John Armstrong Layout Design Called "Exhibitionist"

[MICHAEL MARTIN]

Hello,

I am looking for a copy of the John Armstrong layout design that was named "exhibitionist".  It featured passenger train operation with large stations above much of the trackwork.  I saw it in a bound book of layout designs at my local city library over 20 years ago.  They no longer have the book on the shelves or in their database.  Any help locating this would be very much appreciated.

Thank you, 

Mike Martin

 

[cuyama]

“The Exhibitionist” was published by John Armstrong in The Model Railroad Track Plan Book (Tab Books, 1980). It’s an N scale track plan in sort of a “water wings” shape 6’X10’ overall with only one large passenger station. It’s an interesting plan, but it may not be the one you are thinking of (given your description).

This book is long out of print, but it can sometimes be found used. The prices vary, since the book resellers use algorithms to move the prices up based on searches. So you may have to be patient to find it at a decent price.

Your description of stations over the tracks reminds me more of Michael Welch’s commuter track plans from the September 1972 Model Railroader, which were reprinted in Kalmbach's Track Planning Ideas from Model Railroader (1981, with a number of reprints).These are big monoliths (6X12 in HO) and would require hand-laying custom turnouts to fit. Better approaches could probably be found in the space required for these layouts and their aisles.

Byron

[MICHAEL MARTIN]

Byron,

Thank you for your in-depth reply. This is the sort of information I was hoping to find.  You may be right about me confusing one plan for another.  The funny part is that I have little interest in passenger operations, but like seeing freights snake through my Kato n scale passenger platforms.  I live in the San Francisco bay area and get to see freights come through some of the local stations.  I suppose this is what I am looking to replicate.  I'll follow up your leads.

Thanks again for the help,

Mike

 

PS  If anyone has recommendations for layout plans that feature long platform stations, I'd appreciate any and all info.

 

[cuyama]

MICHAEL MARTIN

If anyone has recommendations for layout plans that feature long platform stations, I'd appreciate any and all info.

If you post the space that you have available along with your desired era, it may help others help you. A sketch of the space showing room entrance and any obstructions is always very helpful.

[riogrande5761]

I realize John Armstrong is old school, which is a good thing in my book, but the term exhibitionist doesn't translate well into the modern world.