Designing the Track Plan for the HO 12’x20” Shelf Layout

[@HartfordWhaler]

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[@PostmoderneModelWorks]

Bravo for keeping your track plan simple. Not an easy thing to do.

[@HartfordWhaler]

Thank you. It took mental discipline at first, but it paid off in terms of having a layout that was manageable, fun to operate, and afforded me the time and resources to really get into detailing and operations. That said, I’m just as much a fan of large, well constructed layouts. I’ve also had those at various times in my life. This just fits my current lifestyle and resources. That’s the great thing about this hobby - there are some fundamentals that need to be in place, but there’s no right answer with regard to layout size or objectives. Thanks for watching and for the comment!

[@alanandammakingnewmemories2950]

that was great now to binge the new ones

[@HartfordWhaler]

Thank you!

[@Eagle91382]

I really like your layout. I also enjoyed hearing the evolution of your track plan. For my layout, I am exploring the concept of removable industries to add variety without adding track (e.g. swap the paper warehouse building to a steel coil warehouse with an inside track). Since you already receive corn syrup cars at the food facility, you could change the sign on the ADM building and use that as a chemical distributor. You can have more variety of tank cars. Hawkins Inc in Centralia, IL is a prototype example that receives all sorts of chemicals and mixes them into custom products for distribution.

[@HartfordWhaler]

Good idea on varying the industries. With my layout, I can easily spend 3 hours switching. You might want to fist build the layout before assuming you need to rotate industries. Rotating cars can be done if you want more than several hours of operations. Thanks for watching and for the comment.

[@markdonato874]

Great video, looking forward to more.

[@HartfordWhaler]

Appreciate the comment and support. More to come for sure.

[@346UNCLEBOB]

Thank you so much for this. Well organized and easy to follow. Many useful points so I subscribed. I am in the beginning stages of building an HO shelf layout based on Caldwell County Railroad in Hickory, NC.

[@HartfordWhaler]

Thanks for subscribing and watching. Keep me posted on your progress. I’ll post more content over the coming months that will hopefully be helpful.

[@richardbroo6042]

Yes, I would love to get the layout plan!

[@HartfordWhaler]

Do you have an email on your profile so I can shoot you a note about how you can get the plan? Thanks for watching!

[@mikewoodbury7248]

I got a similar size switching layout. They’re really fun to operate. It’s not 100% prototype but it’s a New England landscape. The allagash railroad is pretty realistic.

[@HartfordWhaler]

Thanks! This is more based on an era (late ‘90’s-early 2000’s) and general geography (MA, RI, CT) where I grew up vs trying to model a specific prototype. I enjoy the imaginative part of the hobby. Thanks for watching and for the comment

[@johnmac5301]

Hi Paul I would really be interested in using this plan. I really like the flow and how it coincides with operations. I also have Sievers bench work. It's rock solid and they are good people to do business with.

[@HartfordWhaler]

If you have an email I can discuss how to get you the track plan and files. Glad you like it and thanks for watching!

[@johnmac5301]

Ps I didn't mean to call you Snoopy thats my wife's nickname on auto type. Plus I just got off work. It's 1:36am.

[@HartfordWhaler]

That’s funny. I read snoopy as like “snoop dog” or something akin to “dude”’. Figured I just wasn’t hip enough to know the phrase, but I though it meant I was cool.

[@Blue_Dingo]

Paul, Thank you for sharing your layout. I am getting ready to start on my first layout in 20 years, and this video has helped me get a better feel on what to build. I model the Chicago area, in June 1964, the Milwaukee Road is my primary, but I want an industrial/yard setting that I can run Interchange into from any of the Roads running into Chicago in 1964. I have a flat wall about 27 feet to work with, so am thinking about 16ft with staging on each end. About 22" wide. I do have more room than that, but I for now, it's a good goal. I have been wracking my brain, trying to figure out how to pull it off. In real life, I am a Carman for the Union Pacific, and I just cannot model what I see every day. Trying to model the SP merger, is why I have not had a layout in 20 years :) Looking at your layout, the shot low across all the tracks, under the overpass was the key, I thought, that could look a lot like Chicago. I think it's the inspiration, I have been looking for. I would need to stretch it 4 more feet, add a 3rd yard track, change some industry tracks, etc. In all though, I really like what I see, and you have done. I sure would like to use it as a starting point. Great list of Influencers you have, but for me I would have to add Ray O'Neill, Robert Todd, The Manhattan Transfer, Sweet Home Chicago, and the Long Island Railroad, Montauk Branch, among others. Best, Sam

