Go west young man!

It's official.  I'm moving my family from Atlanta to Utah.  I've taken a new job in Salt Lake City and will be relocating soon. 

Please don't be surprised if I don't blog between now and December, but look forward to new things happening in January!

Strategic Layout Design - 5 Part Clinic

This is the final version of the Strategic Layout Design Clinic with sound.


These are large files and take time to download.

1. Strategic Layout Design Part 1 - Introduction
2. Strategic Layout Design Part 2 - Layout Design Strategy
3. Strategic Layout Design Part 3 - Railroad Design Fundamentals
4. Strategic Layout Design Part 4 - Fundamentals of Track Planning
5. Strategic Layout Design Part 5 - Layout Design Engineering & Tactics
6. Layout Design Questionnaire Document

NMRA Achievement Program Yahoo Group

NMRA Achievement Program Yahoo Group is a new way to find information, guidance and the sometime necessary kick-in-the-pants to help you earn your Achievement Program Certificates and become a MASTER MODEL RAILROADER.

If you are an NMRA member and would like to join, just go here…

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NMRAAP/

I’m Scott Perry, long time Yahoo Group host and found of several groups such as…

Traintools

Trainbooks

HOGRR

And others!

So come join the fun, make new friends and make a plan to Achieve!

Scott Perry

http://modelrailroadersnotebook.blogspot.com/

Standard Layout Parameters List

Layout Parameters

Name:
Scale:
Gauge:
Dimensions:
Prototype:
Theme:
Railroad's Purpose:
Layout Purpose:
Location:
Era:
Style:
Mainline Run:
Min Radius:
Min Turnout:
Ruling Grade:
Track Saturation:
Design Parameters:
Benchwork:
Scenery:
Control:
Operation:
Track:
Other:

The Layout Design Questionnaire

The Layout Design Questionnaire was designed not for the layout designer, but for the owner of the layout. I was finding that the future owner and builder usually did not know exactly what they wanted, had not put a lot of thought into the details and did not know how to communicate their vision of the layout to me so I could design it. So I produced this questionnaire to aid the process.

It is long and very hard to complete. Seldom can anyone tell me all the answers. But after having designed several layouts from this process I find that I usually can hit the nail right on the head. My suggestion is that anyone designing their own layout use it too! Do this first thing and force yourself to complete it. After that, you'll know exactly what you want to accomplish.

The Layout Design Questionnaire

Posting the HOG

I will be posting the HOG layout to the blog space.

http://hogrr.blogspot.com/

Richlawn Railroad

My friend Rick Wade contacted me today. He's on point to show his layout in November on the Piedmont Pilgrimage and wants to do something with his alcove. I told him that I'd be glad to help him design something.

Scott,

Good idea! Thanks for your input. I would really appreciate it if you could help with with a track plan for the sidings to service the industries in that area. I'll need to come up with a basic plan, number of industries, etc and then perhaps you can give me your expertise?

Rick Wade

---

Subject: [NCIOG] Richlawn Railroad - "To Do" list for the Piedmont Pilgrimage
The town...seems about finished.

The freight yard...the same.

The unfinished alcove really detracts from the beauty of the scenicked part. I'm thinking get some structure going.

You'll get the most bang for your buck here as this moves quickly and is cheaper...but I'm just talking shell and a coat of paint, not detail work.

My $0.02

Scott

Guys (that visited my RR)

I could sure use your input. With the tour coming up and my Nov 1th open house, I'm asking you to put on your thinking caps to suggest what progress you believe would be the most enjoyable for visitors / return visitors. I'm working now on installing the trestle in the mountain area and completing the landscaping around it.

This is brain storming, so all ideas are welcome. What could I do in the freight yard?? The town area?? The unfinished alcove area?? etc.. I was planning on running two trains (slowly) with one having a camera car (same as last year). I didn't use any consisted locos, as I was having speed matching issues.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions! And, for the guys that didn't see the layout, any general suggestions are also welcome!

Thanks,
Rick