high enough I could do a cockpit design like this, and use a chair with rollers to get from outside to inside the layout.
So, I sit, roll under (while ducking my head), and then stand back up once I get inside! Some chairs even have that cool hydraulic adjustable height thing.
I had the “doorway” problem in constructing the benchwork for my HOG (mine is based on the L&NE) layout. And I certainly did not want a duckunder. I built a liftout section. It’s simple, easy to make and works great.