Examples
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One of the "bibles" of good layout designs is the Kalmbach book "101 Track Plans for Model Railroaders".
This book has been in print continuously for over fifty years, has sold over a
half million copies, and continues to inspire model railroaders everywhere with
its interesting plans, charming artwork, and technical utility.
Note: Because they represent copyrighted material, the layouts
from the book cannot displayed here, nor will you find them available on any
website that obeys the copyright law. The TrainPlayer model railroad simulator has
licensed the layouts and provides access to all 101 layouts. If this presentation
is running on a computer with the TrainPlayer software installed the following
layouts are worth looking at:
L4, the Reddy River & Piedras
provides a very small layout (4' x 6' in HO) with many interesting operating
possibilities. The layout is a simple oval with 2 passing sidings,
several industry sidings, a yard with several sidings, including a passenger
station and a turntable and roundhouse. Note that trains may reverse
direction, always a desirable feature. Many hours of operation can be
enjoyed moving cars into and out of industries. And try running two
trains in opposite direction without stopping either one and you'll get a good
idea of complex mainline operations. Just be sure to run short passenger
cars!
L12, Mechanic Street Yard (2' x 8' in
HO) shows what can be accomplished with a "shelf" layout. There
is no mainline but lots of switching. A layout like this (as with most
layouts) will have an "interchange track" where cars are dropped off
and picked up from another railroad representing the connection to the rest of
the world. On this layout, cars would have to be taken from the
interchange track and replaced by hand.
L1, Stockton & Darlington RR (4' x
3') is another very small layout with only a few sidings but an "over and
under" mainline where trains can be run continuously. Note that its
really not feasible to run two trains in opposing directions.
L13, Elizabeth & Rahway River Ry
(3' x 7' in HO) is a variation on the popular figure 8 layout. Just a few
sidings but running more than one train takes some ingenuity.
L98, Butte, Anaconda & Pacific RR
(14' x 17' in HO) provides both point to point (like a real railroad) and
continuous running and is modeled after a real railroad in Montana. Lots
of operation here!
References:
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