Name: Cumberland & Ohio
Layout designer: Michael Tylick
Scale: HO (1:87.1)
Size: 4 x 8 feet
Theme: coal mining
Locale: Appalachian Mountains
Era: variable (1900-1970)
Style: island
Mainline run: 20 feet
Minimum radius: 15″
Minimum turnout: no. 4
Layout designer: Michael Tylick
Scale: HO (1:87.1)
Size: 4 x 8 feet
Theme: coal mining
Locale: Appalachian Mountains
Era: variable (1900-1970)
Style: island
Mainline run: 20 feet
Minimum radius: 15″
Minimum turnout: no. 4
Originally appeared in the January 2013 Model Railroader.
Click on the link to download the PDF of this track plan.
This is just what I was looking for.
I could reiterate the words of John from Virginia ten-fold. I am new to the hobby, and I subscribed hoping to have access to the type of information expressed by John. I had no idea where to begin. Sadly all I have received is a very pretty magazine with a LOT of ads, and access to a website which overall has provided very little to someone walking into the hobby brand new 'off the street". The magazine seems so very different than when I use to read it as a child in the 70s and early eighties.
Suggested track type
Curve radius
A list of switches
etc al
John from Virginia said it all! Where is the bill of materials? I am not an expert (or engineer), and have no idea what to buy in order to build this layout. Model Railroader put out a great 4'x8' in May 2002 called the Spokane Valley and Northern which included a bill of materials. I had no trouble at all building this layout (twice!) because of this information. The main reason I re-subscribed was to have access to the track plan database, and this is what I get. Again, I am no expert, so am I missing something?
Good use of space but I think the article in the magazine mentioned one of the turnout would have to be hand laid???Something 99% of the people building a 4X8 would not know how to do as the 4X8 is usually a starter layout. Maybe a redesign with a peco curved turnout??
Good Day Gentlemen …This is a critique. WARNING! I am not a diplomat! … How else are you (Model Railroader) going to meet my (and others) needs, desires, and expectations? I know from teaching classes and working with people that have different levels and areas of knowledge and expertise that sometimes it is easy to forget how much we know that others do not.
I’m a recent re-subscriber (I think) and was looking forward to your track plans. This is the first one I looked at. When I downloaded this plan all I got was a vague plan. It’s pretty and creative and fun to look at, shows knowledge and imagination …. but of little value in the real world for normal people to do planning, purchasing, budget, placement etc. Does it use flex track? Modified or off the shelf switches & track, … ?
Is this a plan per Model Railroader? I'm disappointed and frankly astounded. I did expected more.
I KNOW some of what should be included because I am an engineer who works with projects and I know the hard way in projects where things screw up. I DO NOT KNOW or have the expertise you have. But this track plan NEEDS AS A MINIMUM: 1) Bill of material [track, switches, … ?]. 2) Layout Plan noting where each piece of track goes. Is it even possible to build this plan using off the shelf unmodified track? Does it require flex track??
Additional very valuable information: Part numbers, suggested: track wiring, signal locations, buildings and accessories– scratch build or kit. Recommended phase process (so we can play operate while it is under construction), dialog, … can you see my point of view? Am I being un-reasonable here?
I certainly am willing to have a dialog offline if there is any value.
After looking at several track plans, you really need to suggest what type of type of turnouts to use and identify the radius of each curve for those of use who are relatively new to track laying to help us be successful. Without such information, we won't learn much from just a drawing. So why don't you provide the information?
A list of turn outs and wyes would be helpful. Then you could decide sectional track or flex.
You could download Atlas Model Railroad's free trackplanning software and redraw these using their sectional track, otherwise the use of flex-track is probably a much better option to help to reduce the number of potential electrical joints that could become prone to failure over time.
new to model rr would be helpful if you listed track pieces used in plans to study/design with