Great tips....I'm a career railroader as well as a model railroader so I've been able to incorporate alot of the real world stuff into the models. Couple of additions....team tracks today are being transformed into transloading facilities for alot of stuff..grain, feed, sand, etc so adding a simple conveyor and a truck would add great detail and a variety of cars as well.....now regarding complex switching...as you know real railroads build the track to the industry and they try to keep it as simple as possible...the more track, switches, crossings etc add liability and higher insurance costs....in the real world they try to keep it as simple as possible. For road crossings a friend of mine installed simple timers...when the buzzer goes off the crew has to stop what they are doing and unblock the crossing....he even installed an ambulance siren! Good work Jimmy!
@@DIYDigitalRailroad I'm always up for a good chat especially if it involves coffee and trains....railroaders drink a tooon of coffee...in one terminal there were always 3 pots brewing at any given time.
These are great tips. I would add: 6. Add elevation changes. If you don't have room for a crossover, perhaps you could work out a loop that comes back down the way it came up. A simple underpass for cars doesn't need a lot of height 7. Add backdrops that suggest more space. 8. Use partial scenery elements - half a factory, a corner of a lake, etc. 9. Take advantage of elements that do not take up space, such as sound and lighting 10. Use scenery that builds over the track to save space - stations, coal dumps, factories, etc. 11. Feature an unusual track plan - this could be something like a crossing in a tunnel, a double track that doesn't go where you expect it to, or a spur track that cuts across various other tracks. 12. Size your layout to your equipment. Small layouts look better with smaller equipment, and you can save space by matching your tunnel heights, your curves, your track lengths, your platform lengths, and your space between tracks to this small equipment. 13. Design your layout as two separate layouts. Provide an interchange track and a "grand tour" option. This is one way of providing different modes of operation 14. Provide a long straight section of track along the front edge to fiddle with cars and take equipment on and off the track. This might be a place for an automatic uncoupler as well. 15. Use a difficult arrangement of switches that require cutting off one or two cars at a time and snaking back/forward/back/forward to access all the parts of. This gets even more fascinating when you can't get in there because you already spotted a car on a track you need to pull into to access other track.
One other thing I would add is to include one spur going off the edge of the layout to be your interchange and connection to the rest of the world. That grounds your layout in the real world and provides a place to expand you layout if you want to. Even if you don't have room to permanently expand, you can connect a temporary module like a staging yard. Stay safe and model on!
I've been looking for a layout idea and followed JC's riptrack "From Loop to Layout" series. It simulates a point to point layout on a door. I'm thinking of building a shelf layout if it's big enough.
Great Tips Jimmy! I have a bit more space now than I did even a few months ago, even with having a little bit more space, these tips are great. The scene break-up and house rules are especially true. Thanks for this!
I use power lock track on a 4×8 ,7 switches - 2 right and 5 left , right now it's 3 ovals two of them skewd so as too balance switch straits and add size all have a common strait also 3 sideings too park trains on the ready- can change the layout at any time and always have new ideas -🙂FUN
One option is to model a passenger terminal in N scale with stub end tracks, passenger platforms and railroad express track, mail track, also model warehouses, REA - see Dearborn Passenger station in Chicago before it was ripped up. Years of modeling fun plus years of operations.
If and when I build my Bonneville Industrial Terminal & Transfer I plan on having two large industries then a warehouse track and a Faygo distribution building, and a house track for off loading miscellaneous cars. Buttttt.... We off load in the inbound laods into our trucks and trailers and deliver the product to the work site. If my layout has the room i want to have an area put aside for trailers that are loaded with rebuilt and or dummy trucks so in case of a locomotives truck goes out, we'll be ready for the call to head out to that locomotive and switch out the trucks. I plan on using two baby boats for switching out the industries, then a Trackmobile at a smaller industry. For the larger industry I'm building a Industrial Switcher locomotive to replace it once it's been delivered.
