101 Track Plans for Model Railroaders (Model Railroad Handbook, 3)

This was a used book as it was described but in very good condition. Seller shipped quickly and was received undamaged.

The book provide a good base to decide on a layout best for me.

I'm very happy I bought this book. Being able to browse track plans and get ideas on how others solve similar layout problems is great. Even if you don't use a single plan in the book, seeing a lot of other layouts WILL help you plan your own and help you avoid some pitfalls.That said, the book was originally written in the 1950s and has not been significantly updated. To that end, there's some aspects of the book that are quite dated.1. Lots of turntables and engine houses: These were pretty much a given in any layout even 20 years ago, but they take up a lot of space, generally are pricey, and digital control (if you go that route) at least solves the problem of how to "turn off" locos. Now you can just line all the off duty locos up in a ladder yard or otherwise more space efficient scheme. Of course, if you don't want a turntable, that's space you can use for something else.. like turning simple staging yards into classification yards that don't need use of the main line for switching.2. Many layouts have reach problems. 30" is the maximum even a tall person can reach, but many of these layouts have much broader reach needed. Beware these... the text does cover providing access either by hatch way (think about your knees on that) or walk behind aisle, but the plans often leave those out and the elevations make me question whether an aisle is even sufficient to reach some of the locations. Your model trains will derail far more often than real ones, and even the best automatic uncoupling system has its failures, requiring you to reach over to that siding.3. Speaking of elevations: the grades often seem pretty high and require grades on turns. I've got a hard time buying into a 2" elevation change in only 4 feet or so over a turn, part of which is running through a tunnel.4. It was apparently laid out by magazine staff. It's a little disconcerting to see "continued on page 68" when you're on page 8. When you're laying out a magazine that is selling ad space, that's understandable. In a book without advertising, it's perplexing and breaks your train of thought.5. Workable yards for classification are rare(but not absent), but that's pretty much expected for a book of this age. Most yards are better thought of as staging yards or multi-track sidings/spurs.Those are just things to look out for and don't really detract too much from a great book. It's great to see even in an older book plenty of plans that allow actual operation over just making loops for trains to run by scenery.

This is a classic book that has been reprinted over and over again. There are not a lot of words but a lot of drawings of inspirational train layouts. I spent hours being inspired looking at the creative drawings. If you’re looking for inspiration on your next train layout, this book has a lot to offer.

I am quite happy to find this booklet available on Amazon. I have owned several of them in the past, but they were loaned out to different individuals and clubs that were planning future home model railroad layouts, and found new homes. It's a great tool that is just as useful now as it was when first published many, many years ago. The one I ordered was new, obviously a reprint, but the price was a little higher since I purchased my others many years ago. That is to be expected. I have ordered several more similar track layout books on Amazon since I ordered this one. This, and many other track layout booklets are available on Amazon from very reliable dealers.

The book shows some good layout suggestions, but the author tries to cover every guage of railroad. A modeler usually works with only one guage, and is not interested in four others. I would have preferred a good "O" guage book only with some information on wiring, electrical circuitry for multiple systems, etc. A nice book, but not the answer for someone building a layout from scratch.

This book contains a nice variety of railway plans not dissimilar in style to those made popular by C.J. Freezer.It is written with the American Railroad Modeller in mind but the small layouts particularly have a UK "feel" to them.As one progresses through the book somewhat more esoteric plans appear which add to the interest. I found the book particularly useful in that it offered new ideas and created a new dimension to the hobby's potential. American modellers love long runs of single track with frequent sidings and industrial complexes. If you wanted to create a really original branch line, you could do no better than read this book to get some great ideas.

Lots of info& ideas