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Layout Size: Medium Layouts

Posted in Layout Designs by Rob Chant. (Updated Tuesday, February 09, 2021 at 7:40:32 AST.)

Tuesday, February 09, 2021

N SCALE: Western Maryland Railway

The owner of this design didn't really have one prototype in mind, instead, he wanted a generic layout with a few big online mines that would allow him to run whatever he liked, but mostly coal drags. The layout had to have a staging yard, an interchange with another railway, and also allowances for continuous running. My client didn't have an exact location in mind, but he did mention somewhere around...

2019.10.12K-001.gif (69895 bytes)

Views: 1337 | Comments: 1

TAGS: Design Feature: Continuous Run Option, Design Feature: Interchange, Layout Size: Medium Layouts, Staging Options: Staging Yards, Theme: Coal Haulers, Theme: Mainline Trains, USA (States): West Virginia, American Railways: Western Maryland Ry, Types of Industries: Coal Mines



Posted in Layout Designs by Rob Chant. (Updated Monday, October 14, 2019 at 10:59:07 ADT.)

Monday, October 14, 2019

HO SCALE: Almanor Railroad (Collins Pine Company)

For the last few years, I have taken a keen interest in finding small railway lines that would make a great subject for an "achievable layout" which is a term coined by Trevor Marshall. I honestly believe that these practical and doable layouts are the future direction of layout planning and building, and I am always interested in learning about...

2019.10.12M-001.gif (50245 bytes)

Views: 1008 | Comments: 2

TAGS: Design Feature: Interchange, Layout Size: Medium Layouts, Theme: Industrial Railway, Type: Based on Actual Location(s), USA (States): California, American Railways: Almanor Railroad (Collins Pine Company)



Posted in Layout Designs by Rob Chant. (Updated Thursday, November 10, 2022 at 14:12:17 AST.)

Thursday, November 10, 2022

N SCALE: Cape Breton & Central Nova Scotia Railway

This layout was done back in 2000 for a client that was quite a railfan, and I just recently updated the design with some roughed in 3D scenery. The owner of the layout loved watching and taking photos of trains, especially those running through some of the most beautiful scenery along the Bras d'Or Lakes on Cape Island....

2019.10.21C-001.gif (73475 bytes)

Views: 1353 | Comments: 6

TAGS: Layout Size: Medium Layouts, Staging Options: Staging Yards, Theme: Mainline Trains, Theme: Regional / Short Line Railway, Theme: Scenic (Bridges), Type: Based on Actual Location(s), Canada (Provinces): Nova Scotia, Canadian Railways: Cape Breton & Central Nova Scotia Ry



Posted in Layout Designs by Rob Chant. (Updated Monday, October 21, 2019 at 11:59:00 ADT.)

Monday, October 21, 2019

HO SCALE: Morgan Falls & Little Trinty RR

This layout has quite the story behind it, and it was also the start of my long distance friendship with Bob McCord of California. This plan was a collaboration between Bob and I that required several months of intense emailing to make any progress. Bob's premise for the fictional railroad was a logging line set in the...

2019.10.21E-001.gif (98626 bytes)

Views: 1055 | Comments: 0

TAGS: Design Feature: Switch-Back, Layout Size: Medium Layouts, Staging Options: Staging Yards, Theme: Logging Railway, USA (States): Wisconsin, Types of Industries: Logging Camps, Types of Industries: Sawmills, Types of Industries: Wharves



Posted in Layout Designs by Rob Chant. (Updated Monday, October 21, 2019 at 12:42:00 ADT.)

Monday, October 21, 2019

HO SCALE: Dominion Steel & Coal Corporation (DOSCO) at Sydney, Nova Scotia

Back in 2005, I fooled myself into believing that I knew enough about making steel that I could actually build a layout to represent the industry. I did a bit of a research and knew I wanted to include as many steps in the process as I could. I not only wanted the blast furnace, but also the import system for the raw materials...

