How I Designed the Kansas & Western HO Scale Model Railroad

This video describes how I designed the Kansas & Western HO scale model railroad. This includes thought process, space considerations, inspiration for the layout, location inclusion and primary elements.

[@MosriteCharlie]

Excellent planning and execution. Thanks for sharing your ideas.

[@KandWRailroader]

@@MosriteCharlie Thank you and you're welcome!

[@wedelacresdepottrains9060]

It takes a lot of confidence to share a layout build but you can tell you have had previous builds under your belt. Thanks for sharing.

[@KandWRailroader]

@@wedelacresdepottrains9060 I don't know how much confidence figures into it, but I sure have appreciated all the supportive comments and helpful feedback. Thanks for watching!

[@Rocky-xx2zg]

Very well planned. The carpentry work speaks volumes as to the quality of the project. Best Wishes always.

[@KandWRailroader]

@@Rocky-xx2zg Thank you for the complement!

[@JosephEHernandez]

Very helpful video and a beautiful layout. Thanks for sharing.

[@KandWRailroader]

@@JosephEHernandez Thank you and thank you for watching!

[@TRENINI-AEREI-AUTOMODELLI]

great layout, you are a lucky railway fan you have so much room available 👍👍👍👍👍👍😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@KandWRailroader]

@@TRENINI-AEREI-AUTOMODELLI Thank you! I'm very fortunate to have the space I have and the wife willing to let me use it!

[@TRENINI-AEREI-AUTOMODELLI]

@@KandWRailroader This is the Golden rule 🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@mysticrailroad]

awesome line you're modeling. great track planning. love the workbench. well done!

[@KandWRailroader]

@@mysticrailroad Thank you and thanks for watching!

[@jasonweir6345]

Very good layout our and layout outline. Excellent

[@KandWRailroader]

Thank you!

[@garykcs5532]

Great job, love the area your doing, my grandparents lived in Pueblo Colorado I remember seeing trains back in the 80s. Keep up the great work, as a fellow modeler in N scale I'll be following your journey... Gary

[@KandWRailroader]

@@garykcs5532 Thank you Gary and welcome aboard!

[@DuCo_Loco]

Thanks for sharing. I look forward to your updates. As I’ve said before I love your layout. I wished I had that much room myself. Keep the updates coming.

[@KandWRailroader]

@@DuCo_Loco Thank you and thanks for watching!

[@robertsiebenrock3997]

A very well designed and nice layout. I hope you show more as it is one of the best and interesting I've ever seen!

[@KandWRailroader]

@@robertsiebenrock3997 Thank you, I appreciate it! I normally publish construction updates every 2 weeks on Fridays. The next update is coming up next Friday! I conduct a poll of my viewers regarding which aspect of the layout they would like to see me work on next if you would like to participate!

[@dcrrails3402]

Wow! Impressive layout. I will go back and look at your older videos and watch how you got to this point. I've been building in the garage and trying to keep the trains from derailing. I like your approach. It's very well thought out, and I'd love to see some operational videos on how it runs. Great job, and thanks for sharing.

[@KandWRailroader]

@@dcrrails3402 Thank you and thanks for watching! If you check out my home page you'll find a playlist of operations videos among several others.

[@dcrrails3402]

@ I will do that! Thanks

[@DavidHammer-q5q]

I have enjoyed your videos and I am always amazed by the progress.

[@KandWRailroader]

@@DavidHammer-q5q I'm glad you enjoy them and thanks for watching!

[@scottsmith7051]

I absolutely love this, especially since I'm thinking about doing this. First step...get the space. Big first step...😅

[@KandWRailroader]

@@scottsmith7051 That is indeed the first big step!

[@kkuehne45]

Pretty cool, look forward to following your journey

[@KandWRailroader]

@@kkuehne45 Thank you! Welcome aboard!

[@yrunaked4]

this build process and the planning that went into it is profound. One of the best videos on the subject Ive ever scene. I am so happy to see some of that old Rock Island trackage put to good use. Cheers Rob

[@KandWRailroader]

@@yrunaked4 Thank you for the compliment and thanks for watching!

[@jacjac5761]

Very well built layout 😮 Thanks for sharing 😊

[@KandWRailroader]

@@jacjac5761 Thank you and you're welcome!

[@TheNorthwestWind]

amazing layout

[@KandWRailroader]

@@TheNorthwestWind Thank you!

[@dodo1opps]

I was in the Air Force at McConnell for 4 years (1979 to 1983) as a Titan II Launch Officer out of Conway Springs. Then as a engineer at Cessna-Wallace (at the Airport 1983-84) I was a member of the HO Scale Wichita Ark Valley Railroad from 1982-84...

[@KandWRailroader]

@@dodo1opps I remember where many of the silos used to be around Wichita. Thank you for your service and thanks for sharing!

[@marcshields3536]

I worked for years south of Denver at Martin Marietta Denver Aerospace, and operated a gigantic1956 Giddings & Lewis Skinmill in the ORIGINAL FACTORY on the ORIGINAL machine that manufactured all the TITAN II missles made. TITAN III and TITAN IV as well. I moved back to KS. (ARK CITY) after retirement.

