Craig is deciding between HO (similar to UK OO) or N:

“I am new to model railroading and trying to decide which scale to go with. I have a medium size space, think corner of a garage. I would like to run fairly long trains though I am not sure what my layout will look like. I am getting older, think 50 and the old eyes can’t see the small things anymore. What are the pros and cons of each?”

Yes, Craig you are correct, the smaller the train the more fiddly they are to work with especially if you have unsteady hands. N scale is smaller than HO. There are certainly pros and cons of both N and HO depending on the space you have available and what you really want from a layout. N would allow you to build a layout in a smaller space, or put longer track runs in the space. If you look at the results of the poll on this blog you will see that HO is more widely used than N, and for that reason there is an large selection for train supplies and accessories available in HO.

I would certainly suggest you read about the various scales in my Model Train Help ebook. You will find it particularly helpful.

I’ve had several people ask about constructing a shelf layout, or ceiling platform, to run trains around a room. If anyone out there has got such a layout, I’m sure readers would like to see a photo and hear about what you have constructed. You can either add your feedback using the green comments link below or submitting details of your layout at http://www.model-railroad-resources.com/my-layout.html

Building a small shelf layout can give you time to focus on on operation and detail and be less expensive than a larger layout. However, at a glance I can see some issues that need to be considered before building a perimeter layout:

1. What scale? Carefully consider the size of the room and how you are going to support the baseboard and layout. Obviously HO or OO would carry less weight than larger trains. As a guide – N scale trains with 20 cars will be about four and a half feet long. With Z scale you would have even more space but they are more fiddly if you have unsteady hands.

2. How visible or accessible will the trains be from a child’s or adult height. Safety needs to be a consideration here too.

3. Do you need to put up a wire guard rail, or see-thru perspex plastic (flexi-glass) to stop the trains crashing on the floor from a great height? Trains don’t liker being dropped!

4. Will the trains run in one direction or will you be running parallel track?

5. Locomotives and rolling stock can derail on curves so you might want to install track rerailers after every turn to help rerail.

6. Would you be best to paint the baseboard black to help things stand out? How are you going to incorporate scenery and structures?

7. A shelf layout can attract dust and humidity can build up causing rust. You will probably need to clear the track more often and consider a track cleaning car for easy access.

8. Consider how trains will enter and exist the scene. You may want to adding a staging area at either end of the layout. You could make it removable and store it when you are not using it.

9. You might want to consider starting with a simple shelf layout before expanding it to run around the entire room perimeter in a continuous loop.

Building a shelf layout can be a lot of fun and a shelf layout can be an excellent solution if space or finances are limited. The important thing is avoid potential mistakes and carefully plan your layout before rushing in.

If you have a shelf layout add your comments here.

Andrew would like to share his layout progress with others and has sent in this information and photos for publication.

Photo above is Port Destiny Terminal RR’s rebuilt alco rsd4 with an emd engine heading out of the yard heading for the interchange .

“My Port Destiny RR is a fictional railroad set along the North coast of Florida between Pensecola and Panama City Florida. It was started right after WWII started by the US Navy to give the Navy a secluded naval base.

A connection was made to both Southern RWY in Alabama and the L&N just east of Pensecola , both Railroads where ordered to operate it.

Photo above is at the main dock with Port Destiny Terminal RR’s rebuilt alco rsd4 with an emd engine working the yard .

After the war ended the Navy no longer needed the port and turned over the operations to the Southern and the L&N. The Port grew starting with fishing and canneries and it became a more covient port for Bananas and coffee coming in from South America, and then as the oil exploration in the Gulf of Mexico took off the port recieved a lot of that business.

The layout is currently set in the early 1970’s and is a shelf layout built in a space of 30 inches by 10 feet plus a small staging yard on one in, I have plans to extend the layout in the future.

C.E. is working on an HO train yard a wants readers feedback:

“I am in the process of rebuilding at train yard that was given to me, the name of the yard is Maudville Yards. Does anyone know of this yard and are the any plans available or anything?”

Richard has a question about Bachmann locomotives and wants to hear reader’s thoughts:

“I see a bunch of HO locomotives by Bachmann that are called “Spectrum”. Can someone tell me, do these HO locomotives have power to all driving wheels? If not, what sets them apart from the other Bachmann locomotives? Thank you, Richard”

Add your feedback to this posting.