Gallery

GALLERY OF TRACK PLANS

This N scale two level track plan was measures 14' 8" x 10' 6" and was designed to fit in the corner of a basement. Two sides are against the basement concrete walls with two side open to the room. The client wanted to model a prototype railroad in Minnesota. To capture prototypical operations, lower level staging was added via a helix. There are two staging yards, with one under each peninsula. One yard is Minneapolis, the other Kansas City. The towns depicted are real and the industries do or did exist in each town. With the two staging yards the layout operates as a true point-to-point railroad with continuous running.

This N scale track plan was designed to fit within a space measuring approximately 16½' x 12½' with a staging yard along an adjoining wall. This track plan is a true "point-to-point" design. Trains enter the layout heading in opposite directions. This plan is what I call a "true north" plan, meaning that no matter where, in the room you are standing, as long as you are looking at the mainline, directly in front of you, you are always looking north. Westbound traffic will always be moving from your right to left and eastbound traffic will always be moving from left to right. Making operations on the layout much easier to understand.

This HO scale logging railroad was designed to fit inside one half of an attached garage. The major feature of the layout is the massive logging operation at the end of the peninsula. All of the strucutres are craftsman quality. When a visitor walks through the lift-out, the logging camp is the first thing they see, i.e. the WOW factor! The plan does include hidden staging so the layout can operate in a prototypical manner if the client so chooses.

This HO scale track plan was designed for a space measuring 18' x 18'. The client wanted to model the area around Lancaster, PA. The unusal feature of this design is Philadelphia staging located inside the large peninsula. This space could a contain a dispatchers desk, as well. The plan depicts the Lancaster yard and the New Holland sub-division. The client plans to eventaully add a second level, thus the addition of a helix to the main level. One advantage to adding the helix during construction of the main level is the helix can serve as an additional staging track.

This HO scale layout was a challenge in that the client wanted to maintain a family home entertainment zone in the same space the layout would occupy. The client also had specific wants for the track plan design. He wanted provisions for continuous running, lots of switching, a reasonable size classification yard, prototypical operations, and narrow shelves for easy reach.
All of this had to be designed around two pieces of furniture that could not be relocated. A large projection TV and a large sofa the family used to watch the TV.
While one of the more unusual track plans I've ever designed, I think I was able to include all of the "wants" the clients had and still maintain space for the family to enjoy their home entertainment zone.

The Amnicola Southern is a HO scale shelf layout. The main feature of this design is its potential for expansion. The mainline (black line) runs through the center of the plan, the layout could be expanded in either direction. Another possibility is attaching a movable two or three track car ferry/caddie to either end, increasing the prototypical operating possibilities exponentially.

By far the largest HO scale track plan I have designed. The room measures approximately 40' x 33'. The client had very specific requests. The visible portion needed to accurately depict the Milwaukee RR from Missoula, MT to Avery, ID in the mid-60's to early 70's. The clients wanted the plan to be geographically pure with towns, rivers, bridges, tunnels, etc. all in their correct locations and each depicted as accurately as possible. The client also requested narrow benchwork with wide aisles. The towns of Missoula and Avery needed to be designed as close to the prototype as possible. Minimum mainline radius is 40". The design has three levels with the lower and upper levels containing staging. Main level heights vary from 45" to 51", lower staging is set at 26" and upper staging at 67".

A simple HO scale shelf layout with lots of operations. The space measures slightly over 11' 6" x 11' 6". The three track staging caddie and the single track caddie allow the layout to operate prophetically. Trains can enter the layout from staging and exist the layout to staging. Background buildings were used along the main wall. Even a small shelf layout can be designed to allow maximum switching possibilities. There are ten industrial spots cars can be spotted and picked up. With the staging caddies, this design could keep two operators busy for a few hours.

This N scale design created challenges because it needed to share basement space with the family entertainment center. Traffic patterns had to be maintained for access into other parts of the basement. A treadmill needed to remain in its current location. The client wanted prototypical operations so a helix was added to a lower level staging yard under the peninsula. Two lift-outs were required, one needing to be 60" long, built out of heavy gauge metal to prevent warping. Continuous running was a major priority, along with numerous industries for switching operations.

This double deck HO scale plan has a number of unusual features. The jut-in in the northeast corner houses a coal mine scene using a figure eight track design to gain elevation to the mine. One of the clients primary interests was inter-modal operations so a large inter-modal scene was added. With opposing peninsulas the plan gives the client the longest possible mainline run. Adding view blocks to each peninsula creates the feeling the layout is much larger. The view blocks also help create the feeling distance and time. There is no where [in the room], where you can stand and see all of the railroad at one time. The client also wanted a large classification yard for sorting cars. The unusual shape of this yard allows for long strings of cars to be sorted and classified. Underneath each peninsula are staging yards designed for automatic re-staging. No hand fiddling of cars or trains is required.

This N scale track plan was designed as a point-to-point railroad with prototypical operations as the main focal point. Trains enter and exit the layout via matching stub-end staging yards. The focal point of the layout is the large Allentown classification yard located approximately halfway between the two staging yards.
The plan contains nine industries, an interchange, a large mine operation on a branchline.