Views: 1052 | Comments: 0

TAGS: Design Feature: Interchange, Design Feature: Loads In / Out, Layout Size: Medium Layouts, Theme: Industrial Railway, Theme: Single Industry, Canada (Provinces): Nova Scotia, Canadian Railways: Dominion Steel & Coal Corporation (DOSCO), Types of Industries: Coke Plant, Types of Industries: Steel Plant



Posted in Layout Designs by Rob Chant. (Updated Wednesday, January 01, 2020 at 9:13:00 AST.)

Wednesday, January 01, 2020

HO SCALE: Canadian Atlantic RR

This design for the Canadian Atlantic Railroad System (since renamed the Canadian Atlantic Railway) was started back in early February of 2019, for a friend of mine. The layout was to be done in HO-scale and would depict a prototype-freelanced line set in the present day. Although the layout owner had a list of G&Ds that he wanted to...

2020.01.01B-001.gif (50455 bytes)

Views: 1097 | Comments: 0

TAGS: Design Feature: Continuous Run Option, Design Feature: Interchange, Layout Size: Medium Layouts, Staging Options: Staging Yards, Theme: Regional / Short Line Railway, Canada (Provinces): New Brunswick, Canada (Provinces): Nova Scotia, Canada (Provinces): Prince Edward Island



Posted in Layout Designs by Rob Chant. (Updated Saturday, January 04, 2020 at 8:31:00 AST.)

Saturday, January 04, 2020

HO SCALE: Burlington Northern in 3D

This layout was done in October of 2018 for a client that had an entire basement at his disposal, but decide to start small in one corner of his space. He was not very interested in operations, so he just wanted a layout where he could watch trains run through scenery and over a few bridges. I added a coal mine and wood chip loader to offer...

2020.01.04B-001.gif (64573 bytes)

Views: 1331 | Comments: 0

TAGS: Design Feature: Continuous Run Option, Layout Size: Medium Layouts, Staging Options: Staging Yards, Theme: Mainline Trains, Theme: Scenic (Bridges), USA (Regions): Northwest, American Railways: Burlington Northern



Posted in Layout Designs by Rob Chant. (Updated Saturday, January 04, 2020 at 11:13:00 AST.)

Saturday, January 04, 2020

HO SCALE: South Rochester & Eastern RR

This was done for a client who wanted a generic urban switching layout in a New England mill-town setting with just enough action for two operators. He had found a track plan online that he liked, and wanted it adapted for his slightly larger space. His list of Givens & Druthers included several large industries to work, and a minimal of track...

2020.01.04K-001.gif (46690 bytes)

Views: 936 | Comments: 0

TAGS: Design Feature: Urban Scenery, Layout Size: Medium Layouts, Staging Options: Staging Yards, Theme: Regional / Short Line Railway, Theme: Waterfront, USA (Regions): New England



Posted in Layout Designs by Rob Chant. (Updated Saturday, February 29, 2020 at 11:45:00 AST.)

Saturday, February 29, 2020

HO SCALE: Delaware & Hudson RR (4th Subdivision)

This design was done back on October of 2017 for a client from Switzerland. The benchwork for the layout was all ready in placed, but the owner was willing to make some minor changes of needed. One of his favorite lines was the 4th Subdivision of the Delaware & Hudson Railroad which ran along Lake Champlain between Rouses Point...

2020.02.29I-001.gif (63758 bytes)

Views: 1262 | Comments: 0

TAGS: Design Feature: Continuous Run Option, Layout Size: Medium Layouts, Staging Options: Staging Yards, Theme: Mainline Trains, Type: Based on Actual Location(s), USA (States): New York, American Railways: Delaware & Hudson RR



Posted in Layout Designs by Rob Chant. (Updated Thursday, March 05, 2020 at 21:05:09 AST.)

Thursday, March 05, 2020

HO SCALE: Port Arthur Belt Line Ry

Back in August of 2017, I was contacted to do a modern industrial switching layout (ISL) for a 13'x15' room. However, instead of cramming the space with a lot of industrial tracks, I convinced the layout owner to go with more of a branch line feel that offer a good variety of car types, with some very nice scenery and a good variety of structures. I kept...

