RhB Michael
RhB Lokführer
It's a whole other world waiting for you. You will be amazed at the possibilities.
Building My First Layout
- Thread starter Marlin338MX
- Start date
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I like what I've seen on DCC layouts at the train shows. The capabilities are very impressive.
Thank you! My progress has slowed down in the past few weeks. It'll get slower as summer gets into full swing.
Thank you! It took about a month to build. I had no idea what I was doing. I'm happy to be finished with it.
Many thanks..
I inherited mostly Atlas track and turnouts, so I bought the Atlas track planning software. I tried a different free program, but I couldn't figure it out. I found the Atlas software easy to use, and I'm not exactly computer literate.
I created my track plan based on my available space, and with the goal of having enough track to display all of my engines and rolling stock.
I'm not surprised to hear about the difficulties assembling. I plan on buying vehicles which are ready right out of the package when the time comes
. I think the truck came out great. The painted tail lights look great to me
Thank you! My wife is an artist, although not very actively painting anymore. But her hands are far more steady than mine. That's why I let her apply the decals and paint the tail lights. I also prefer to buy pre-assembled vehicles, but I couldn't find any assembled grain trailers. I'm happy with how the trailer turned out, but handling those tiny parts is way above my skill level. The instructions were very good, and recommended for ages 14 & up. I guess I need to buy models that are for ages 7 & up, Lol.
Thank you!
I decided to keep the truck loading building early in my layout design because the space between my elevator and the tracks was too small for any other building or feature. Now I'm glad I kept it.
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Marlin338MX
Well-Known Member
I like what I've seen on DCC layouts at the train shows. The capabilities are very impressive.
Smudge617
Well-Known Member
Once you've tried DCC you'll never go back.
Marlin338MX
Well-Known Member
I finally unboxed the last 3 engines from my dad's collection. The first one was the Bachmann A.T. & S.F. 2-8-0 Consolidation. Much to my surprise, and very happy to report, it ran great.
The next one was the very nicely detailed Bachmann Great Northern 2-8-0 Consolidation. It only made 1 or 2 laps before it stopped running. I haven't tried to diagnose or fix the issue yet. The engine sounds like it is getting plenty of power, but the wheels and motor don't turn. There was no sound of anything breaking when it stopped running, so not sure what it could be. I hope I can get it running.
The last one was the Bachmann John Bull 2-4-0 that came with the tender and 3 coaches. It also ran great.
I've started planning where to put my non-working engines on display on my layout as sort of stand alone railroad museum pieces. My dad bought the 2 engines that were at the Golden Spike ceremony, and they don't run very well at all, so they will be on display as a "Golden Spike Monument".
Obviously I haven't started working on landscaping and ballast. I'm still trying to finalize where everything will be placed on the layout.
I also have a PRR GG1 that doesn't run, so it will be on display next to the fire station, unless I find a better spot for it...
More of the non-working steam engines might end up as individual museum display pieces too.
That's about all for now.
The next one was the very nicely detailed Bachmann Great Northern 2-8-0 Consolidation. It only made 1 or 2 laps before it stopped running. I haven't tried to diagnose or fix the issue yet. The engine sounds like it is getting plenty of power, but the wheels and motor don't turn. There was no sound of anything breaking when it stopped running, so not sure what it could be. I hope I can get it running.
The last one was the Bachmann John Bull 2-4-0 that came with the tender and 3 coaches. It also ran great.
I've started planning where to put my non-working engines on display on my layout as sort of stand alone railroad museum pieces. My dad bought the 2 engines that were at the Golden Spike ceremony, and they don't run very well at all, so they will be on display as a "Golden Spike Monument".
Obviously I haven't started working on landscaping and ballast. I'm still trying to finalize where everything will be placed on the layout.
I also have a PRR GG1 that doesn't run, so it will be on display next to the fire station, unless I find a better spot for it...
