Deleted Perhaps I did jump the gun a bit too soon! Anyway, here's the plan I'm interested in, and asking for help on: Upper level Lower level The plan has several things I like about it. Including continuous run, loop to loop, small yard and some industrial switching. There's a few other things I'd like to include, but space prevents that. I'm interested in building this layout, with modifications. As shown, layout is 8x10 feet. I'd like to enlarge it to 8x13 feet. The 8 foot width can NOT be changed. The extra 3 feet is maximum. Also hoping that it will allow the modifications I'm after. Because I have no planning software on current computer, and unable to locate Unitrack templates, I was hoping someone could convert this plan into something similar, using Kato N Scale Unitrack. Prefere unitrack, since I have a major pile of it! Although, a version using Atlas C55 would also be of help. More information provided, as needed. Thanks again.
Can we assume that from the Kato reference this will be Nscale, very interesting and fun looking layout.
We can. Don't think I could build that in 3 rail in the space I have! But yes, I'd like to build it, with some mods, using Kato N Scale track. And extending the length from 10 foot, to 13 foot. The 8 foot width can NOT change.
bringing back the memories Keith, You know, that was a great issue of MR. I still have my copy too. I always liked that steam layout pictorial, tall pine timber company. I always liked that plan too. I thought the engine facility was a nice design. I think you might be able to do dual return loops on it for more operation. I know my layout could really use another return loop for ease of train reversal. Doh, Just looked at the plan and it already has all the reversing it needs. Never mind! As to using kato track. If you have all the switches, go for it. Otherwise it may still be cheaper to use a different brand and perhaps use the kato track for the hidden track or just mix it up a bit. I'm counting about 35 switches on that layout for the visible portion and 6 for the hidden portion. How many switches have you got? The first thing I always do when I see a plan is count the switches and multiply the number by the current price to see exactly how far into the hole I'm gonna go.
Oh, do I recognize that one! My first big layout, with the top leg extended to 24 feet long, with grades and multiple levels. Except mine was a mirror image. Part of the layout, here the north-south part, comes from Linn Wescott's 101 Layouts with two spurs connected for the loop. Gordon and I reached the same solution independently. Gordon and I corresponded about this similarity, and what we did with the other leg (east-west, along the top) a number of times. I was in the middle of a divorce, so never got to photograph my extended version of this layout back in 1978. That east-west leg, I will say, has lots of possibilities!
That's a great looking layout Keith. Presents lots of interesting possibilities and is exactly the kind of layout plan that I have been looking for myself. This would be ideal for the upper level on the layout I am planning to build. So thanks for posting this. My advise is get out your tape measure and your carpentary tools, work out how much timber you will need and start the benchwork!
OK, replies to several comments: Pete - Too bad you have no photos of your version. Would like to see how it had looked, for ideas etc.... Geeky - My plan did NOT come from the MR magazine. Mine came from the following book: Track Planning Ideas From Model Railroader. 58 track plans from previous issues. Selected by Bob Hayden Cleggie - I really liked this plan when I first saw it. It's got what I'm wanting, as far as operations go - Continuous running, dual reverse loops, small yard, and some industrial switching. I'm wanting to enlarge said plan with slightly larger curves, instead of the suggested 12" radius. One reason being, that larger 6 axle locomotives and 85 foot passenger cars look better on the bigger curves. Anyway, I gotta get going. Still have 1 more night of work. Can discuss benchwork construction with folks then.
Wow, here I am, looking through my old photos for how I interpreted this layout and, poof!, it's now gone. I'll suspend the search.
Pete, Still interested in what you did back then. Guess I'm gonna have to give up and work on things alone again. I've tried twice to request help and get absolutely nothing. Find it kind of disappointing. Oh well......
Keith, that was of 5/08 then silence until 10/08. You have already have helpful replies (I assume) prior to you pulling your original post. What do you want? If you keep pulling requests before people can read them then you haven't any reason to be disappointed in the lack of replies.
What am I missing here? Where's the layout plan you're thinking about Keith? And what's with the "I'm not getting any help" reply? Looks like things were going along and either something happened to the posts or something else--I'm not sure what. I don't think anyone that asks for help with a layout plan on here gets ignored. Why don't you get your info re-posted and let everyone see what you've got going on? I may not know much, but I'll give you my advice for what it's worth--and that and about 4.75 will get you a nice cup of coffee these days.
Reposted layout plan along with some other information. Apologies to everyone, as I probably did jump the gun a bit too soon. Guess I'm having a bad time and don't know it yet! Oh well.......Time to go find wall with my anti stress kit mounted! Thanks.
Apology accepted. Keith, it looks a good layout plan. Which month and year did it appear in MR? I may have the issue at hand.
Not sure what MR it appeared in. Dates thoughtfully NOT provided! I got mine from the following book: Track Planning Ideas From Model Railroader 58 track plans from past issues. Selected by Bob Hayden Model Railroad Handbook No. 15
And the MR search function is virtually worthless, IMO. Won't search back any farther than approximately 1986.
Which was when I was building my first layout! Keith, I'm trying to make a sketch of how I extended that plan. I also eliminated some track features. I haven't found any photos because of a divorce in 1979, where I just chucked boxes of slides and photos.
Keith, I can sympathize with you on the perceived lack of interest in your project. However, the plan you came up with looks like an almost perfect model railroad layout. What do you expect in the way of help. Jerry
Now that it's reposted, I can see what you're talking about. If I had the room, I wouldn't mind tackling this one myself- Gordon Odegard was a great N scale modeler back in his time. I see no flaws with the plan. Just by looking at the plan, you may need a boatload of Unitrak, but then again I have no idea how much you have on hand right now Atlas's code 55 is good stuff, and would work as well, but there are no number 4s in the code 55 line, just 5s and 7s, plus the wye switch. Somewhere out in the garage I have the copy of MR this plan was published in, but with 34 years of magazines to go through, well..... Do you have a list of givens & druthers (a la John Armstrong) that govern your choice of layout? What prototype do you model, or do you freelance? Where would the location be? (with this one, I envision either the Denver area or out on the Eastern Plains, say around Limon with Rock Island & UP as the roads).
Even if redesigned for Atlas C55 track, that'll work. The slightly larger turnouts won't hurt. A couple of other changes I'd like to make are: 1. Eliminate the double track loop at top left. 2. Convert the 2 stub tracks in yard to through tracks. 3. Lengthen layout from 10 foot, to 13 foot. Based on the Rio Grande in the Colorado Rockies. Mainline running, with mining branch. Small yard, if possible. Continuous running possibility, with dual reverse loops to change train direction. Some hidden staging. Some industrial switching. Hope this helps!