[@HartfordWhaler]

Sam, thanks for watching and for the great comments. I’m happy my video was inspirational. You have plenty of room to make a very prototypical industrial layout. It took me a long time to understand that you can get hours of operations from a focused industrial diorama vs a layout that goes in circles around the entire room. I can spend 3 hours easily operating my little layout by myself. Even if I have a friend over to act as conductor, we burn a couple hours switching out all the industries. Your influencers are a good addition. Thanks for mentioning them. Please keep me posted on your project. I’m sure you working on a real railroad will be extremely helpful once you land on a layout design and start the operations. Knowing how railroads actually operate makes the operations of a shelf layout much more enjoyable. Things like going slow, taking time for the conductor to connect hoses and test brakes before moving a car, opening and closing derailers, etc. Only thing I’d suggest is keeping the depth of your layout 18-20” max. I started with 24” and it was too deep for a shelf layout where you want to see the industries and have easy access to switches etc. That’s just my opinion. Thanks again and good luck with the layout.

[@Blue_Dingo]

@@HartfordWhaler Paul, I see your point on bench width, and I think 20" can work fine. Yeah, applying hand brakes, stretching joints, not moving too fast, picking up and dropping crew, etc. So many little moves to make it real. Thats the layout, I want to have. I missed a couple Influencers, and I would be remiss to not mention them. Bill Denton, and his Kingbury Branch, changed the way I look at and what I want in a Model Railroad. John Pryke's, Union Freight Railroad, showed me I can do what Bill Denton did in HO, instead of N. Eric and his Chicago Crossing, brought my modeling back to Chicago, and more than just The Milwaukee Road. Why Milwaukee Road, coming from a Union Pacific family (119 years same yard.)? Well, it was 1974, BN had merged, and Milwaukee Road got trackage rights, all the way to Portland, Oregon, as part of the merger. As a kid, I did not know that yet. On my way to high school, on a city bus one morning, I looked down as we crossed The Steel Bridge. There was a train on the deck below us. The thrill of seeing that Orange Milwaukee Road, Bay Window Caboose below me, really grabbed my attention. I was like how did that get here? Not knowing about the traffic rights. Well, the hook was set, I just did not know it yet. Sam

[@HartfordWhaler]

Great story Sam. I love the old Milwaukee Road paint scheme. PS - It took me a bit to get my head around how to operate a switching layout according to the prototype, but once I did, it was a whole new level of enjoyment and realism with the hobby. And I needed less space! (Just better track work and detailing). Thanks for sharing the influencers. Good info for me and my subscribers.

[@tradupj]

Hi Paul, love the videos and tutorials. Good stuff. Planning on tearing down my current “around the walls” layout, and build an L shape like yours. How do I get the track plan ? Thx, Joel

[@HartfordWhaler]

Shoot me an email at [e-mail]

[@RunningTrainsWithChris]

This is a great track plan. I'd be interested in a copy.

[@HartfordWhaler]

Do you have an email in your YT profile?

[@RunningTrainsWithChris]

@HartfordWhaler Yes I do.

[@HumancityJunction]

I am enjoying this series (so far, just watched Part 1). I would be interested in seeing this as a clinic for the @opsig. Keeping it simple has been very hard for me, but having a focus on what is important to you is a good start.

[@HartfordWhaler]

Thanks for the comment and for watching. I’ve enjoyed your KZbin content. Definitely interested in participating in @opsig. Keeping it simple takes discipline for me. Just today I was operating my layout and thought about another turnout. No! I pushed the thought out of my head and am happier for it.

[@waynes3606]

I would be most appreciative if I could get a copy of your final track plan, including industries and the staging area thankyou.

[@HartfordWhaler]

See my posts. The track plan is there. Thanks for watching!

[@ericbulich9812]

Love the detail on the ADM syrup facility, what did you use for the black hose for the loading and unloading hoses?

[@HartfordWhaler]

I used “pony bead lacing” from Michael’s crafts. It’s a rubber tubing used for making bead necklaces. Check out my prior posts. I did one on how I made the hoses. I’ll be doing another one that gets into more detail about the hoses and pipes. Thanks for the comment and for watching!

