ModelRailroadForums.com is a free Model Railroad Discussion Forum and photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.
Just picked up a copy of "102" at Borders for $7.95. All the plans have been published in Model Railroader at one time or another but for $8 it's a handy reference to have for track planning - everything from itty-bitties to a 30-ft long N-scale layout with a central peninsula. (Can you imagine a 90-foot N-scale loop? <drool!>)
Picked it up about a week ago and pretty much haven't put it down! So many ideas, only one room... I just wish they were more detailed as far as constructing them.
Randy, remember that track plan books are to show you track plans, not layout construction methods. A book like Building a Model Railroad Step by Step, availablea t http://modelrailroadbookstore.com/s...to-guide-Model-Railroaders-How-To-Guides.html, is really what you need to learn basic benchwork construction. Once you understand the basic methods, it's easy to adapt any track plan to use almost identical construction techniques.
It doesn't matter how anybody else would operate it, it's all about what YOU want to do. Think about what YOU are looking for. Don't try to wear somebody elses shoes.
The "101" is a pretty decent book. If "102" is better then I might have to pick it up. The "101" is giving me a few ideas of what I want to do. I'll prolly just stick with it and chose a layout out of it.
Ah an element of your model railroading education that is lacking. The 101 Track Plans book was the staple track plan book from 1957 through the 1970s. It still contains bunches of good concepts and ideas. I don't think I would ever acutally build a track plan from it, but I have used its concepts in almost every layout I've designed though the years. I think I have 4 copies so one is always within reach.
There is also the Atlas Track Plans for Customline Track that I keep handy. In the back it has all the geometry of the various Atlas sectional track and how to hook it together to make various configurations.
Why would you not build a track plan from it Western Star? I only ask because it's the issue I picked up and I actually found 4 really nice track plans that I'm considering building.
Oh and BTW those Western Star's are some nice tractors!!! We have them come through our intermodal yard all day!!
