Cool website!

[grandeman]

Thought ya'll might be interested in this. I just found it but I see some of the trains.com guys are already over there. There's a photo gallery and forum. Cool place. http://www.modelrailroadphotos.com/photos/

hminky, you're pics are awesome!

[electrolove]

grande man:

Thanks for telling us this. Looks like a very interesting website. I like your pictures...

[brothaslide]

Grande Man,

Do you have a track plan (layout drawing) that you can post. I enjoyed your photos. I would like to see the whole layout.

Take care,

[grandeman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by brothaslide

Grande Man,

Do you have a track plan (layout drawing) that you can post. I enjoyed your photos. I would like to see the whole layout.

Take care,

I really don't have anything in a digital format. It's a small layout. The basic benchwork is 4x14' and was a modified Atlas track plan that we brought with us during a move last summer. I wanted to scrap it and start over but my little guy wouldn't hear of that so now it has shelf type benchwork that forms a continuous run. There's a track that runs under the main benchwork to access the new section and staging behind the backdrop (three levels). The west staging yard will run out to the side of the layout along the basement garage wall. I roughly figure that, in all, there will be about 3.5 scale miles of track when the staging is complete. The outside dimensions are roughly 14x10.

Here's a rather limited pic that's all I could fit in the frame. The upper right corner shows some of the insulation on an A/C duct. I hate this pic because perspective is a terrible thing when you're modeling an open western expanse in 20% of a basement![:D]

[steveblackledge]

I LIKE IT Grande man, my garage is 18' x 9' so is similar in size, i could have done with about an extra 18" width to fit a decent helix in, i could have done one but it would be very tight, under 22" radius so instead i went for an around the walls 3.25% grade which is visible for 22'.

[grandeman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by steveblackledge

I LIKE IT Grande man, my garage is 18' x 9' so is similar in size, i could have done with about an extra 18" width to fit a decent helix in, i could have done one but it would be very tight, under 22" radius so instead i went for an around the walls 3.25% grade which is visible for 22'.

Thanks Steve. I'd love to see you RR in person as it looks fantastic in the pics.

Most of my "new section" has reasonably wide turns in viewable areas. The main section trackwork has some tight turns but that's what happens when you want a decent RR in a relatively small space. As mentioned in another thread, I was surprised to see that our SD7 sailed aound the whole layout with no problems whatsoever. BTW, the main oval has veiw blocks behind the town to keep the "running in circles" sensation to a minimum. My grades are steep too, but what the heck, this is the Rocky Mountains. [:D]

[electrolove]

grande man:

When I see pictures from a model railroad I always wonder how the whole layout looks like. So this was a very cool picture!

[grandeman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by electrolove

grande man:

When I see pictures from a model railroad I always wonder how the whole layout looks like. So this was a very cool picture!

I apprieciate your comments.

There's much modeling and photography on this site http://www.modelrailroadphotos.com/photos/ (and this one) that goes well beyond my abilities. There are really some good pics there. I like the way they set it up with photo albums and forums. This is such a visual hobby that the albums are warranted. Maybe the guys that run things here could do something similar. Other than layout though, there's no other site to compete with train.com for great folks and cool factor!

[Anonymous]

You're absolutely right, Grande Man. That is a cool site.