[@lindsaycooley1668]

This impresses me so much! I love how creative you are.

[@KandWRailroader]

Thank you!

[@ssgogeta29]

Thank you for sharing! The layout is coming along really well. I’m excited to see where it goes next.

[@KandWRailroader]

@@ssgogeta29Thank you and thank you for watching!

[@georgiasunbelt]

Nice thought process in developing your layout…sure it will help someone…even me if/when I do my next one…

[@KandWRailroader]

@@georgiasunbelt Thank you!

[@randydobson1863]

Hi K & W Railroader & it's is Randy and i like yours video is Cool & Thanks K & W Railroader & Friends Randy

[@KandWRailroader]

@@randydobson1863 Thanks Randy!

[@riogrande5761]

How I designed my current layout was to make a scale drawing of the boundaries of the room and it's features on old fashioned 11x17 graph paper. My basement is not as big as your space so I had to decide what were my desires and make them fit - minimum radius 32 inches - wanted to run longish trains of 20 feet and have a lot of storage capacity - 11 tracks under the main yard. I installed a drop ceiling in my basement and used 2x2 LED lights which look attractive.

[@KandWRailroader]

Ahhh...grid paper! Even more old school than Microsoft paint! Thank you for sharing!

[@fentoncentral-ngauge]

Excellent video. Good to see how it's come into being. I kinda just start with a rough idea in my head and hope for the best. Your way is much better 😂👍

[@KandWRailroader]

@@fentoncentral-ngauge Thank you! No judgement here!

[@ronaldrondeau7870]

Thanks for the review you have a great laout and a long way to get it finish so go to work

[@KandWRailroader]

@@ronaldrondeau7870 You got it! Thanks for watching!

[@jdmills4370]

Very helpful Thank you Nicely done, btw

[@KandWRailroader]

@@jdmills4370 Thank you!

[@bncsystemsshortline]

Awesome video!!!! I remember your 1st videos you posted and you are doing great work!!! You should do a video on how to design a track plan using paint. Would love to see that. Also a Valance attached to the ceiling to cover the lights would give it a clean finished look. Just a thought.

[@KandWRailroader]

You made me chuckle with the suggestion that I do a video on designing a track plan using Paint...LOL. I figured everyone else would be chuckling when I mentioned that and they saw the track plans because it's such an "ancient" program and there is actual free software designed for model railroad design out there. I tried a couple of them but the learning curve was too steep for me. I thought I would spend hours learning how to use the software only to find it wouldn't do everything I wanted which would then equal time wasted. Well, perhaps I should do one of those videos then. I just have to figure out how to record video of me working on the computer... I do plan to add a valance...those lights are bright! Thanks for watching my progress all this time!

[@bncsystemsshortline]

Hahahhaha!!!!! I love your work brother! I use Xtrkcad it's a free download and it can do everything but 3d. Question? How did you design both of your Helix's? Are the 2%? @KandWRailroader

[@KandWRailroader]

​@@bncsystemsshortline I designed my helix by figuring out what track radius I wanted then I made a giant compass, drew the inner and outer edges of the first helix piece (allowing extra width for risers and car clearance) on a sheet of plywood, cut that out, then used it as a template for the rest of the pieces. It's a little more than 2% but I wasn't going to be running long trains anyway.

[@montananorthern]

Great video and insights to what it took to get where you are. On a side note, I had land just south of Salida, Co.

[@KandWRailroader]

@@montananorthern Thank you! I can think of worse places to own land.

[@cjbeyer8340]

Thanks again for another useful video! In making my layout, I wish I would have considered the radius for my main line curves!! I have some at 22 & others at 24! Needless to say I have derailments on the 22 curves with longer cars and none on the 24 inch curves. I have enough room for all the curves to be 24 but a pain to change the 22 curves to 24! Love your layout and a special liking for the UP area/trains! Can’t wait to see more of the finished power plant.

[@KandWRailroader]

@@cjbeyer8340 It's hard to think of everything...this can be a complex hobby! I'm glad you're enjoying the build!

[@K27fan]

You mentioned US 54. I drove tractor trailers for UPS for 41 years, about 15 of those running cross country. They made us get off I-40 in Tucumcari NM and take 54 northeast which eventually brought us to Wichita. We caught I-35 there and made our way past Kansas City to Des Moines. I hated 54, it was just one lane each way, very old narrow road. You had other tractors coming at you in the middle of the night and you just hoped they were centered because our mirrors just cleared each other. If you need any info on piggy back yards let me know.

[@KandWRailroader]

@@K27fan It's still about as much fun as you described although they've added quite a few bypasses, passing lanes and 4 lane stretches recently. Thanks for sharing!

[@thisisgeoman]

Thankyou for your video. It was very helpfull to watch. Even though I'm an n-scaler, your hurdles are nontheless the same as for me (space, curves, lighting, staging, etc.)

