la area layout

[tundradude69]

this is my first thread in the forum, I am a brand new member. I was wondering though if anyone knew a layout for the greater l.a. basin. covering all the way out to the victorville area. thanks guys!! anyone also know a good layout program that can be found on the net too that is free..

 

[UP2CSX]

The best layout planning program is also free- XtrkCAD. You can download it at http://www.xtrkcad.org/Wikka/HomePage.

Are you asking for a trackplan that covers all the way from L.A. to Victorville? Just how much space do you have? Just fitting in Cajon Pass and having it look believable would take a huge layout.

 

[tundradude69]

la area

i was thinking of doing it "n" scale to save a little bit of space, but space isn't the issue, finding the plans are.. know where i can find them?

 

[UP2CSX]

Well, check out http://home.comcast.net/~cajonpass52/track_plan.htm. This a famous model railroad that just covers the area, and a very compressed area, from San Bernardino to Victorville. It's 28' x 56' in HO, not counting additional staging tracks on the upper area of the layout. It has taken him just about 30 years to get it a point he calls "mostly complete". Since it sound like you're young, if you have the space, talent, time, money, and stability of residence that you can spend 20 or 30 years building a layout, have at it.

 

[Airslide]

one of the things you can also try is to google earth your location. if you get (or are already) fluent with the track planning software, you may be able to create your own modified plan off of the aerial photo.

 

[tundradude69]

Jim, thanks for such a good detailed map, it looks good and i will look forward to starting the project very soon. the quality though is unfortunate, its poor, you got that same plan in a more clear and readable format? but i do appreciate the help.

 

[tundradude69]

la layout

hey i never got a good response on this topic, does anyone know a good layout that is modern for the la area covering out to victorville? Thanks guys!!

 

[SpaceMouse]

You probably got about as good as you're going to get. You could email the guy with the plan and get a bigger version. Figuring you're going to drop about $100/ sq foot into this layout, or this case around $80,000. I'd do a lot more than try to bum a plan off someone. I'd want to do a little research, figure out what what I like about model railroading and what I don't and design something that fits me.

But that's just me. I don't have $80K or any fraction of that to waste.

You might start by reading my beginner's guide below in my signature.

 

[UP2CSX]

You can contact Ted York at http://www.tedyorkphotography.com/email/contact.html. He is a very busy and popular photographer so ask him nicely if he'd be willing to e-mail a PDF of his track plan.

As Chip said, a layout like this is incredibly expensive. In addition, it looks as good as it does because Ted spend years in the Cajon Pass area photographing trains and knows just about every square inch of the area. How much time are you able or willing to spend doing research? A track plan does not a realistic layout make.

 

[jbaakko]

Few LA-Victorville is allot of track. Which line to do want to model? There's ~4 ways through the LA basin.

 

[Smitty49]

Well, check out http://home.comcast.net/~cajonpass52/track_plan.htm. This a famous model railroad that just covers the area, and a very compressed area, from San Bernardino to Victorville. It's 28' x 56' in HO, not counting additional staging tracks on the upper area of the layout. It has taken him just about 30 years to get it a point he calls "mostly complete". Since it sound like you're young, if you have the space, talent, time, money, and stability of residence that you can spend 20 or 30 years building a layout, have at it.

Jim I what to thank you for the 'Ride down Memory Lane' with the web site on the Cajon Pass Layout.
Back in the early 60's I was fortunate to ride with my Dad on the Super Chief out of KC to LA. Our trip actually started in HSV,Al but when we reach KC it was a whole new world.
My most memorable experience was to set in the Observation Car and looking over the passenger cars to the front as we were going down a long slight grade and curve,it looked like the train was 10 miles long, but what a sight, and I believe I remember the grade over Cajon Pass!
I can remember the Turquoise and multi-colored interior and the beautiful wood.
A once in a lifetime experience I'll never forget!

 

[UP2CSX]

Smitty, thank Ted York for building that fine layout. I has been his labor of love for over 30 years. I spent a lot of time railfaning in Cajon back in the days of Chard Walker and the Descanso at Summit station. The Super Chief was always the highlight of the day, with those Warbonnet F's and gleaming stainless steel cars. It was a much better time in many ways.