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Gateway Central X (2003)
We're building another fun to operate, small HO
scale train layout that you can build!
photos by Richard Schumacher
click on any photo to see the high resolution, more
detailed version
Looking for a small HO scale model railroad track
plan? The Gateway Central X offers switching and train
operation action, while still providing a complete
mainline loop for just running trains. This layout can
be easily expanded in two different directions.
Design concept track plan showing the
location of the major structures. This track
plan combines a continuous run loop with the
capability for true model railroad switching
operations.
Track plan Copyright 2002 Richard
Schumacher. All commercial rights reserved.
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 Compare the
original design to this
"as built" overhead photo of the finished layout. Click
on each photo for an enlarged view.The
Walthers curved turnouts were required to make
this plan fit in the limited 4'x6' space.
Standard turnouts could be used if the layout
was constructed in the "more traditional" 4'x8'
size.
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 Main street enters the
layout at this end as a grand 4-lane road. Note
how a siding with a small industry and concrete
driveway, and a small hill, fills the space at
the two corners. |
 The four sidings on this
side provide for a variety of switching
possibilities. The switchback requires advance
planning to place cars within the large
warehouse's dock bay, as the siding leading to
it can only hold the engine and one car. The
station track provides a location to set out a
passenger car, or it could be the starting point
for an expansion of this small layout. The "wall
of buildings" focuses your view exclusively on
this side of the layout. The brick street
divides the layout into more scenes, and make
this side appear much longer than it is (5'
10"). The brick street offers interesting views
of the buildings that make up our "business
district" here on main street. |
 Main street exits the other
end of the layout as a smaller 2-lane road. The
angles the road take, and its change in width,
make it appear longer and avoids a boring
straight-through view "from one end to the
other" of the layout. A small hotel fills the
space at one corner, and helps separate this
scene from the next side. |
 Switching action continues
on this side with four more sidings and a short
engine run-around. The "wall of structures"
separates this scene from the rest of the
layout. The pair of crossings enhance the "big
time railroading feel" while providing inbound
and outbound tracks for the long Railway Express
Agency freight house. Cars may be set out for
both the variety store and flour mill. The small
industry in the corner was selected because it
had a dock door on the right end of the
building, placing it correctly to accept one
boxcar at the end of its siding. This siding may
also be used for future layout expansion. |
| Make sure to visit
this page again, a dozen more photos of the
scenes on this railroad will be added here soon.
In the meantime, make sure to view the photos of
the finished structures on this layout (click on the links below). |
 Large city buildings divide this layout into separate scenes
without the need for a scenic divider. The
facing and trailing point sidings, and
multiple crossings, give a "big time
railroading" feel in only 4'x6'.
The structures and track work arrangement
create and reinforce a number of small
scenes.
This layout was started at the opening
day of the Missouri History Museum's exhibit
"Our World in Miniature."
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Close-up photos of this layout's HO model buildings
This layout was constructed with Atlas Code 83
sectional track and two Walthers code 83 curved turnouts. Compare this to the 2001 small model railroad layout
which was designed in Life-Like Power-Loc sectional
track. The wider selection of pieces available in the
Atlas track line allows greater flexibility in design.
Both train layouts are approximately 4'x6'.
Check out the articles and photos on the 2002, Missouri History Museum
Train Layout, 2001, Model Railroader, 1999 and 1997 layouts.
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View
the first page of structure photos
View
the second page of structure photos