More of the non-working steam engines might end up as individual museum display pieces too.
That's about all for now.
Marlin338MX
Well-Known Member
I got rid of one of the Tyco working stations that didn't work. It was the culvert pipe unloader.That gave me the ability to extend those 3 industrial spurs with more track. That opened up parking for about 9 more railcars there.
I also moved the row of downtown buildings closer to the far side row of buildings. It narrowed the street by almost 2", and it allowed me to extend the "piggy back" spur up behind those buildings, almost all the way to the turntable. Now that spur holds 10 railcars plus an engine. It only held 4 railcars before the extension.
And no, the lighthouse isn't staying here
I like the idea of having long trains staged on the spurs, and then taking random engines from the turntable to hook up to those trains and running some laps around the 2 mainlines.
I also moved the row of downtown buildings closer to the far side row of buildings. It narrowed the street by almost 2", and it allowed me to extend the "piggy back" spur up behind those buildings, almost all the way to the turntable. Now that spur holds 10 railcars plus an engine. It only held 4 railcars before the extension.
And no, the lighthouse isn't staying here
I like the idea of having long trains staged on the spurs, and then taking random engines from the turntable to hook up to those trains and running some laps around the 2 mainlines.
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Topherisme
Chris wants more hobby time!!!
Looking great! Love your progression, always getting something done 
Marlin338MX
Well-Known Member
Looking great! Love your progression, always getting something done
Thank you! My progress has slowed down in the past few weeks. It'll get slower as summer gets into full swing.
Marlin338MX
Well-Known Member
I built a wooden trestle from an old Campbell kit. I had to use some extra 1/8" square sticks to build the bents, and some 1/8" wide wooden stir sticks to build the "X" braces.
The kit says it has enough parts in it to build any of these trestles, except the one in the lower right. I built a version of the lower left bridge. I have some extra parts left over, but it wasn't enough to build my bridge without buying extra wood. I stained the wood Kona color.
This is where the bridge is going. But I have to remove some benchwork and make a valley out of several layers of 2" pink foam board.
Here is a size comparison with a PA1. The bridge is about 10" tall and the deck is about 12" long.
Onward and upward. Or downward...
The kit says it has enough parts in it to build any of these trestles, except the one in the lower right. I built a version of the lower left bridge. I have some extra parts left over, but it wasn't enough to build my bridge without buying extra wood. I stained the wood Kona color.
This is where the bridge is going. But I have to remove some benchwork and make a valley out of several layers of 2" pink foam board.
Here is a size comparison with a PA1. The bridge is about 10" tall and the deck is about 12" long.
Onward and upward. Or downward...
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Marlin338MX
Well-Known Member
Thank you! It took about a month to build. I had no idea what I was doing. I'm happy to be finished with it.
TooMuchToby
New Member
Model railroading beginner here, what software did you use to make the track plan?
Many thanks..
Marlin338MX
Well-Known Member
I inherited mostly Atlas track and turnouts, so I bought the Atlas track planning software. I tried a different free program, but I couldn't figure it out. I found the Atlas software easy to use, and I'm not exactly computer literate.
I created my track plan based on my available space, and with the goal of having enough track to display all of my engines and rolling stock.
Marlin338MX
Well-Known Member
I've managed to fit 106 freight cars on my layout. I have room for a few more cars. That number doesn't include all the engines and passenger cars that are also on the layout. I have one more single dome tanker on order.
Here's a video that shows the trains that I have on my layout. The engines that aren't on the tracks will be displayed as "museum" trains, because they either run very poorly, or they don't run at all.
Here's a video that shows the trains that I have on my layout. The engines that aren't on the tracks will be displayed as "museum" trains, because they either run very poorly, or they don't run at all.
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Marlin338MX
Well-Known Member
Just a small update here...
My dad bought and assembled a fire station, but I had no firetruck to go with it. So I bought a firetruck and ambulance to be displayed in front of the fire station. I still have to find a permanent location for the fire station.
