Hi Guys! It has been awhile since I posted anything on here but I have a problem rolling around in my brain. My wife and I are modeling Winter Early 1940's. My Layout is 12 feet wide, by 24 feet long. I have 2 outside mains that just run in a square and for me it stinks. I wanna model something a little more complicated, with a little more action. Any Suggestions? I want atleast 3 towns, a good sized yard to hold quite a few cars. It just seems I need more real estate to build the empire I want to build. But for now, I am stuck, I see in Model Railroader Magazine all these beautiful HO Scale Layouts built in the same amount of space, or less space for that matter. What To Do, What To Do!
Well, my first suggestion would be to download Atlas Right track software if you haven't. It is really easy to use. Basically all you do is select the shape and size, then lay your track. It has HO code 100 and 83 atlas snap track, and also features a flex track designer. It also has buildings. The problem with the buildings is the current version was designed in 07 so some of the buildings are no longer available. Now here is my thought: On one end put a town, then either a mountain or a wall then another town then another mountain or wall. Then on your other Straight away have a big yard. so to break it down here is my idea: Short ends: both have a town. Long straits: one with town, other with yard.
I've drawn more track plans then I can count. I really would jump from one idea, railroad, era etc ( a railroad boomer). It really didn't come together for me until I operated on a couple of railroads, especially Rick McClellan's Northern Division. I discovered that I like to switch cars. However, I am not especially fond of working a big yard like Rick's 19th street, too much like work. Running a passenger train from one end to the other was not my favorite assignment. I also wanted my railroad prototype based and that gets a lot easier if it is something you can go look at yourself, or at least where the railroad use to run. I like red boxcars, to me they bring back my youth I guess of watching cars with all the logos. Putting it all together and with the help of a couple of people I came up with my West Bottoms track plan in the early 1950's. But by doing that, there are things I'm giving up. Yard, passenger traffic, scenery other than urban, geeps, F units, etc. You have to make compromises and be comfortable with not only what you are doing, but what you are not doing. If you don't nail this down you end up doing nothing, like me for 20 years, or have the Plywood Pacific Railroad you will eventually lose interest in. I've commented in an earlier post the mags promoting these large basement filling railroads. That's great and I admire those that have the time, space, money and energy to build them. But don't think you can't build an interesting prototype based railroad that is smaller in scope. Personally, I would rather have a smaller, well built bullet proof railroad with easier maintenance. These are only my thoughts and not necessarily correct. But I am now focused and moving forward. John
1) Don't think rectilinear just because the room is rectilinear - the layout benchwork can curve. 2) The maximum width of the benchwork could be no wider than an arms length - unless you are just building a city. Don't waste space on just trees, grass and buildings. 3) The endpoints of the layout (staging) can be hidden and curved. 4) Start with an accurate, scale drawing of your space. Use 1/4" square ruled paper to show the location of windows, doors, etc. Make multiple photocopies of this drawing. (You can use software to do this if you are so inclined). 5) Use the photocopies or software to doodle ideas for a flowing track plan. For ideas about how to lay out businesses served by the railroad, look at what others have done before - look at lots of pictures. Many businesses may have had just one spot to place a railcar and in many cases, one siding may have multiple businesses with single spots. 6) The old rectangular 4/8 does not scale up well in both dimensions - stuff just gets too hard to get at for building and operating. 7) Don't think just two dimensional - there is the possibility of vertical travel as well 8) Get someone like mark (Mark Davidson) involved in your ideas - he seems to have a genuine gift at laying out stuff in a given space. There are multiple examples of his prowess locally. (And he is too humble to admit it).
Keith's point about getting help with track planning is right on. Check the frisco.org membership for fellow modelers who live near you. Get the Sanborne Fire Insurance maps for towns of interest - between Cherryville, KS and Springfield according to your profile - pick two or three with interesting industries and switching - connect them - use backdrops to make two-sided benchwork - sketch - etc. I'm in the same process for ideas for the Ft. Wood MO branch railroad.
Excellent summaries by all. John M., I couldn't agree with you more...find what you like the most and focus on those aspects. If you're gonna model the mainline (and have the motive power and rolling stock to realistically replicate the prototype ), focus on one or two layout design elements. Keith, a good executive summary and points to ponder. Will, keep an eye open for further issues of "The Meteor." You may also want to check out the thread on "Small Layout Design Catalog" (http://www.frisco.org/vb/showthread.php?t=3450). My hope/goal is to start putting together some layout plans (with the help of the group) for "The Meteor" e-zine that will be strictlyi prototype-based. Best Regards,
Will, Here are some thoughts to help you gain ideas on your design. I find it is best to follow the prototype for track design and operations. From your profile it appears your focus is along the Charthage subdivision between Pierce City, MO and Neodesha, KS. Further, you want to model during the steam era. There are several modelable locations on this line, with interesting opportunities for fun operations, that would make great layout design elements. Several of the more interesting locations that come to mind include, from east to west: Carthage - Crossing of the Missouri Pacific's Carthage Subdivision, interchange with the MoP, neat stone depots (both SLSF and MoP), large concrete elevators, furniture manufacturing (bedding), marble stone production. Oronogo - Frisco Joplin Branch takes off here to the southwest. The Missouri Pacific Joplin Branch also connected here. Lots of locally mined lead and coal are the key industries. Carl Junction - Frisco diamond crossing of the Tuckahoe Branch (Pittsburg, KS to Joplin, MO), just a mile to the east is the KCS Neosho Subdivision main. Columbus - The 3-way diamond with the Afton Subdivision and the MKT Joplin Branch, don't forget the interlocking tower, just to the west is the NEO diamond, interchange with the SLSF Afton Sundivision, the MKT and the NEO branch. Cherryvale - A really neat "L" shaped brick SLSF station, Santa Fe diamond and interchange, which is protected by a gate. Also the possibility of including the Frisco's Parsons sub and its diamond which lead to a small yard at a right angle to the Carthage Sub. And that is just some to the towns and junctions along this line. There are at least 6 other towns without other railroads and additional diamond crossings at Military with the KCS, Sherwin the MoP, Oswege and again at Mound Valley with the Katy. Ever considered a really cool location without modeling all the blank main line in between stations? Consider modeling just the Joplin terminal (one city). Here you have the meeting point of 3 Frisco branch lines (Joplin, Galena and Tuckahoe). Further, there is interchange with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe (ATSF), Kansas City Southern (KCS), Missouri, Kansas and Texas (MKT) and Missouri Pacific (MP). In a compact area there are cool depots, freight houses, small model size yards and engine facilities, at grade and overhead railroad crossings, neat track work and a large number of industries. Hope this helps. Thanks! Mark
