Hi everyone! This is my first post as a new member. I am coming back to HO after 8 years away. I have a space of about 20x20 and I would like to build an L-shaped shelf layout with room for structures and switching in an urban setting. Also would like to add a small waterfront scene. I am looking for plans and ideas and would be glad to hear from you. Many thanks,
Sabatrain, welcome to Trainboard, Sounds like you have plenty of realestate for your layout... but more information is required. e.g. are there any restrictions ? what height do you plan for your shelf? how deep can you shelf be? Then there are the opperational considerations... Givens and druthers... Givens, the pysical parmeters of your layout plus things that you absolutely must have. Druthers, things that you think would suit/would like to have. What era railroads are you interests, steam, diesel etc? What emphasis, running trains vs switching opps? Scenery to track raitio? I sorry if that all sound like a lot to throw at you but this is just to get the creative juices flowing. The more information you give us the better we can work out what you want and what will suit. You can always do a Goggle search for HO layouts. I know others will chime in on this thread and maybe supply you with some links to layout plans. Good luck, enjoy your hobby and have FUN!
Here is one I am starting in N scale about 11x11. Perhaps it has some ideas you could adapt. It is based on the Santa Fe at Galveston, with a port terminal railroad ssitching the docks. http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/552/KKplanD.JPG General prototype map of Galveston Island http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/552/galv_isl.jpg prototype map of depot and downtown area http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/552/ProtoDepot.JPG prototype yards http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/552/GalvMap23.jpg
Wow, that is a beautiful design. In HO this would be a huge layout. I am looking to use the room as a music room AND a hobby room, which is why I want to keep the layout to an "L" shape rather than a "O" or an island. I don't dare go to N -- at age 53 HO is as small as I can handle. I hope to hear from others on this Forum who have ideas for "L" shapes. Thanks
Cleggie, those are all great questions. I would be modeling the early diesel period, so cabooses and caboose tracks would be needed. Since I am restricting myself to an "L" shape, continuous running is out. I enjoy urban settings more than big mountains and I do want to have a small port / pier area. I MIGHT be able to put a loop at one end of the "L" and make this an out-and-back rather than a point-to-point. Most of the rolling-stock will be 50' and I will want to have a waybill switching system. I imagine two urban centers, one with a port scene at one end of the layout, and another with more of a country / mountain scene at the other. I don't want to consume all the space with track so a hugh yard is out. I will probably have a couple hidden straight staging tracks behind a backdrop to act as interchange tracks. I see this as making up a train on one end, moving it to the other, switching the consist, making up another one and back to the other end. I'll probably use a tethered walk-around control with power-switching turnouts and manual ground throws for the most part -- the ultimate in walkaround simplicity. I want to keep the electronics to a minimum and concentrate on building dense urban environments with lots of switching. I hope this gives folks an idea of what I am looking to do. I hope to see some "L" plans! Thanks all,
N is 55% of O, so 11x11 in N scales to... 20x20 in HO. EDIT: Never mind. That doesn't matter. Should've looked at the layout first.
Pardon my ignorance, but how the heck would http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/552/KKplanD.JPG possibly fit within 11 x 11, even in n scale!? Otherwise, I have to agree that is a beautiful layout. Mike, from DieCastoms.
Shelf Layout The layout I have is a shelf layout sixteen inches deep around all four walls of a room thirteen feet square. There is a lift out for the doorway. The layout is four feet off the floor and is cantelevered into the studding of the room so there is no legs. Kitchen cabinet base units might be used to make a layout two feet deep and provide storage at the same time.
Ok, you said continuous running is out, so this will be a shelf (or pseudo-shelf) layout. Three thoughts: Look up back issues of "Model Railroader" for articles by David Barrow on his domino Cat Mountain and Santa Fe. You could use some of his modules for an L-shape. There's also an article in an issue of "Model Railroad Planning". Google "Ateton and Footnine" . It's a neat little L-shape layout that you could expand substantially to fit your space. I REALLY like the East Rail (Canalview) layout. You could tweak it a bit with a runaround and add staging. I'm currently building an L-shaped shelf layout in N since I want it in my den instead of basement. For now, one leg of the L will be 6-inch wide staging and the other a small industrial area with a transloading facility, cement plant, team track, and a couple track yard for holding loads and empties. The staging will likely become a multitrack yard / visible staging eventually when I figure out a plan I like.
My approach has always been to refer to old magazine plans for inspiration and then design my own. It's pretty easy to design your own. You just make your list of wants and go from there. Do you want single track main or double? Point to loop as you stated. You could have two levels, not two decks, so that trains would run the length of the layout and then hit a turn and double back the same length and double your mainline run. Perhaps a city on a slope? I'd hit the local library for model railroad books and old Mrs. Good luck
The Jan issue of Model Railroader (out now) has a GREAT Wisconsin Southern shelf layout that could be used for inpiration. Also, the Great Model Railroads 2008 magazine has two different shelf layouts that might also help you see what could be possible. I don't think a shelf layout is as limiting as some poeple think--I think it gets you to focus on operations instead of just running trains and to me, that's a good thing.
Sabatrain I'll suggest that you take a look at the following site: boxcar-haven.JPG.jpg :: A corner layout inspired by John Pryke's Union Terminal. For more see the notes in the image. @ Andrews Trains on Fotopic.Net There are many other ideas here as well: Operations Focused Layout Designs @ Fotopic.Net that may form part of the layout design for you. Note: Shameless plug notation as it is my site. Hope there is something there that grabs your attention.
I'm working on a 12 x 16 foot layout. Take a look: Thes should give you some ideas. ~Donovan in Dallas
N-I-C-E Donovan. I'd laike to see if you'd mind starting another thread on your layout? I don't want to hi-jack this one, but you're layout's really cool looking and I'm interested in how you operate it. Thanks again for the photos!
Donovan, What type curves are you using? This would be a layout I would like to "build-off" of and use in N Scale. Of course with a coal mine in there somewhere! :tb-biggrin: 'Nut
I dont know why I didn't think of this before but the layout I am planning for my garden is a rather large shelf layout! I will post my plans/ideas soon for you all to scrutinaize. Nice layout Donovan, wish I could see it myself. Mike from DieCastoms