I also wanted to add a grain truck to be parked at the grain elevator. I bought a pre-assembled Kenworth T600 (I had to attach the mirrors), and a Wilson trailer kit.
I didn't know how small some of these parts were going to be, and how difficult it would be to not only assemble them without breaking them, but many of the grab handles broke when I was very gently trying to cut them off the sprue. What a mess! It proves that I'm not cut out for these "micro-sized" models kits.
Here's the stock photo of what the trailer should look like
Here are the tiny grab handles that I decided to not add to the trailer because too many broke in half
Here are the tiny tail lights that were supposed to be glued on the back of the trailer. They might be .5mm in diameter, or less...
Here are the small parts that came in the kit
Many of the decals are very tiny as well
Needless to say, the tail lights got tossed in the trash. My wife painted the tail lights on the trailer after we both failed to handle them without losing them. The upper 4 holes are for two grab handles that I broke prior to putting them in place. These are the painted tail lights
The back of the trailer won't be visible on the layout. This trailer took 5 hours to assemble, and that was with my wife adding decals while I was removing parts from the sprues and prepping them for assembly. Here is my finished trailer
This is the truck and trailer parked at the grain elevator
My next little project is to add some track for a passenger train siding, and make a minor change to my center railyard.
My dad bought and assembled a fire station, but I had no firetruck to go with it. So I bought a firetruck and ambulance to be displayed in front of the fire station. I still have to find a permanent location for the fire station.
I also wanted to add a grain truck to be parked at the grain elevator. I bought a pre-assembled Kenworth T600 (I had to attach the mirrors), and a Wilson trailer kit.
I didn't know how small some of these parts were going to be, and how difficult it would be to not only assemble them without breaking them, but many of the grab handles broke when I was very gently trying to cut them off the sprue. What a mess! It proves that I'm not cut out for these "micro-sized" models kits.
Here's the stock photo of what the trailer should look like
Here are the tiny grab handles that I decided to not add to the trailer because too many broke in half
Here are the tiny tail lights that were supposed to be glued on the back of the trailer. They might be .5mm in diameter, or less...
Here are the small parts that came in the kit
Many of the decals are very tiny as well
Needless to say, the tail lights got tossed in the trash. My wife painted the tail lights on the trailer after we both failed to handle them without losing them. The upper 4 holes are for two grab handles that I broke prior to putting them in place. These are the painted tail lights
The back of the trailer won't be visible on the layout. This trailer took 5 hours to assemble, and that was with my wife adding decals while I was removing parts from the sprues and prepping them for assembly. Here is my finished trailer
This is the truck and trailer parked at the grain elevator
My next little project is to add some track for a passenger train siding, and make a minor change to my center railyard.
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Smudge617
Well-Known Member
Adding the small parts takes patience, keen eyesight and steady hands, none of which I have either.
PMW
Well-Known Member
I'm not surprised to hear about the difficulties assembling. I plan on buying vehicles which are ready right out of the package when the time comes
. I think the truck came out great. The painted tail lights look great to me Marlin338MX
Well-Known Member
I'm not surprised to hear about the difficulties assembling. I plan on buying vehicles which are ready right out of the package when the time comes
Thank you! My wife is an artist, although not very actively painting anymore. But her hands are far more steady than mine. That's why I let her apply the decals and paint the tail lights. I also prefer to buy pre-assembled vehicles, but I couldn't find any assembled grain trailers. I'm happy with how the trailer turned out, but handling those tiny parts is way above my skill level. The instructions were very good, and recommended for ages 14 & up. I guess I need to buy models that are for ages 7 & up, Lol.
Marlin338MX
Well-Known Member
Thank you!
I decided to keep the truck loading building early in my layout design because the space between my elevator and the tracks was too small for any other building or feature. Now I'm glad I kept it.
zzr1200guy
Well-Known Member
Looking good
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