Layout Designs

© Geren W Mortensen

Geren W. Mortensen is planning (and building) a series of modules that go together to create a larger layout but that work perfectly well on their own - a great way to build up to a large layout of your own.

Geren models in On30 scale and so can plan for 9″ radius curves with O scale scenery.

Geren wrote: “Attached is a version of the ‘transition module’ meant to be used between the “Salisbury Loop” and the “Crisfield Industrial” plans. In addition to making a transition, this module can stand on it’s own as a small shunting layout. This is the town of Berlin.

“Some changes are made to the “Crisfield Industrial” track plan to accomodate this module. First, the entire plan is pushed “back” on the module so that the lead track (which enters from the upper right of the “Crisfield” plan) is 3 inches on center from the back of the layout. A meandering branch is added to the front of the “Crisfield” module, 3 inches from the front, which may join another module at a later date.”

© Geren W Mortensen

Geren W. Mortensen is planning (and building) a series of modules that go together to create a larger layout but that work perfectly well on their own - a great way to build up to a large layout of your own.

Geren models in On30 scale and so can plan for 9″ radius curves with O scale scenery.

Geren wrote: “Here’s a design I whipped up for a shelf layout, which I’ve called the Crisfield Industrial Park. It incorporates an Inglenook section, among other things.

“Basically, a train of one engine, one passenger car, 5 freight cars and a caboose roll into town from the upper right. The caboose is cut off, and the five freights are spotted on the upper side of the run-around track, and the passenger car is spotted on the lower side of the run-around track. The engine then inserts itself into the tail track on the upper left, and the Inglenook scenerio is run, leaving five cars to depart town. Some additional gyrations are performed to get the caboose and passenger car where they belong, the engine couples to the outbound end of the train, and the train heads back off the module to the upper right.”

Eventually, this module will be joined to Salisbury Loop via a transition module .

©Geren W Mortensen

Geren W. Mortensen is planning (and building) a series of modules that go together to create a larger layout but that work perfectly well on their own - a great way to build up to a large layout of your own.

Geren models in On30 scale and so can plan for 9″ radius curves with O scale scenery.

Geren wrote: “Here’s another design I’ve been working on - construction is actually started on this. This one’s a loop plan, with a sorta timesaver flair. Eventually, the Crisfield Industrial module will be connected to the street track that runs off the left end of the street (see sceniced drawing to see where the street is) via a transition module, and a yard section will dangle from the lower right where a wye is starting to develop.”

The unscenic version

Stuart Edmundson first posted this plan to the On30 Conspiracy group at Yahoo!, but has kindly agreed to its publication at LayoutDesigns.com as well. “On30″ models are O scale models running on HO gauge track, representing 30″ gauge prototypes. The beauty of plans in this scale, however, are that they can usually be used for standard gauge HO layouts (albeit with smaller scenery).

Big Foot Lumber started life as a shelf layout - shown at the bottom of the plan as ‘Existing Module’ - and this portion is an interesting switching layout for either a narrow gauge or small standard gauge operation.

The key to building this layout is to ensure that you can access the hidden sidings at the top left of the plan, just in case of a problem arising. One option would be for a single track to descend after entering the tunnel and swing around to a fiddle yard area under the sawmill, but this would be dependent on space and the maximum gradients your trains can comfortably handle.

© Stuart Edmundson

Norfolk & Adair © Emrys Hopkins

Two layouts in one here - on one side of the central viewblock is the town of Norfolk with a few small industries, minimal engine servicing area and a passenger depot. On the other side is Adair Junction, where a logging line joins the branch line. Adair Junction is heavily influenced by the famous Gumstump and Snowshoe layout, but I’m not aware of any particular influence over Norfolk.

Norfolk station

The unusual aspect of this plan is that it’s designed to stick out from the corner of a room. The two staging areas go against the walls and - thanks to the double slip - trains can be brought out of one “yard”, run around the layout as many times as you like and then sent away to the other staging area.

Adair Junction