This is the start of my HO scale Iowa & Midwest Central rail road layout. It started as an 8 foot X 4 foot double oval. I have recently moved into this house, and while constructing the aforementioned layout, I discovered a home made wood box. When I emptied its contents and turned it over, I found that it was 2 foot X 4 foot, and made of the same plywood as my layout, and it worked perfect to add additional area to the layout. That's why the strange construction on the right end. This plan came from one that I was asked to build for a friend. She wanted a simple layout without any switching, but with a bridge. I used a reworked plan from an Atlas plan book, which she loved. I saw potential in it and did some more redesigning. I grew up in Iowa, and remembered the trough truss bridges, consisting of several end to end crossing the rivers. I wanted to capture some of that feel, so I worked them into this twice around track plan. This is basically a 'watch them go plan', but I have added minimal switching to give reason for the bridges and for scenic purposes. I'm also planning a switching layout. A business district will set in the left enclosure, with a grain COOP sitting beside it. A freight depot and LCL/team track are already constructed. The freight depot is made up of a DPM freight depot, Pikestuff loading dock, & Cornerstone Storage Shed on Pilings. The LCL complex is 2 RIX quanset huts and a Pikestuff loading dock. Around this "Y", I will be combining Suydam's Swift Meat Packing and Sunkist buildings to make a grocery complex. On the other side of the track will be my Schtuck Window Factory. In my early years of employment, I worked for a window factory in a neighboring town. I was less than thrilled with the company, and have always had a Schtuck Window factory to humorously express my disdain. I even managed to drop in a passenger depot and a couple of small RIX houses at the far left end.
You're starting off like I did - a blank slate and a rough drawing straight on the wood, with a dash of inspiration added. Once the scenery and buildings are all in, that's going to be a sweet layout! Keep us posted!
although im not HO , i model in N this looks good. i like seeing others layouts HO,N, Z there all the same and i can ideas from all of them.. i do like this track plan......