New to this after being away from the hobby for decades. Thank you so much for sharing so many incredible ideas and tips. Really enjoy your content and the way you are able to offer it to folks of all levels of experience or lack of (me). I have treated myself to N scale this time around. A scale that I have always loved and am building a small DCC layout so I can enjoy various trains at the same time etc. Love the fact that you are designing and creating 3d printed model buildings. Have possibly a crazy request for you. I live in a very modest blue collar simple victorian Italianate style home. Has 2 stories and small footprint: 23'-0" wide by 28" deep. Have you ever accepted a commission to create custom buildings for folks. Love the idea of having a miniature N scale version of our house in my layout. Please let me know what you think or if you don't do this if you know of anyone that does could you please pass on their information? Thank you for your consideration. I figured nothing ventured, nothing gained. Looking forward to visiting your etsy store as well. Wishing you great and continued success!!!
I have a very very small layout it’s in ho scale and when I try to make that siding to where I have to pull all the way in to be able to back up into the other siding I don’t have enough room:( the straights of the layout are very short so I can’t do it long enough to make a train fit in it:(
In some of your intros, you have an early RS unit, what model and brand is it? i am trying to find more Alco's, for my late '60s- early '70s, most of the stuff i find is either GE or EMD.
also tried to sign up on pateron page. it tells me I have an in use email from another pateron person. what's with this . I only have 1 email. I am not getting another email
tried hooking up kato turnouts on arduino 3 times. code works but hardware doesn't. fritzing diagram is so faint when I print it out I can't read it. can u help me. I also can't read it on screen either. in the tutorial you go to fast. I have tried to pause it but still can't get it to work. thanks.
Great tips....I'm a career railroader as well as a model railroader so I've been able to incorporate alot of the real world stuff into the models. Couple of additions....team tracks today are being transformed into transloading facilities for alot of stuff..grain, feed, sand, etc so adding a simple conveyor and a truck would add great detail and a variety of cars as well.....now regarding complex switching...as you know real railroads build the track to the industry and they try to keep it as simple as possible...the more track, switches, crossings etc add liability and higher insurance costs....in the real world they try to keep it as simple as possible. For road crossings a friend of mine installed simple timers...when the buzzer goes off the crew has to stop what they are doing and unblock the crossing....he even installed an ambulance siren! Good work Jimmy!
I may have to have you on coffee and trains. You have a ton of good info.
@@DIYDigitalRailroad I'm always up for a good chat especially if it involves coffee and trains....railroaders drink a tooon of coffee...in one terminal there were always 3 pots brewing at any given time.
Think dude is in fight club
These are great tips. I would add:
6. Add elevation changes. If you don't have room for a crossover, perhaps you could work out a loop that comes back down the way it came up. A simple underpass for cars doesn't need a lot of height
7. Add backdrops that suggest more space.
8. Use partial scenery elements - half a factory, a corner of a lake, etc.
9. Take advantage of elements that do not take up space, such as sound and lighting
10. Use scenery that builds over the track to save space - stations, coal dumps, factories, etc.
11. Feature an unusual track plan - this could be something like a crossing in a tunnel, a double track that doesn't go where you expect it to, or a spur track that cuts across various other tracks.
12. Size your layout to your equipment. Small layouts look better with smaller equipment, and you can save space by matching your tunnel heights, your curves, your track lengths, your platform lengths, and your space between tracks to this small equipment.
13. Design your layout as two separate layouts. Provide an interchange track and a "grand tour" option. This is one way of providing different modes of operation
14. Provide a long straight section of track along the front edge to fiddle with cars and take equipment on and off the track. This might be a place for an automatic uncoupler as well.
15. Use a difficult arrangement of switches that require cutting off one or two cars at a time and snaking back/forward/back/forward to access all the parts of. This gets even more fascinating when you can't get in there because you already spotted a car on a track you need to pull into to access other track.
One other thing I would add is to include one spur going off the edge of the layout to be your interchange and connection to the rest of the world. That grounds your layout in the real world and provides a place to expand you layout if you want to. Even if you don't have room to permanently expand, you can connect a temporary module like a staging yard. Stay safe and model on!
Man that shiner just wont quit. Sign that kid up for mma
I've been looking for a layout idea and followed JC's riptrack "From Loop to Layout" series. It simulates a point to point layout on a door. I'm thinking of building a shelf layout if it's big enough.
"I got headbutted by my kid"
*Nods knowingly*
Been there man...
Great tips. Love the out takes bloopers at the end.
GOD BLESS have a great day.
Great Tips Jimmy! I have a bit more space now than I did even a few months ago, even with having a little bit more space, these tips are great. The scene break-up and house rules are especially true. Thanks for this!