[@KandWRailroader]

@@thisisgeoman You are welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@SpringfieldAndWestern]

That's a big layout you're building there, I guess this will really keep you busy for many years to come. Lots of elevators and other industries surely will make for many switching opportunities. My only concern is the amount of track. At the moment I fear there won't be many scenic segments (nature), but I guess it's hard to judge in the current state of the build. Keep up the great work!

[@KandWRailroader]

@@SpringfieldAndWestern No, you are right, there won't be many scenic elements. I'm not ruling out the possibility of getting rid of an industry or two. The thing is, the locations that I'm modeling don't offer much in the way of "scenic variety". Central/Western Kansas and eastern Colorado look pretty much the same.

[@rodgrosser9409]

Super layout and great information. One question, what is the vertical distance between the two levels?

[@KandWRailroader]

@@rodgrosser9409 Thank you! The distance between the middle and upper levels is about 15 inches from top of foam on the middle level to bottom of framework on the upper level.

[@rodgrosser9409]

@KandWRailroader Thanks!!

[@KandWRailroader]

@@rodgrosser9409 Any time!

[@bigwoz78]

Very impressive, question. How well do the really long auto racks handle the 24” curves? Thanks

[@KandWRailroader]

@@bigwoz78 They handle them fine although easements into those 24" curves help, as well as slow speeds.

[@SPSteve]

Very nice layout and well thought out. You made good use of your space and there's a lot of operating potential. What is the track curve radius of your helix? I'm considering adding one to part of my layout and 26" track radius is as big as I can go.

[@KandWRailroader]

@@SPSteve Thank you! The helix that goes the full distance from staging to the top level is a double track helix from staging to the middle level. The inner track has a 26" radius. It's a ateep grade but if you're running short trains or adding extra power, it's workable.

[@SPSteve]

@@KandWRailroader Thanks for the info. Best of luck with your layout.

[@KandWRailroader]

@SPSteve You're welcome! I'll be staying tuned to yours!

[@michaelbeyer4870]

Thanks for Your video. It´s very interesting for me how guys in the US build model railroads. Can You tell me, why do you use insulate foam plates underneath the tracks? Is it for noise reduction and better landscape buildig later? Why are you using it in the yard and not in the helix? How do You fix the tracks on the foam? Thanks and good luck and lot`s of fun with Your model trains! greetings from Germany, Michael

[@KandWRailroader]

Thank you for watching! Wie geht es Ihnen! I use the foam for several reasons. 1) It does serve as a bit of sound reduction, although gluing the track down removes some of that effect. 2) I'm not able to plan for scenery. It is much easier for me to figure out scenery later, once I know where all my track and structures will be placed, then build my scenery in the space that's left. Adding a foam layer allows me to easily change the landscape below track grade once the track is laid. 3) Even though I had a track plan before starting construction, it was a rough plan, which meant I had to lay out my track and test fit it, especially the curves, to make sure everything would work the way I imagined. The foam allows me to use simple pushpins to temporarily secure the track while I try things out. I didn't use foam in the helix because I wasn't concerned with sound reduction there, I wasn't going to install scenery, and I knew exactly where the track would go and was going to screw it to the plywood to ensure it wouldn't move. If the track shifted after the helix was fully built, it would be almost impossible to fix. I glue the track to the foam using household caulk. I did a video on how I lay track which you can view here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4Svmamai8igh5I I hope these responses answer your questions!

[@judithcampbell7861]

That’s a massive amount of backscene to process. Do you plan to paint it, or to use photographs on vinyl sheet? I once hand-painted 100 feet of backscene for a friend and it turned out really well.

[@KandWRailroader]

@@judithcampbell7861 I'm going wirh commercial prints. The two I have so far look really great. I'm hoping to have some actual site background photos made into backdrops.

[@MosriteCharlie]

Kits are not necessarily a fixed entity - they can be modified to fit a certain space by kitbashing, selectively compressing or expanding. I once took the Rico station and cut it down the center, opening it like a book to fit the space allotted against a wall and it does not resemble any other stsation.

[@KandWRailroader]

@@MosriteCharlie I agree! I've tried my best to modify as many kits as possible so they don't look like the picture on the box.

[@MosriteCharlie]

Is tis a point to point layout?

[@KandWRailroader]

@@MosriteCharlie Partially, yes. Although a complete circuit can be run between the middle and staging levels non-stop.

[@chrisbarr1359]

You wanted to make sure you didn't cover critical things. That's a great goal. But whenever you covered essentially all windows in that room, now there isn't the required esgress from the space. You may want to correct this before going any further. If the Fire Marshall gets wind of a residential structure without property egress, your building could be condemned. Worse yet, someone could die. I know just thought you (and many model railroaders) should know.

[@KandWRailroader]

@@chrisbarr1359 A good point for sure, but I did not point in this video out that the section in front of the window is removable. Also, I think the egress rule only applies to bedrooms...at least in Wichita anyway. Building codes are different everywhere though.