Layout with Multiple Loops

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Hi! Tell us about yourself and how you got into model trains

My name is Chris and I’m in my mid-thirties from just outside Philadelphia, PA. I was introduced to O gauge model trains as a young child by my dad, uncle, and grandfather. Once I hit grade 7 I fell out of the hobby. By chance my sister-in-law was buying a house and the owner was getting rid of his collection.

My father-in-law happened to mention this to me in passing and I asked if I could check it out. That evening I purchased four engines, a Legacy control system, transformer, and track. The next day I began researching how this was all going to work, since I hadn’t ever used command control models. It’s been about 7 years since then and my collection and layouts have changed quite a bit.

I have a YouTube Channel, Chris’s Trains and Things as well as an Instagram account, ChrisMonTrains. I post about models and scenery work.

Please describe your layout

My O Scale layout is dubbed “The Pennsylvania and Pacific” due to my fondness of the Pennsylvania Railroad and Union Pacific. My layout doesn’t model a specific line or division, it’s a free form layout with two main loops, an upper reversing loop, lower reversing loop with staging tracks, as well as a few industry sidings, roundhouse with turntable, and diesel facility.

My layout scenery is based off of western PA with a touch of Rocky Mountains. My current layout construction began in late 2017 and the track plan has changed a few times as I’ve removed track to add more scenery or added the lower level (under layout) loop. This is my 3rd layout since getting back into the hobby, the previous two were in my last house. I also had a layout as a child that was only plywood, no scenery.

I’ve purchased prebuilt buildings, however, I am starting to build plaster kits or laser cut buildings. I find these kits offer a more unique and one-of-a-kind appearance. I have done all of the layout and scenery work myself. My current layout is maxed out. Eventually, maybe in 15 years when my kids are out of the house I will redo it and create a peninsula engine facility.

How did you plan your layout?

My goal when designing my layout was to have the longest loops possible as well as staging tracks or yards. This vision has adjusted since my original design.

I began planning my layout the day we put a contract in on our new home. I had measured the basement the day we looked at this home with our relator. I also needed to finish the basement since it was unfinished. This set my timeline at about 11 months from when we went under contract to moving in, to having completed the basement. I had my main design done in about a month using SCARM. This allowed me to slowly by track and switches while I worked on completing the basement itself.

In the time since I had “completed” laying all the track for this layout I’ve removed two storage yards and replaced those areas with more scenery. I believe we tend to overdo track in O gauge and with the scale being so large, less is more sometimes. I’ve always been in O gauge, so there was never a question in what scale I’d use.

Describe your rolling stock

My rolling stock is pretty diverse. I have a lot of steam era cars and coal hoppers as well as a good mix of modern firelight. I’ve collected more late transition era rolling stock in the last year. I prefer Atlas, Lionel, or MTH rolling stock for the most part. I think Atlas makes some of the best steam era reefers available, I’d buy all of them if I could.

I also love the die cast Atlas H21a hoppers. I need many more of these for my PRR coal trains. I have started, slowly, to convert my coal train to kadee scale couplers. I love this look, but it’s a time consuming process. I have also weathered these cars.
My layout is controlled using Lionel’s Legacy Control System or MTH’s DCS system.

Advice for other people in the model train world

Model what you love. Make your own layout plan and do what you want. There tends to be a lot of critical people in this hobby that will try to tell you what to do or that your track plan won’t work. Sometimes they may be right about a complex switch arraignment, but don’t overthink this, have fun! YouTube has become a hotbed of model train resources, check that out to find some ideas or answer your questions.

I try not to judge what others do. I think everyone models their own vision and sometimes it’s not what mine is, that’s okay, as long as they enjoy it!

My best advice model what you can and make it unique, this was the best advice I received.