Looks at black eye: toddlers are fun, aren’t they
I use power lock track on a 4×8 ,7 switches - 2 right and 5 left , right now it's 3 ovals two of them skewd so as too balance switch straits and add size all have a common strait also 3 sideings too park trains on the ready- can change the layout at any time and always have new ideas -🙂FUN
These are really good suggestions for any size layout..
One option is to model a passenger terminal in N scale with stub end tracks, passenger platforms and railroad express track, mail track, also model warehouses, REA - see Dearborn Passenger station in Chicago before it was ripped up. Years of modeling fun plus years of operations.
I made a 3 1/2 by 7 foot layout look big by the way I detailed everything and the way the track was planned out
I'm planing track for both rotation--whatever I do it means more turnouts. Double loop essentially
Very good tips! The incorporation of creating a game is great to spark the younger generation. It helped get Freak Jr. involved. - Jason
Enjoyed the tips, as I have a small railroad. As to your shiner...Next time, the proper response is..."Yes dear. You're absolutely right!" :P
good tips for small or big layouts
Hey jimmy great tips might just have to try this with the new layout as I’m in the design phase and looking for some ideas to do for a shelf layout
If and when I build my Bonneville Industrial Terminal & Transfer I plan on having two large industries then a warehouse track and a Faygo distribution building, and a house track for off loading miscellaneous cars. Buttttt.... We off load in the inbound laods into our trucks and trailers and deliver the product to the work site. If my layout has the room i want to have an area put aside for trailers that are loaded with rebuilt and or dummy trucks so in case of a locomotives truck goes out, we'll be ready for the call to head out to that locomotive and switch out the trucks. I plan on using two baby boats for switching out the industries, then a Trackmobile at a smaller industry. For the larger industry I'm building a Industrial Switcher locomotive to replace it once it's been delivered.
New to this after being away from the hobby for decades. Thank you so much for sharing so many incredible ideas and tips. Really enjoy your content and the way you are able to offer it to folks of all levels of experience or lack of (me). I have treated myself to N scale this time around. A scale that I have always loved and am building a small DCC layout so I can enjoy various trains at the same time etc. Love the fact that you are designing and creating 3d printed model buildings. Have possibly a crazy request for you. I live in a very modest blue collar simple victorian Italianate style home. Has 2 stories and small footprint: 23'-0" wide by 28" deep. Have you ever accepted a commission to create custom buildings for folks. Love the idea of having a miniature N scale version of our house in my layout. Please let me know what you think or if you don't do this if you know of anyone that does could you please pass on their information? Thank you for your consideration. I figured nothing ventured, nothing gained. Looking forward to visiting your etsy store as well. Wishing you great and continued success!!!
What's up with your eye? Was there a sale on model railroad stuff?
Lmao
Great tips, thanks Jimmy!
May I ask what warehouse you used behind the red boxcar? I’m looking for something like that for my layout
I actually 3D print those and sell them! I am currently working on a redesign.
I have a very very small layout it’s in ho scale and when I try to make that siding to where I have to pull all the way in to be able to back up into the other siding I don’t have enough room:( the straights of the layout are very short so I can’t do it long enough to make a train fit in it:(
Great small layout fundamentals here. Good stuff. - Boomer.
what scale do you model? I'm thinking about making a small ho layout
In some of your intros, you have an early RS unit, what model and brand is it? i am trying to find more Alco's, for my late '60s- early '70s, most of the stuff i find is either GE or EMD.
That is actually a Bachmann Alco RS-3. Solid little runner.
@@DIYDigitalRailroad Do you know if there is a DCC version of that?
@@Lefthandedhammer Yes I believe in N and HO scale
If and when my industrial railroad
also tried to sign up on pateron page. it tells me I have an in use email from another pateron person. what's with this . I only have 1 email. I am not getting another email
tried hooking up kato turnouts on arduino 3 times. code works but hardware doesn't. fritzing diagram is so faint when I print it out I can't read it. can u help me. I also can't read it on screen either. in the tutorial you go to fast. I have tried to pause it but still can't get it to work. thanks.
Email me at ddrrcommunity@gmail.com
I am old have to do analog
Good tips. What happened to your eye??
Toddler headbutt lol!
What happened to your eye? You ok?
Thee RUclips commercials before the video started.
Thumbs Down...
TRY VIMEO!!!