2020.03.01D-001.gif (67392 bytes)

Views: 1201 | Comments: 2

TAGS: Design Feature: Interchange, Layout Size: Medium Layouts, Theme: Regional / Short Line Railway



Posted in Layout Designs by Rob Chant. (Updated Thursday, March 26, 2020 at 19:02:52 ADT.)

Thursday, March 26, 2020

HO SCALE: Arizona Eastern Railroad

This design has an interesting back story and was the result of almost a year of planning and research of the prototype Arizona Eastern Railroad. The original plan was to be built in On30, and the owner eventually decided to drop the centre peninsula and go with a layout just around three of the walls, plus the staging. In my version of the design, I kept the...

2020.03.08N-001.gif (74707 bytes)

Views: 822 | Comments: 2

TAGS: Design Feature: Helix, Layout Size: Medium Layouts, Theme: Industrial Railway, Theme: Mining, Type: Based on Actual Location(s), USA (States): Arizona, American Railways: Arizona Eastern Railroad, Types of Industries: Smelther Complex



Posted in Layout Designs by Rob Chant. (Updated Saturday, May 09, 2020 at 11:17:00 ADT.)

Saturday, May 09, 2020

HO SCALE: New England & Southern Railway

This is a rough draft (it still needs a lot of polish) of a design that I worked on for a client back in 2017. The client was interested in many aspects of the hobby including passenger train operations, mainline running, run thru and local traffic, online switching, and branch line operations. He also liked yard operations, but didn't want to...

2020.05.09F-001.gif (111104 bytes)

Views: 915 | Comments: 0

TAGS: Design Feature: Freight Yard (Small), Design Feature: Helix, Design Feature: Interchange, Layout Size: Medium Layouts, Staging Options: Staging Yards, Theme: Branch Line Railway, Theme: Mainline Trains, Theme: Regional / Short Line Railway, USA (Regions): New England



Posted in Layout Designs by Rob Chant. (Updated Saturday, May 09, 2020 at 12:22:00 ADT.)

Saturday, May 09, 2020

N SCALE: South Carolina Central RR (SCRF)

This N-scale design is based on the South Carolina Central RR, a class III railway that operates 42 miles of former CSX Transportation trackage in South Carolina, from the CSX interchange at Florence, to end of track at Bishopville. Primary commodities include agricultural products, chemicals, construction materials, fertilizers, minerals, plastics, pulp and paper, and steel and scrap. It handles about 30,000 carloads per year.

2020.05.09H-001.gif (101607 bytes)

Views: 843 | Comments: 0

TAGS: Design Feature: Helix, Layout Size: Medium Layouts, Staging Options: Staging Yards, Theme: Regional / Short Line Railway, Type: Based on Actual Location(s), USA (States): South Carolina, American Railways: South Carolina Central RR



Posted in Layout Designs by Rob Chant. (Updated Saturday, May 09, 2020 at 13:36:00 ADT.)

Saturday, May 09, 2020

HOn3 SCALE: Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad

This is a design I did back in May of 2017 based on the 36"-gauge Nevada County Narrow Gauge RR running about 23 miles north from Colfax to Nevada City. I found an insurance evaluation map of Nevada City online, and first wanted to do only a "one station" layout based on just that location. With the help of another member of the...

2020.05.09I-001.gif (87220 bytes)

Views: 1269 | Comments: 0

TAGS: Layout Size: Medium Layouts, Staging Options: Staging Yards, Theme: Narrow Gauge Railway, Type: Based on Actual Location(s), USA (States): Nevada, American Railways: Nevada County Narrow Gauge RR



Posted in Layout Designs by Rob Chant. (Updated Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at 22:40:45 ADT.)

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

HO SCALE: Soo Line (Branch Line & Interchange)

This concept design was done back in March of 2018 for an owner of a partially completed N-scale pike who has grown weary of the level of operations required on the layout. The N-scale layout occupied this space, but had been dormant for a few years. The owner was considering moving up to HO, and from modeling mainline operations to a more...

2020.05.09L-001.gif (58747 bytes)

Views: 1813 | Comments: 8

TAGS: Design Feature: Interchange, Layout Size: Medium Layouts, Staging Options: Staging Yards, Theme: Branch Line Railway, American Railways: Soo Line

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