Is your layout based on a "project layout?"

[galaxy]

steinjr

 Old thread, resurrected by a new poster ....

 Stein

 

Rats, Rats, and DOuble RAts!

Whip me beat me and make me write bad checks on a closed bank account!!

I usually LOOK at that so I don't get caught with my pants down and my eyeglasses off, but I missed it...I guess just seeing Dave Vollmer's name got me excited!

For shame on me...Bad galaxy, bad bad bad...

[steinjr]

galaxy

 

Bad galaxy, bad bad bad...

 LOL - no need to whip yourself with a wet noodle, galaxy - not one of the bigger mistakes in life :-)

 Btw, Tracy (the new lady - name is on the web page she linked to) - try to start a new thread instead of responding to a thread that has been dormant for a long time. Welcome to the forums!

 Grin,
 Stein

 

[RMax1]

My latest layout is based on the Wisconsin & Southern Troy Branch.  The WSTB is very large and I have had to condense the features I wanted into a 10ft length.  The layout is built on 2x4ft modules with one turned sideways at the end.  Where the ethanol plant is I am putting a shoe factory and where the animal nutrition is I am putting a tool warehouse. I have added a turntable on the same end to turn things around.  The station is in the same place.  On the right side there will be a generic warehouse and old electric products servicing company.  I have installed a place for a park.  The WSTB layout design is simply amazing.  It allows you to condense or expand very easily.  It also allows for a number of industries without major modification.  One of the best things about the layout is it has a feeling like the Amtrak station in Ft.Worth the traffic flow kind of feels the same.

 

Rmax

[HojackChris]

Hi Dave,

I am one of your facebook followers, and I hope you are recovering nicely from your surgery.  My n-scale layout is based on the track plan for MR's Black River Jct. layout.  You can see video of it on MR's user submitted videos section.  Its a new york central what if layout based in the contemporary era with wide cab engines, autoracks and double stacks.

[Texas Zepher]

steinjr

 Btw, Tracy (the new lady - name is on the web page she linked to) - try to start a new thread instead of responding to a thread that has been dormant for a long time.

And this is one point I totally disagree with steinjr on.  If the old thread is still relevant why not bring it back instead of making everyone repost the same stuff over and over again.

All of my layouts have been based on a project, or magazine layout in some way shape or form.  When I was in grade school I memorized all the track plans in the Atlas Track Plans for HO scale railroads.  I memorized the track arrangements and the prototypical reason why they had been designed that way.  Later I got 101 track plans and learned all of those.  Finally I got a subscription to Model Railroader and Model Railroad Craftsman, I analyzed the track plan of every project layout as they came out.  All those added to knowledge I continue to use for every layout I design.  So in a word YES, all of my work has inspiration from 40 years of project layouts.

[Lady of the Rails]

Can I say thank you to Texas Zepher for his comments.  The reason that I replied to this post was because it was relevant to where I am now!  I have only just come back into model railroading and these forums are what is helping me the most.  Especially as I live where there isn't a lot of people or places that I can go to to get information and advise.

 

[milepost72]

My Current N Scale Layout is a "hodge-podge" of three different project layouts. The main part of the layout is based on your Lou Sassi inspired Juniata Division layout but instead of a double track. the front of the layout has a passing siding with a turnout off the siding to the siding pattern you use. On the far right hand side of the layout the double track siding merges into one siding with an "s-curve" going behind the Red Wing Milling plant based on the HO Scale Red Wing Division. the extension off the layout is a Coal Mine scene based on the extension that is built off the Turtle Creek Central. I will post pics if you would like so you can see how I blended all of this together. The track plan is awesome and provides for plenty of switching and continuous running.

[the North East Rail Modeler]

 My N scale layout is sort of planned after an Atlas plan ( I believed it was called the "Scenic& Relaxed)

About the only things that are the same as the plan is the general outline of the main line, and I wound up eliminating most of the track switches due to a lack of space on  the 3X6 space. Over all, it's pretty good, but the curves are very tight so I can't run the big 6-axle diesels (may be my fault, though, since it was my first real attempt at laying track).

I'm also planning on starting on an HO scale layout some time soon, based on Wolfgang Dudler's  Third Street Industrial District.  I don't know how that will evolve, but I'm hoping to have something that gives some good industrial switching opportunities

[BerkshireSteam]

Dave Vollmer

My layout is based on Lou Sassi's N scale Mohawk Division.  The story ran in the early 90s, and is in the Second Edition of Kalmbach's Small Railroads You Can Build.

Dave you just caused me a headache. I'm pretty sure you are talking about the same layout I say and really liked, but I don't know for sure. The head ache comes from we just moved a few weeks ago so all the little unneeded things like my magazines are still packed away buried in a pile of other stuff not needed.

If it is the one I am thinking, my plans moved the 'siding' cross-overs around for better operations. I would have moved the cross-over just before the industrial siding on the town side so a train on the outside track could reach it with out a back-up move on the inner main track, and I would have moved the crossover on the other side a little too but with out looking at the plan I can't remember which way.

Would also have tried to put another spur track on the 'rural' side to go with the small depot. Also, I had a "branch line" added at the mountain end (or another spot if better) that would run to a staging yard. That got killed quickly when I realized the room (and wife) would not be willing to give that much 'train land'.

Now that being said have also worked on and off on a shelf-type layout working with pieces of MR's club layouts dealing with MRT. This will sound like I am lying, but believe me I am not. The MRT, while not all industries rail served, is pretty much the backyard of where I grew up.

[delray1967]

Lady of the Rails, I think I built the same layout as you but can't get the trackplan database to search back to the early 90's to confirm the Cripple Creek name.

Some things I did different (if I remember correctly):

Changed the gravel industry to a coal tipple and added a 2nd track under the tipple.  Added a couple short lengths of track leading off the 4' side; one for expansion to staging yard (that never got built), and one hidden, to hold a loco or two (so I didn't have to keep moving locos on/off the layout.  I made the cement spur go slightly under the scenery to increase the capacity of the siding.

I didn't use sectional track, wired it for one person operation (no blocks/toggles); then simply replaced the DC power pack with a NCE command station when DCC came around.  This layout was started in '94 and I used it until a couple years ago; it is now in 2 pieces, leaning against my basement wall (waiting to dismantle and salvage track/turnouts).

You can see pics on my Shutterfly page, use the links in my signature (might have to cut/paste into the address bar).

It is a great layout to learn on; small enough to not get overwhelmed, lots of small areas to detail and it operates pretty well for a 4x8.  I used the situation card method-made a bunch of 3x5 cards for each industry (with various car orders (zero,1,2 or 3 cars)), then used a six sided dice to see how many of those situation cards I'd pull for my op session (if I didn't like the card I pulled, I'd pick another one).  Not realistic but it provided a nice random variety.

Good luck and enjoy the 15 years this layout could provide you and your family!

[Geared Steam]

LOL, I thought Volmer had came back to make a post, until I see the original post date. 2006.........