[@bncsystemsshortline]

Very cool plan!

[@HartfordWhaler]

Thanks!

[@csx-isolawest2011]

Nice insight. Thanks for sharing.

[@HartfordWhaler]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@timothycalderwood5695]

My wife and I just discovered your channel and your layout. That is EXACTLY what we are looking for! We would love to get a copy of your track plan if you make it available. How do we do that? Thanks in advance.

[@HartfordWhaler]

I’ve been selling the plan (for a reasonable price) which includes the AnyRail file and a paper print out as well as any support you need with getting started. Do you have an email in your profile?

[@HartfordWhaler]

PS - thanks for the nice comments and for watching!

[@rjstats]

I would like to build your layout I have the perfect spot for it. I am into switching railroads and this has been the most interesting one that appealed to me. How can I obtain a copy of your track plan.

[@HartfordWhaler]

Shoot me an email at [e-mail]

[@geoffreyhampson3993]

It's always good to see the thinking to reach the end product. Is the crossover in front of the pink building really needed? You can run a little bit further left to use the crossover in front of the blue building, and it would save 2 turnouts,

[@HartfordWhaler]

Funny you noticed that. I actually added that after the initial “final” plan was put down with track. As I was operating, I found it gave me more flexibility, a shorter distance (and second option) for running around cars, and a spot to hold the cars I switched out of the 2 industries at the left end of the layout. I’d have to show you the switching sequences for it to make sense. Good example of not critical but makes for easier operations. It’s always a balance. Some people like Mindheim believe less is more, but in my case, working with a 12’x20” layout, I think it makes the switching more enjoyable, particularly if I’m operating alone. So, short answer is, no it’s not necessary, but it gives more options when moving cars around. Thanks for watching and for the good thoughts.

[@perryamicangelo4008]

Just subscribed ! Enjoying your layout and videos, I built almost the same thing! I used Lance Mindheims book for guidance. How to build a switching layout....I will catch up on your neat video's...regards, Perry

[@HartfordWhaler]

Thanks Perry! Glad you enjoy the videos. Lance was a big influence for me also. Thanks for watching and subscribing. More to come this week.

[@BungHoleCamper]

Awesome explanation of your design considerations! Is this 11 feet or 12 feet in length? The track plan indicates 12 grid squares from left-to-right. Thank you!

[@HartfordWhaler]

Good catch. The final benchwork is 12’x20” based on the space I wanted to use, so the plan you see in the video is correct. I misspoke in the video calling it 11'x20". My apologies for missing that!

[@BungHoleCamper]

@@HartfordWhaler Thank you, I though I was losing my mind! I really like this layout and may use certain elements in my design. Currently, I have an 2x8 foot table left over from an aborted early 2000's build. Started, but after completing the 2 main loops, I abandoned it. Fortunately, I have all of the Peco track, turnouts, locos, cars, DCC gear, etc. $5K of gear sitting in boxes and ready to go. I'm thinking of extending the table lengthwise as 8 feet is a but tight for my liking. I'm super motivated to build and will be doing mostly scratch. I'm also going to use microcontrollers to automate the entire layout and environmental elements. Still plenty of thinking to do at this point...

[@HartfordWhaler]

Definitely start if you have all that gear. I’m a big fan of Peco track and turnouts. Makes a big difference. Keep me posted on your progress.

[@derekalexander4030]

This should have been your first video…. Just kidding. Are you enjoying the operations and do you think about expanding to the back wall and a side wall of the garage?

[@HartfordWhaler]

Thanks. I’m kind of limited on how much more space I can take so I’ll enjoy it for a while as is. If I expand it, I’d go back to my L shaped track plan. Which would mean starting over from the beginning. We’ll see what time brings!

[@edmundcain6839]

Paul, are you receiving my emails regarding the track plans. Edmund

[@HartfordWhaler]

No haven’t received any.

[@curtgoff4540]

Hi Paul. I'd like to get a copy of your track plan, also. I'm planning on building a similar sized switching layout. I think my email is available in my profile. If not, I will provide it to you. Thanks.

[@HartfordWhaler]

Shoot me your contact info at [e-mail]

[@curtgoff4540]

@@HartfordWhaler Done. Thanks.